Did you disturb the substrate? This is generally the cause of an algae bloom. Looks like your next investment will be a UV light. After every water change start it up and let it run for 24 hours and you won't have the problem again. For now though, your best solution is a UV light running for about a week. Anything else, and it usually comes back.
Green Water
I started a 110gal. tank on 1-17-07. It was going good until a few days ago. After doing a 30-40% water change I added my ferts and a little while later it started to cloud up, now its green.
4 96 watt dual daylight bulbs in a Orbit PC CO2 inj.
I use all Seachem ferts ( Nitrogen,Potassium,Phos., Comp.,Trace,and Iron)fert.tabs and Excel (once a week)
2 XP3's on full flow w/spray bars
This is a med.to heavily planted tank 5 Amazons 2 Melon Swords 2 Tiger Lillies and alot of Rotala Indica
PH 6.7 KH 5 deg. GH 8 deg. Nitrate 10-20 Nitrite 0 am. 0
I'm not sure what I did to cause this but want to learn how to prevent this from happening again. I'd like some help in clearing this up. Anyone familiar with the Diatom method?
4 96 watt dual daylight bulbs in a Orbit PC CO2 inj.
I use all Seachem ferts ( Nitrogen,Potassium,Phos., Comp.,Trace,and Iron)fert.tabs and Excel (once a week)
2 XP3's on full flow w/spray bars
This is a med.to heavily planted tank 5 Amazons 2 Melon Swords 2 Tiger Lillies and alot of Rotala Indica
PH 6.7 KH 5 deg. GH 8 deg. Nitrate 10-20 Nitrite 0 am. 0
I'm not sure what I did to cause this but want to learn how to prevent this from happening again. I'd like some help in clearing this up. Anyone familiar with the Diatom method?
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
Probably an algae bloom due to disturbed substrate if you didn't change anything from before. You could get away without the uv though. Just don't add anything to feed the bloom, cut back on ferts, lower lighting time period, don't feed as much. Adding quick growing floaters like dwarf water lettuce (avoid duckweed, too hard to get rid of), would deprive the green water of light and suck excess nutrients too.
In six months there is a good chance you will be buying the UV. Try what you want, but every time you do a water change or do something to disturb the substrate there is a good chance you will be back in the battle. If you want to make sure that you never have the problem again, go with the UV, they aren't that expensive anymore.
Here is a good link to some Green Water discussion.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/algae/34234-green-water-experiment.html
Here is a good link to some Green Water discussion.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/algae/34234-green-water-experiment.html
get a UV, it will save you in the long run...been there and had to do that.
UV: one more thing added to the plumbing . . .
Diatom filter: Break it out when needed, otherwise hide it in the garage . . .
My experience: my green water started like yours - not too long after the tank was set up. I waited patiently for about 2 weeks (boy was that water green!) to allow the bloom to use up whatever excess nutrient caused it. Then I put a diatom filter on the tank for about 1 hour - cleared it right up and the green water hasn't been back since. I too use root tabs and have fast growers, so I still disturb the substrate about once every two weeks - yet no recurrence of the green water.
YMMV, but had to add the other option besides UV.
Diatom filter: Break it out when needed, otherwise hide it in the garage . . .
My experience: my green water started like yours - not too long after the tank was set up. I waited patiently for about 2 weeks (boy was that water green!) to allow the bloom to use up whatever excess nutrient caused it. Then I put a diatom filter on the tank for about 1 hour - cleared it right up and the green water hasn't been back since. I too use root tabs and have fast growers, so I still disturb the substrate about once every two weeks - yet no recurrence of the green water.
YMMV, but had to add the other option besides UV.
UV: one more thing added to the plumbing . . .
Diatom filter: Break it out when needed, otherwise hide it in the garage . . .
My experience: my green water started like yours - not too long after the tank was set up. I waited patiently for about 2 weeks (boy was that water green!) to allow the bloom to use up whatever excess nutrient caused it. Then I put a diatom filter on the tank for about 1 hour - cleared it right up and the green water hasn't been back since. I too use root tabs and have fast growers, so I still disturb the substrate about once every two weeks - yet no recurrence of the green water.
YMMV, but had to add the other option besides UV.
Ditto. A Magnum 350 w/ DE powder worked wonders for me. Highly recommended!
I've been thihking (smelling the smoke yet):icon_bigg I did move some plants around before filling the tank back up. I totally forgot that because of the water turning green. I'll look into a UV ster. but for now I like the diatom method as a place to start.Kevin C what did you notice after 2 weeks for you feel the GW had nothing left to feed on?
I purchased a Magnum HOT 250 with micron cartridge and diatom powder after about a month of green water. Cleared up overnight once I put the gaskets in the right place. Best $50 I've spent in this hobby.
I nuked my GW with the UV filter. And then added pressurized CO2.
you might check your CO2 levels. As well as get one of those cheap UV filters from petco that have are submergable. Awesome bang for the buck. and since its submergable you can use it until its cleared and not have to plumb it into your filter return.
you might check your CO2 levels. As well as get one of those cheap UV filters from petco that have are submergable. Awesome bang for the buck. and since its submergable you can use it until its cleared and not have to plumb it into your filter return.
It was that "somthing's fishy" feelingI've been thihking (smelling the smoke yet):icon_bigg I did move some plants around before filling the tank back up. I totally forgot that because of the water turning green. I'll look into a UV ster. but for now I like the diatom method as a place to start.Kevin C what did you notice after 2 weeks for you feel the GW had nothing left to feed on?
Seriously - I waited as long as I could stand it (and as long as my wife would stand it!)If I waited longer than necessary, I wouldn't know it. If I hadn't waited long enough the GW would have been back within a few days . . .
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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