Cover it up

1784 Views 29 Replies 5 Participants Last post by whistlerskipro, Apr 24, 2014

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · Apr 8, 2014

My heavily planted 80g freshwater aquarium is need of some assistance. Though my water is clear, when I do a water change the water in a white bucket will appear blue green. This tank has been cycled for 1.5 years but I feel I may be guilty of overfeeding and too much light. It's been 24 hours since I have covered up my aquarium completely from light but have heard that it could be covered for as little as 48 hours to 5 days, without feeding as well and the temp lowered to 25 cel. Has anyone used this natural method of killing algae? I just purchased the current USA LED PLUS. and plan on doing a 1/2 water change when complete and clean out my 303 canister filter. I do not run any Co, and my tank is inhabited with 1 Angel-1 Raphael-4-cory 5-rummynose 8-assorted rasboras. I definitely consider myself a novice and would appreciate any feedback.

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BraveBuc

· #2 · Apr 8, 2014

Yeah I've done a blackout before. It helps but you have still have to fix the problem or the algae that died will just come back.

Keeping the tank and filter clean will help. Too much light has been the cause of algae for me so far. What is your lighting like?

thelub

· #3 · Apr 8, 2014

What are your tap water parameters? Sometimes tap water is full of agriculture runoff and that can encourage green water.

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 8, 2014 (Edited by Moderator)

I think I may have brought this on by my stupidity as a newby. I had the regular Florescent bulb that came with the original 80 gallon tank. Because I was growing anabus which by the way in one year have tripled in size I added a Sun Blaster grow bulb. I bought it at a garden center for growing tomatoes. I realize Anabus is a low light plant. I just bought a 36" Current USA LED plus to replace the old lighting. Now when you look at the tank it looks healthy fish are healthy plants are healthy but when fills a 5 gallon white bucket it's then really noticeable. Any suggestions would be appreciated, but I hope what I am doing is going in the right direction. Thanks

I also have a 55 gallon saltwater and had some algae growing as well, however after lowering the light time and running RO water I picked up for free the marine tank it totally clear and no more algae. I live in the mountains and I know there are a lot of minerals in our water. Maybe time to buy a RO system for both tanks. Would I have to o another blackout if I were to do a 50/50 RO water change?

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BraveBuc

· #5 · Apr 9, 2014

Oh, I didn't comprehend you were talking about green water. Not sure why after re-reading your post.

Make sure you don't have an ammonia spike. Maybe from a dead fish or as thelub said.

If you wanna buy something to get rid of it, a diatom filter or UV sterilizer would be the thing to get.

Your plants don't have algae on them? Just the water?

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 9, 2014

cover it up

No algae on the plants just green water when I look at it in a white bucket. :icon_exclNo ammonia spike. Besides heavily planted there is 4-5 Lbs Indonesian driftwood that came from a saltwater tank but has been in this tank for a year, This green water isn't something new but has been there for many many months without any loss of fish.

BraveBuc

· #7 · Apr 9, 2014

In that case, you are on the right path. Keep the tank clean and try a blackout. If you still can't rid yourself of the GW after all this time, you might just have to invest in a UV filter. As I understand it, a good one will clean up GW pretty quickly (never needed one myself). Another option would be to get some live daphnia in there. Assuming your fish don't eat them too quickly, they would love the GW.

Since your plants are healthy and algae free, I wouldn't mess with anything else.

Per the RO system question, IMO I think that really is only helpful in a FW tank if you have really hard water and want to soften it. I do use one for my main FW tank since I keep soft water critters and have hard tap water. Plants do tend to like the soft water a little better but it's not that big of a deal I don't think. Plants do fine in my daughter's guppy tank that is 100% tap. Would be nice for the SW tank though right?

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 9, 2014

cover it up

Bruce that is the news I was hoping to hear. Every time I walk by the aquarium I feel so bad for the fish in there, I have to ask if I am doing the right thing. today will be 48 hours, and I will wait another 24 and get that UV system. Thanks and I'll let you know how it turns out.

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 9, 2014

Now I definitely think your on the right track with the UV light. I was looking on line, "I live in a ski resort, last thing you will find here is a LFS," and the UV system comes with an oil filter and recently I have noticed a oily sheen in the top of the water. With on come the other? Thanks again. Sure could spend a week in Florida just about now!!!!

Raymond S.

· #10 · Apr 9, 2014

But wouldn't it be cheaper to shorten the hrs on the light than buying more equipment ?
You have not mentioned how many hrs the light runs for each day or how high it is over the sub.

BraveBuc

· #11 · Apr 9, 2014

whistlerskipro said:
Now I definitely think your on the right track with the UV light. I was looking on line, "I live in a ski resort, last thing you will find here is a LFS," and the UV system comes with an oil filter and recently I have noticed a oily sheen in the top of the water. With on come the other? Thanks again. Sure could spend a week in Florida just about now!!!!

