OK, I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank. It has mebay 6-8 fish in it, I cant tell anymore because the water is green. Green water. I cleaned the tank out and siphoned the gravel and refilled with tap water, and used water conditioner. I restocked the fish into it and poped in a new water filter into the penguin filter. After about a week the water starts to turn greed again. I am trying to find out wahts causing this algae bloom but I am starting to think that it is that my tank needs to be completely cleaned out with no fish in it and a clean filter and start the tank over from fresh. I guess I will need a temp holding tank untill my tank is good again for the fish to live and not make the water turn green again. Also, could my tap water be a problem? Our water is hard so we have a water softener so that should be taken care of. Water tested at a PH of 7.5. Any suggestions? I am going to my LHS to see what they suggest. Thanks.
29 gallon fs tank needs help
- Thread starter kb06688
- Start date
Dont flush it all and have to re-cycle.
wait and see how everybody responds
give a couple of more details also..like
"It has mebay 6-8 fish in it" What size, kind?
"I cleaned the tank out and siphoned the gravel and refilled with tap water, and used water conditioner." How often do you do this? and how much water do you change? It should be around 25% a week/two weeks depending on water conditions, in your case 6g a week!
"Also, could my tap water be a problem? " It could be if there are phosphates in the tap..there is in mine. Do a couple of your next water changes with distilled, or RODI water.
A couple of more things, How much do you feed and how often, and how much do the fish not eat of that serving? It all adds up to be algae food which what your green is.
How about the location of your tank, does it get Direct sunlight? it shouldn't be by a window, or even across the room with a window that shines light directly on the tank, this is a major cause for algae or green water.
Or how much lighting does the tank have and how long do you keep them on each day? If you don't have live plants you could cut the lights off for a couple of days and not give the algae food(which is light)
Youll get rid of this stuff and you can enjoy your fish again!
wait and see how everybody responds
give a couple of more details also..like
"It has mebay 6-8 fish in it" What size, kind?
"I cleaned the tank out and siphoned the gravel and refilled with tap water, and used water conditioner." How often do you do this? and how much water do you change? It should be around 25% a week/two weeks depending on water conditions, in your case 6g a week!
"Also, could my tap water be a problem? " It could be if there are phosphates in the tap..there is in mine. Do a couple of your next water changes with distilled, or RODI water.
A couple of more things, How much do you feed and how often, and how much do the fish not eat of that serving? It all adds up to be algae food which what your green is.
How about the location of your tank, does it get Direct sunlight? it shouldn't be by a window, or even across the room with a window that shines light directly on the tank, this is a major cause for algae or green water.
Or how much lighting does the tank have and how long do you keep them on each day? If you don't have live plants you could cut the lights off for a couple of days and not give the algae food(which is light)
Youll get rid of this stuff and you can enjoy your fish again!
Patience is the key KB.......I struggle for a long time with a tank trying to figure out all the ins and outs of planted tanks....had the green water, hair algae, bacteria blooms....etc etc...I think I got it all...lol....
Finally I have a very nice 29 planted, crystal clear water and nice plant growth with little algae (just some nuisancey carpet algae the creeps along the bottom...kept in check with regualar gravel vacs and water changes) It took me a little less than a year to get here, but I learned alot along the way...you will too if you hang in there. Sometimes a tank just takes a while to settle in.
There's plenty of folks here who can give you the technical reasons for the green water and the best way to get rid of it...you might try posting in the "aquatic plants" forum.
All the best with your tank KB....
Finally I have a very nice 29 planted, crystal clear water and nice plant growth with little algae (just some nuisancey carpet algae the creeps along the bottom...kept in check with regualar gravel vacs and water changes) It took me a little less than a year to get here, but I learned alot along the way...you will too if you hang in there. Sometimes a tank just takes a while to settle in.
There's plenty of folks here who can give you the technical reasons for the green water and the best way to get rid of it...you might try posting in the "aquatic plants" forum.
All the best with your tank KB....
Ok, there are 2 fish that are 2 1/2 inches long a piece, and 2 more that are about an inch and I have 3 algae eaters, one which is getting rather big, and the other 2 are smaller. also have 1 serpae tetra. I know this is probably to much, but i change all the water out completly last month and changed the filter out also with the water change. I think I could goto the pet store and buy a temporary tank for the fish and let the 29 gal recycle? then after it cycles do a water change mebay every other day and graduate to every week? Thanks for any help you can give me. Also im not sure if there are phosphates in my water, but do you think I should buy distilled water and use that instead of tap for the refill of the tank for the cycle? Thanks. Also, i have 1 live plant in there. Im thinking about scraping the live plants and going with all fake as it will be much easier in the long run., Also its close to a window but I dont think the sun hits it because its in the back of the house and the trees get the sun not the windows. Ill take a pic and observe how the sun comes into the window.
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Where the fish tank is placed makes a big difference.
Although my tank was not directly in front of a window it stilled received some of the sun rays... result an algae bloom. It was green and brown all over.
Although my tank was not directly in front of a window it stilled received some of the sun rays... result an algae bloom. It was green and brown all over.
HAve you tried a complete blackout for 3-5 days for your tank? That is usually the recommended course of action for algae blooms. Cover your tank to eliminate al light for 3-5 days and either don't feed the fish or feed them just one small feeding during that time and it should get rid of the algae. However, unless you figure out what the factors are that are causing it, it will come back. reduce the amount/frequency you feed your fish, every other day is enough for them really, or very small amounts daily, and reduce any sunlight you have coming in. Planted tanks can also help reduce algae as they use many of the same nutrients as algae.
Ill say it again don't flush the whole tank, have some patients and we will fix this, this is a small problem and you will be over it faster than you could properly cycle a tank so...
