Algae bloom

proverbs308

AC Members
Feb 18, 2007
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Springfield, OR
I am looking for some good advice. Recently a started to plant my tank and after starting to do that I have had a constant fight with algae bloom (green tent to the water). I have done regular water changes and my amonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH all seem at their appropriate levels every time I check them. The tank is kept at 80 deg F, filtered by a Emporer 400, and I have a hagen co2 ladder. I love my tank and will do anything to fix this. Please post all suggestions especially those that work well. Thank you everyone.
 
How much light do you have? Did you recently change the intensity of the lighting? How old is the tank? Do you fertilize NPK or micros? Does the tank get any direct sunlight? It's been my experience most new tanks under a year old seem to go through at least one bout of green water. I believe its due to the tank not being completely settled as far as the nitrogen cycle. Ammonia, even below the level hobby test kits can measure, and bright light seem to be the trigger for green algae.
 
i had a really bad greenwater problem within days of setting up my 10 gal. i could hardly see my fish 2 inches past the glass. i let it get worse, untill finally i put my H.O.T. magnum filter on it. i used the micron filter along with diatom powder. within an hour the water was crystal clear and has stayed crystal clear for a week, right now the water has detritus floating around so i guess its time to use the filter again!
i also used wild collected plants so i beleive the greenwater was introduced this way. plus i have my tank in a south window which gets alot of direct sunlight.
 
Armagedon, how did you use the diatom powder with the HOT Magnum? I have just used the micron filter and it does a good job, but I would like the extra filtration the diatom powder brings. Thanks.
 
I had water with the green tint in it too. It went away after I did a 50% water change one week then a 70% water change the following week. I also cut down the amount of time my lights were on to about 8 hours.
 
Armagedon, how did you use the diatom powder with the HOT Magnum? I have just used the micron filter and it does a good job, but I would like the extra filtration the diatom powder brings. Thanks.


correct me if i'm wrong, but i wouldnt use diatomaceous earth in a filter that wasnt made for it. that could be disastrous.
 
correct me if i'm wrong, but i wouldnt use diatomaceous earth in a filter that wasnt made for it. that could be disastrous.
You got that right. That would be a bad Idea. From what I understand is no amount of water changes on earth will get rid or GW, just wait it out or do a black out.
 
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