Cool! I'm not sure about the GW + Oily surface. The oily surface does make me think you could use some more surface agitation. Can you point your canister return towards the surface more? A nice non-breaking ripple should do the trick. Getting more oxygen in the tank may help with the green water too among other things.

On another note, I actually grew up skiing in the rockies at least on a weekly basis. It's something I miss very much as the snow in Florida is pretty crummy :icon_cry: though the beach/water/sunshine is nice.

I have a family now and my wife and kids have never skied. We're thinking about doing a family ski vacation next winter. I'm trying to decide on where to go. We need good instructors and bunny runs for the wife and kids and hopefully lots of powder(if i'm lucky)and challenging terrain for my snow starved self. Does whistler sound about right for that? It's definitely at top of our list so far but i've never been there. Grand Targhee has a soft spot in my heart but it's so far out there in the middle of nowhere.

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Chris_Produces

· #12 · Apr 9, 2014

Raymond S. said:
But wouldn't it be cheaper to shorten the hrs on the light than buying more equipment ?
You have not mentioned how many hrs the light runs for each day or how high it is over the sub.

Raymond S always keeping it real. Excellent question. Would be tons of help.

BraveBuc

· #13 · Apr 9, 2014

Raymond S. said:
But wouldn't it be cheaper to shorten the hrs on the light than buying more equipment ?
You have not mentioned how many hrs the light runs for each day or how high it is over the sub.

Very valid question. I was just assuming the photoperiod isnt crazy long or too intense by the lack of algae on plants.

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 9, 2014

Well I do have my return from the canister on the opposite end of the intake slightly above the water giving a wave effect and added air a little while back. I think I may have been doing too much light with the old lighting. The substrate is sand with Malaysian trumpet snails to break up the substrate. The new LED lighting sits 21" above. Tank in a North facing room away from the window. If I were to take a glass of water and look at it through the light it would look crystal clear. Only in five gallon white pail do I notice the GW.

BTW Whistler is the largest ski area in NA. It is actually two mountains and there are 100's of runs from beginner to gladded runs in the high alpine. With the Canadian dollar at where it is now and will remain for quite some time we receive many Americans. Many Americans will fly to Bellingham Wa. and take the 2.5 hr drive up the Sea to Sky Highway. I have lived in Montreal Chicago Wilmington De London England and the South of France and I can tell you if you are lackey enough to take a drive up here on a sunny day there is nothing in the world to compare it to. In the event its raining it will be snowing in the Alpine. Very family oriented resort. And I just happen to be a ski instructor.Again thanks for the advice. I may wait to see how the tank look tomorrow before buying anything more, and begin with 6-8 of light

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BraveBuc

· #15 · Apr 9, 2014

Yes definitely hold off on the uv as a last resort. Especially if you have just changed the lighting. Hopefully the blackout will do some good. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the info. I've read as much about the place. Sounds great but good to hear from a local. Must be awesome living there

. I have another question if you don't mind but will PM you so I don't hijack your thread.

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 9, 2014

Bruce read your question. My email is [email protected] if you don't mind can you send me your email so I can answer through there. Problems the other way. I can send way more stuff as well.

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 10, 2014

Well after 72 hours in complete darkness except for what appeared to be happy fish and lots of new buds on my anabus plants the green water is just as green. Have done a 75% water change and gave everything a good cleaning out. The plan is to reduce lighting to 6 hours and cut down on food I've been feeding them.:icon_ques

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 10, 2014

Well after 72 hours of complete darkness the fish seem very happy to have some light and there are many new buds on my anabus, but the green water remains green. Did a 75% water change and cleaned everything real well. Will reduce lighting to 6 hours and cut down an amount of food I have been feeding these guys. Thanks

Chris_Produces

· #19 · Apr 11, 2014

Have you tried a bunch of floating plants? I would highly recommend that. Maybe check this out also in addition to the floating plants. I think the combination of the two would work wonders.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Easy_Lif...asy_Life_International-3E00301-FIADWT-vi.html

whistlerskipro

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 15, 2014

So after 48 hours covered up and a 75% water change and good equipment cleaning I set up the lighting for 6 hours a day and cut the feeding by 1/2. So after 6 days the results are......My Stripped Raphael Catfish is the clear winner. He has managed to eat 1 African Dwarf Frog, and 3 Rasboras. My tank is heavily planted probably why I hadn't noticed the carnage. Now that he has a taste for live meat I gave the remaining Lamb Chops to a friend. Now I live in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia and I know our water is glacial so maybe this has something to do with the water color. The testing today was Nitrite 0 ---Nitrate 8 ---PH 7 GH ---30 KH---60. Any suggestions would be welcomed..

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