Green Water?

[Star-flog]

About 1 month in the planted Aquarium and now having this 'green water' in the tank? Is this normal while the tank is being cycled to mature?

Also, I'm using Eheim 2213 for 29 gallan water and I guess it should okay. Does anyone try 'Chemi-Pure' media before and how effective and whether it's advisable to make the water clear!!

Thanks

[Simon]

[quote:a411fb9b4d="Star-flog"]About 1 month in the planted Aquarium and now having this 'green water' in the tank? Is this normal while the tank is being cycled to mature?

Also, I'm using Eheim 2213 for 29 gallan water and I guess it should okay. Does anyone try 'Chemi-Pure' media before and how effective and whether it's advisable to make the water clear!!

Thanks [/quote:a411fb9b4d]

you sure its green water and not cjust cloudy? if its really greenwater then we need to know your light source. Is the tank near the window? has it get the sun?

[Star-flog]

I'm quite sure it's green (or dark green toward brown...) but not cloudy.
My tank sits next to the window but never has direct sunlight, I on my light 12 hours with 108 watt (2 x 18 FL + 2 x 36 PL lamp), people said it is normal for a new tank and it may take months before the water is clear, how true?

Can Chemi-Pure media works to clear the water and suitable for planted tank?

[|squee|]

Seems you've got greenwater then. There're two ways out:

1) Shift the tank's position to a place where no window is near by for a minimum of 2 metres. Then do a black-out of your tank for 2 days, running a airstone all the time into the tank. After 2 days, do a large 80% water change, then resume your normal activity.

2) Get a UV sterilizer. This has pros and cons though. The better way out will be 1).

There're also many other methods out there to solve greenwater.

[Star-flog]

Thanks for the Professional advice.

I will try your method as green water is really affecting the look of the tank!

[bttay]

You may also want to try shortening your light-on period to 8 hours a day. It worked for me and the green water disappeared in two weeks.

[David]

I dont really know if shifting your tank is possible especially if you have started it. Being near a window doesnt really matter unless you are getting direct sunlight.

This tank is still considered in its beginning period and its good to achieve 80 to 90% in terms of plants to surface area. Having fast growing plants is always a good consideration to remove excess nutrients as the slower growing ones are breaking in.....Which can always be replaced later on.

Mantain a good KH to PH level and try not to have too large PH swings.....do not attempt to fertilise the water column at least until the 3rd to 4th week.

12 hour photo period is way too much for a 1 month old tank....As already suggested reduce it to 8 hours and work your way up......Lastly it may not be a good thing to do a one shot 80% water change....It may be better to do a 20% to30% water change every 2 to 3 days......

[andrewtyr]

Now I am having it too and it is very troublesome to change water 70% every 2-3 days just to see my plants.

My tank is placed near a window slit, there is a thin ray of light into the tank every morning. Will that be a cause?

What else should be my next steps, besides running airstone and water change after 2 days?
How does air stone solve this?

[BFG]

The airstone is to provide some O2 for the fish as you are using the blackout method. No plants will photosynthesis during the blackout stage.

[wong1979]

Sounds like green dust again

[andrewtyr]

It seems to me that both the glass panel and the water turn green. I heard that phosphate can help.

[Star-flog]

It seems to me that both the glass panel and the water turn green. I heard that phosphate can help.

Try to use trash bag method to cut off all light, I think it should help to get rid of green water..

[brianclaw]

Well, from what I know, algae forms from a combo of lights and nutrients in the water coming from too much nitrates and phosphates. Since this is a planted tank, you can't do away with the lights. What kind of media do you have in the filter(I know activated carbon has phosphates in it and I would ask you to chuck it and replace with more bio media instead) and what are your water perimeters like(nitrate levels and such)?

[|squee|]

Hey brianclaw, you might want to revise your theories The Estimative Index has proven that excess nitrates and phosphates do not cause algae. Of course, the causes of algae can be because of a million gazillion reasons.

[andrewtyr]

heh, it's still a difficult algae to beat. I cannot possibly do 100% water change, still the algae spores will remain. How long for the blackout?

Mine is just an ordinary Atman internal filter.

[brianclaw]

Hey brianclaw, you might want to revise your theories

Heh... Guess that's what I get coming from a fish keeper's background and an old one at that.

[|squee|]

No offence taken I hope

Well no those are just theories. The only definate thing I know for sure is that when plants are growing well, algae somehow doesn't appear.

Green water... 2 days should do it. But I'm not speaking from experience.

[alphasem]

Hi,
I have BGA problem before and I managed to reduce it using the Blackout method as recommended by the experts in this forum.
1. Change 50% water and dose KNO3.
2. Remove CO2 and provide aeration from airstone to play safe.
3. Cover all sides of tank with trash bag or newspaper for at least 3 days.
4. After blackout, change 50% water and dose KNO3 and resume CO2.
Just speaking from my experience. Hope this helps. Good luck

Sam

[brianclaw]

No offence taken I hope

Nah... No worries.

[andrewtyr]

Hi,
I have BGA problem before and I managed to reduce it using the Blackout method as recommended by the experts in this forum.
1. Change 50% water and dose KNO3.
2. Remove CO2 and provide aeration from airstone to play safe.
3. Cover all sides of tank with trash bag or newspaper for at least 3 days.
4. After blackout, change 50% water and dose KNO3 and resume CO2.
Just speaking from my experience. Hope this helps. Good luck

Sam

Why do you dose KNO3? I thought fertilization should be abstained within this critical period of time?