Is there any device that can cure GW algae?

[superjohnny]

I don't have a fish tank, I have a swamp. It looks like *** and I am at wits end trying to fix it. For about a month and a half I was adding calcium carbonate to raise KH & GH, then adding CO2 to lower PH and everything was happy & healthy... including the algae. I thought it would eventually go away, but that has not been the case. The only cure I've found is blackouts, but that's not something I want to do as part of a weekly/monthly routine.

Ph is around 7
KH is around 30ppm
Gh is around 20ppm
amonia is <5ppm

Is there any device, filter or such that will get rid of the green water? Anyone have any idea what I am doing wrong?

Thanks,
johnny

[Dabbler II]

I had the same problem. I tried playing with the ferts to try to clean it up but to luck. So I went out and bought a UV sterlizer. 3 days later I had a crystel clear tank and no probs since:D

[OrionGirl]

What plants do you have in there? Why is there detectable ammonia? Lights? Maintenance routine?

[superjohnny]

No ammonia, I have a Custom Sealife 96w PC 8,800k light. My tank is 24" deep so I need all the light I can get. I generally change 50% of the water twice a week (so it isn't so green)

I'm not very good with plant names, but I do know the ulvaseous when I see one ;) Here is a pic of what it looked like AFTER the blackout... it's much greener now (a nice lime color in fact lol):
http://www.johnnyanddana.com/images/Tank/tank_2.jpg

I don't of course run the air pump still, that was for the blackout.

I just ordered a "DOUBLEHELIX ULTRAVIOLET STERILIZER- 9 WATT" for $71 shipped from bigA's. Hope that helps. I've heard from someone else that might help and the least it will do is keep my water cleaner so I can't really lose.

[gutterguppy]

A diatom filter will also help clean up green water.

[Heady]

Shrimp work well, as do FW clams.

[RTR]

Add more plants - if you have light and nutrients and insufficient plants, you will have algae. If not free-floating, then attached will come.

Anacharis, hornwort, or water sprite would be my suggestions.

[somefinnfishy]

to much changing water stop for two weeks my nasty 150 claered up soon after I stoped the constant changes to clear up the bloom(eric beats head on wall again)

[superjohnny]

I just added:

Ozelot sword (echinodorus)
2 Red Tiger Lotus (zymphaea zenkeri)
2 Rotala macrandra
1 small patch of Java moss (vesiculari dubyana)

The red really adds nice contrast. My LFS didn't have anacharis and I didn't really like the hornwort or water sprite.

I also added 3 small clown loaches. So I have 4 medium angel's, 3 loaches, 2 SAE's, 5 small otto's and the unknown soldier... a cichlid of some sort.

[superstein61]

The UV Sterilizer that you already ordered will clear that green water up easily

[superjohnny]

The SAE's have been going nuts on the moss. They freaked out when I put it in there. I wonder if they will eat until they pop or they'll leave some cause it looks nice? :)

I really appreciate the feedback everyone in this community gives. Having people help along the way makes this a much easier (and more enjoyable) hobby. Thank You All! :)

[TrashmanTodd]

Hey,
I just drop the light by an hour and uped my ferts a little bit and in about two days it was back to normal

Todd