Maybe put the live plant in a differant tank for awhile, even a fish bowl near the window, it should be ok for awhile, then you could get some algae-fix of some sort, and turn your lights off for a week.
How many hours a day is your light on? Put it on a timer so it is on a regular schedule and only turn it on for say 8 hours a day, have it turn on when you are around to see the tank.
My guess is you are not doing enough water changes and the tank is getting too much light (either sun or your lights)
BTW, how long has this tank been set up?
how many light bulbs on the tank?
and how old is the bulb that is in the fixture right now.
I wouldn't guess that your tank is overstocked right now but IF your feeding them too much, that would make alot of excess nutrients.
the distilled water wouldn't hurt, its pure so there are no extra nutrients hangin out in it unlike your tap, just pour it in a bucket, then dump it in another, and back and forth a couple of times just to airate it, so its not so stale.
The green water is little algae particles floating in your water, algae eats extra nutrients in your water and needs light for photosynthsis, cut out one or even better both of these and no more algae.
Key - Once you get rid of it, keep up with what ever got rid of it and it wont come back.
More tips on algae
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24916
Maybe put the live plant in a differant tank for awhile, even a fish bowl near the window, it should be ok for awhile, then you could get some algae-fix of some sort, and turn your lights off for a week.
How many hours a day is your light on? Put it on a timer so it is on a regular schedule and only turn it on for say 8 hours a day, have it turn on when you are around to see the tank.
My guess is you are not doing enough water changes and the tank is getting too much light (either sun or your lights)
BTW, how long has this tank been set up?
how many light bulbs on the tank?
and how old is the bulb that is in the fixture right now.
I wouldn't guess that your tank is overstocked right now but IF your feeding them too much, that would make alot of excess nutrients.
the distilled water wouldn't hurt, its pure so there are no extra nutrients hangin out in it unlike your tap, just pour it in a bucket, then dump it in another, and back and forth a couple of times just to airate it, so its not so stale.
The green water is little algae particles floating in your water, algae eats extra nutrients in your water and needs light for photosynthsis, cut out one or even better both of these and no more algae.
Key - Once you get rid of it, keep up with what ever got rid of it and it wont come back.
More tips on algae
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24916
I have had the tank for uhhh, mebay 2 1/2 years. And for the first 6 months i really looked after the tank, then i went off to college and wasent there to watch after the tank. And of course it turned green and nasty. Then i redid the tank again and got rid of the green again for a while. Then it came back and its green again soon after. I took the live plant out now and put it in a plastic cube that was for a beta and put some rocks in the bottom for the roots. I have it in the sunlight now. I am debating since my mother needs the tank to be clean for her party shes having tommorow i think I should throw a blanket over it to keep it from getting any light at all. Do you think I should feed the fish during this 3-5 day process? if so how much food per day? Currently i am feeding them 2 times per day, morning and night. Is that good also for regular feeding? Thanks.
For lighting I have 1 fluroscent tube bulb that has been in it since i bought the tank. Still works fine. Also, what would you recommend to cover the tank up with? I dont have any black blankets or anything, or black garbage bags. What would work best?
For lighting I have 1 fluroscent tube bulb that has been in it since i bought the tank. Still works fine. Also, what would you recommend to cover the tank up with? I dont have any black blankets or anything, or black garbage bags. What would work best?
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The fish don't need feeding during your blackout--a few days never hurt them. During the party you could put a pretty piece of cloth, maybe a tablecloth, over whatever else you use. The fabric used for the blackout should be completely opaque--no light at all. A sheet or two folded up work well. Make sure you get it completely covered the base--masking tape or duct tape helps. DO NOT look in the tank during the 3-5 day period--everyone will be fine.
One reason the others are recommending NOT scrapping the whole tank is that, if you get a new one, it won't be cycled when you put your fish in it, which stresses them and maybe kills them!! Although, it is nice to keep an empty cycled tank around for hospital/quarantine.
I tried plants when I started out and realized that I was much more into being a fishkeeper than an aquatic gardener. Plants throw alot more into the mix, including affecting your bioload (waste matter in the tank--decaying plants, fish poop, leftover food, etc.) There are some nice fake plants out there--I got a couple of the "Fancy Plants Giants" from PetSmart (find them on line, print off the page, take it to the store, they'll honor the price difference--15.00 in store, 9.00 on line!! Do same with an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master Water Test Kit, too, if you don't have one--checks ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels as well as pH).
[Now I just keep a few strands of anacharis in each tank for the cichlids to nibble on--caught my 3/4 inch peacock fry nibbling this afternoon.]
One reason the others are recommending NOT scrapping the whole tank is that, if you get a new one, it won't be cycled when you put your fish in it, which stresses them and maybe kills them!! Although, it is nice to keep an empty cycled tank around for hospital/quarantine.
I tried plants when I started out and realized that I was much more into being a fishkeeper than an aquatic gardener. Plants throw alot more into the mix, including affecting your bioload (waste matter in the tank--decaying plants, fish poop, leftover food, etc.) There are some nice fake plants out there--I got a couple of the "Fancy Plants Giants" from PetSmart (find them on line, print off the page, take it to the store, they'll honor the price difference--15.00 in store, 9.00 on line!! Do same with an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master Water Test Kit, too, if you don't have one--checks ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels as well as pH).
[Now I just keep a few strands of anacharis in each tank for the cichlids to nibble on--caught my 3/4 inch peacock fry nibbling this afternoon.]
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OK, I have the tank covered, a blue sheet and a blue blanket over it and 2 bunbie cords puled over the base of the tank to keep it completly lightless, also took the live plant out and put it in a bowl. I will get back to this thread in like 4 days mebay 5, not sure. Later.