Majic Dis/Re-appearing Algae bloom?!?

[labont865]

In my 15 years of keeping a tank I have never seen this problem personally! I have heard a few people who have had it but never really payed too much attention to how to get rid of it!

What happens is, during the day my tank is perfectly clear. Perameters are perfect. PH is a little higher than I would like to have but not bad(7.2, I want 7.0) Temp is about 24 degrees. Everything else is between 0-5 ppm. Then when I turn out the lights something happens! I wake up in the morn and click on the lights and my water slightly cloudy but doesnt clear up for a few hours! I do have a small green algae patch for my fish to pick at but nothin out of the ordinary! Anybody want/can help me! I cant figure out what this is!
Algae bloom is the closest guess I can come up with! but it usually blooms when the lights are onn for long periods not when they are off, or am I forgetting something here?

 

[OrionGirl]

Pull a glass of water out and look at it over something white, then something black. If it's a green tinge, it's algal, if it's white, it's bacterial--maybe. What all additives are you using?

 

[labont865]

The only additives I tend to use are AquaClear and then a ph up/down! Unless it is an emergency!


The wierd thing is that I have personally never seen it happen quite like this before! I am wondering maybe if it had something to do with the temp of my house as opposed to the temp of my tank! The tank temp has stayed the same, but the temp in my house has been quite a bit warmer with all the warm weather we are getting but gets cold again at night, So maybe it is just that that is causing it! It stayed relitively warm last night and it was quite alot clearer today! I dont get to control the temp in my house as I am currently in a basement suite and the thermostat is in the upstairs suite!

 

[slipknottin]

Everything else is between 0-5 ppm.

Everything else as in? Is there detectable nitrite or ammonia?

BTW- The PH up and down should not be used. They only temporarily change the Ph, and the constant change stresses your fish far more than leaving them at a slightly higher or lower Ph than you would like.

 

[TKOS]

Ph changing products generally contain phosphates. High phosphates tend to lead to algae blooms.

 

[labont865]

Thanks slipknottin. But I have used them for nearly 15 years and they never caused any problems. I also I dont use them very often as my tap water comes out with the ph at about 7.2 anyways. but I have used them here and there.

Nitrite and ammonia are both at 0, but i do have a little nitrate 1-2ppm

 

[slipknottin]

But I have used them for nearly 15 years and they never caused any problems.

I disagree. Maybe no problems you witnessed, but that doesnt mean it does not stress your fish.