Green Cloudy water !

**maaply** · 17th May 2012, 09:51

Hi all,

I brought a new tank 2 months before and keeping fish for a month. This last one month my fish tank was looks good and had clear water. From last two days my tank got Green cloudy water and view is not good. The new thing i did is, Last week i moved my tank to other place have light. ( Near to windoW) Suddenly i got this problem. I have only 6 fish ( each 1") only for 14 Gallon tank. ( all platy)

Please any one help me to get-raid from this problem.

**tetrakid** · 17th May 2012, 11:40

When a tank is placed near a window, it is very difficult to control green water growth, very difficult.

The best thing you can do is to cover the sides and top of the tank with black paper, card or plastic sheet. But if there are many plants in the tank, they will need light. So you must experiment and see how you can allow enough light for them. At night, do not switch on the tank light for too long, or use a smaller light. Light is the main thing that causes green water.

**felix_fx2** · 17th May 2012, 12:12

Uncontrolled sunlight. Since cannot control limit it from going in.

Also, higher rate of water change, higher density of plants will help.

P.s: IMHO, if blocking 3 sides don't help. Move it to another location.

**horst** · 17th May 2012, 16:04

Since you cannot move tank away from window, try blocking the amount of sunlight by using floating plants such as duckweed or water hyacinth. Plant egeria densa -very common plant. All will take up the nutrients in the water. Water should clear within 2 weeks.

**iczboi** · 17th May 2012, 17:13

You can get a UV Sterilizer to get rid of the algae problem.

**felix_fx2** · 17th May 2012, 18:12

Originally Posted by iczboi

You can get a UV Sterilizer to get rid of the algae problem.

Erm, 14gallon not likely able to use the good ones. Which are cannister driven.
Only ones are those already integrated to filter. But those how good?

**tetrakid** · 17th May 2012, 19:34

Maybe it wil be good to make a DIY UV light by using a cheap long screw-in purple bulb which can be bought at the supermarket. Leave the light on overnight at the front of the tank for a few nights and see what's the result. I have also used 2 ft UV flourescent tubes with good results, which you can also try. (But all at your own risk, though).

**chlorophyll** · 18th May 2012, 15:43

In my experience, once green water appears its difficult to get rid of it. A quick fix is to get a UV sterillizer. For a 14 gallon, a 5 watts internal UV sterillizer should be enough. It is not canister driven and it has its own power head plus filter. I have used one and it works. The water will clear up within 4 to 7 days then you can remove the UV and perform a moderate water change.

However, to prevent future occurence

1) you have to increase your bio filtering by adding fast growing plants.
2) regular water changes
3) never overfeed the fishes.