Is this even algae?

N

newtosnails

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Jun 13, 2006
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Hi all, I posted in here a few days ago about blacking out my tank. I was going through some of the posts over the past few days and saw somebody else writing about algae, and it didn't sound like what I had. What I have is just green water. I over medicated and actually killed some of my fish about 2 weeks ago, and I have been struggling with green water ever since. The medicines I used had a green dye of some kind in them and it said on the bottle it would cause a green color. But I've done 4 water changes since then trying to get rid of it (2-50% changes, 1-70% change, 1-95%). With my last water change, the 95% one, all the green was finally gone! And I got up the next morning and it was green again. I've changed my filters twice, and added additional carbon 3 times.

I was going to do the blackout thing a few days ago, but then my Mom went to our LFS (which is so-so on knowledge), and a guy that is suppossed to be super knowledgable told her to just use this product called Algae Fix and it should be clear by the next morning. So I thought what the heck, I'll try it. I did and it has gotten worse I think faster since I've used it. But the sides of my tank are still clean, it's just the water that's getting greener. Did I screw something up again with this Algae Fix, or do I just need to tape up my aquarium for a week and then I'll be good? (which this guy said that a blackout won't work, I'm very skeptical about his advice since I've heard the total oppisite here)

Thanks!
 
Green water could be caused by a number of things. I don't know about the medication that you used, but let's say that could be a source. The 95% water change and filter change should have gotten rid of that.

The second thing that might be causing your green water (which I have had experience with) is excess natural light. Check your tank's exposure to natural light. In my case, the tank had a beam of light that was coming through a window, through a thin shade and then through the tank. The sliver of light only came in the window for about 30 minutes in the late evening on clear days in the fall. This was enough to give me green water. I had the darndest time figuring it out because it was fine all summer. Anyway, check that out.

Third, green water typically happens when your tank is near done with its ammonia cycle. This usually goes away naturally.

If I were you, I would first do a water change to get rid of most of those chemicals, then do a blackout. While blacking out the tank, take a look for light beams tht might be coming in through a window.
 
There is a window without a shade on it in the room with the tank, but there isn't any direct beam hitting the tank. All four of my water changes have been since I stopped using the meds, so I'm pretty sure that's not it.

I wonder if it is natural with my cycling, as I am 4 weeks into my cycling now. Is this probably it?

I will still do the blackout within the next couple of days.

Thank you so much! :)
 
I had the same thing last week...
3 days, no lights on over tank (not near a window, room lighting isn't very strong, so I didn't bother w/ blankets).
On day 2, I added normal ferts + a little extra K2HPO4 (~1ppm extra)
On day 3, there was a lot less of it, so I added an old, clean dish towel to the top of my Eheim media stack. I'll pull it today or tomorrow (it will have been there 24-48 hours).

My tank is only about 1 month old too, this (Euglenoid algae) is a common problem w/ newer tanks, especially if NO3 or PO4 drops too low. There's more on this over at APC.
 
if the LFS guy had recommended a blackout on the tank, he wouldn't have made any money off of you.
you're right, it is because you are cycling, all that algae thrives on the ammonia and nitrites in the tank, as well as the small amounts of nitrate the fish are putting out. this is why during fishless cycles it is recommended that you leave the lights off, otherwise you get green tank soup.
the best thing you can do (other than a blackout) is leave the lights off until the cycle is over, do daily water changes, and cut down on your feeding. if you planned on having plants, you could put them in now, add a carbon source (excel or CO2) and the plants should be able to outcompete the algae for food.
 
Thank you all so much! I am so glad there are people here who know what they're talking about and I'm not left at the mercy of my LFS! ;)
 
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