Long term solution for Cloudy Green Water

[Kazuo]

My 2 feet tank located near the window which house only one 6 inches silver arowana and feeders will get cloudy green water every 2-3 days.

Ocean Free Super Green Away works wonder but I am looking for a longer term solution. Can't possibly add the solution into the water every 2 days.

What kind of plant can easily soak up all the nutrient in the water?

My tank is those off-the-shelf type with cover, UV sterlizer might be challenging to fit in. Or is it not?

[marco]

Limiting nutrients method works best on macroalgae (plants) not microalgae ( green water). Tapwater contains fertilzers. To remove these fertilizer, you have to filter water thru de-ion resin.
You can suck out the microalgae using a sponge filter. Drive it with water pump intead of air pump.

[happydanio123]

Why don't you try to stick some oyama at the back of your aquarium so that the light cannot enter. I am not so sure about Azoo but I know many aquarists swear by Algaexit. Personally I have not tried it as I have some very nutrient-sucking plants in my tank. My plants are: Ludwigia peruensis, Lindernia rotundifolia ‘Variegated’ Hygrophila difformis

[happydanio123]

Sorry, the font came out all wrong. Plants are: Ludwigia peruensis, Lindernia rotundifolia ‘Variegated’ Hygrophila difformis and Amazon Swordplant.
For the pictures of these plants, you can check out my website at: www.practicalfishkeeper.wordpress.com

[Kazuo]

Thanks!

I kinda regret for not pasting the sticker initially. No it is a little challenging with the fish already in. Though it is not a big tank, it is still pretty heavy with the water already in.

I will try what both have suggested.

[wensong]

you should be fine with Algaexit. dose as per direction 1ml for 10L weekly for 4 X(try lower dose for the first/second, just to make sure the fishes get used to it, also increase air supply).... should be good after that....

[Urban Aquaria]

Based on the issues you are facing, it looks like your bio-load is simply too high for the 2ft tank, even though the arowana seems "small" at 6 inches, its actually too much bio-load for the tank system.... especially if the filtration is inadequate (very likely so for those off-the-shelf box tanks) and the fish is eating live feeders (alot of nutrient-rich waste produced).

The high ammonia and excess nutrients produced combined with lots of excess sunlight shining into the tank all day will naturally encourage green water to thrive, since there is nothing else to compete with it.

Solutions:

- Improve the filter system, replace the stock media with higher quality media.
- Clean the filter more often.
- Physically remove all waste everyday with a net and siphon.
- Do more frequent water changes to flush out all the excess nutrients (you may need to do daily large water changes since the tank volume is small).
- Cover the tank sides to block out excess sunlight.
- Add fast growing plants to help soak up excess nutrients.

Note that you can't just do only one of the above things and expect that it solves the problem like magic, its a combination of different factors that make a difference.

Dosing anti-algae chemicals and/or using UV sterilizer systems can help in the short term, but it still does not solve the underlying issue if the tank volume and filtration are not able to handle the bioload.

For the long term, get a larger tank (3ft-4ft) and larger filter... especially since the fish will grow bigger. Larger water volume and filtration makes a huge difference, especially since you are keeping larger fish. Otherwise you will have to spend everyday constantly maintaining the tank just to keep things in balance, alot of hassle.