"micro" algae bloom?

G

glassfish

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Apr 10, 2004
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Back again with another question... :o

I have two tanks - one is crystal clear, the other is murky green. Both are FW, ammonia/nitrite = 0 for both, nitrates = ~10-15ppm.

tank specs and inhabitants listed in this thread

The tank in question is my 46-gal. I have two otos in there and the algae on surfaces isn't bad. But the water! I am so frustrated. Since about the 7th, it has been cloudy, despite a change in filter pads (Emp 400 and UGF) and small partial water changes. With the lights off, I look the long way into the tank and the water is definitely and uniformly GREEN.

I don't want to use any chemicals (algacide), any ideas of what to do? I've read about keeping the tank in total darkness for 4-5 days... is that the only way to clear this up?

PS - I only feed a small amount once a day, and fast the fish 1 day a week.
 
whats your lighting like?
I would suggest a massive water change, suck the mulm from the gravel too
Filter feeders like shrimp would help your situation, since they literally skim thru the water "filtering it"
and lastly two-3 days of total darkness
your plants should survive if they are healthy
but a do bear in mind you need to find the cause, not just bandaid the gash,
 
Thank you for your reply.

I am afraid that we may have too much light. :( We have a 46-gal bow front and the hood that came with it had just a single 24" light - not even as wide as the hood is. It was so dark that we could barely see the fish.

So dh got involved and ordered a triple ballast hood that has lights the full width (30"? 36"? can't remember)

I know that one of the lights is 10K, and will have to check on the other two... maybe 6.5K and 4.5K?

I have several types of plants - all heights and leaf styles - so they provide lots of shaded areas. All plants and fish are doing well.

I have not turned on the lights today.
 
hehe
If you can afford it, a microfilter like a vortex diatom filter will remove a signifigant amount of that water borne algae
generally that algae is a result of direct sunlight...is that the case?
 
No direct sunlight hits either tank.

Hmmm microfilter, eh? Do you have any brand names or search terms I can use to research? (if that is allowed here?) Will a dense foam, say like what you might find in a canister filter?!) work, or is this something totally different?

I just placed an order at F&S today (my canister - yay!) but didn't know about a vortex filter. Like I need something ELSE for my tanks. :p

I will check it out though, and thanks for the recommendation.

Thanks again.
 
keep in mind tho, dont keep feeding the habit, stop it all together.
You gotta find out why there is a green water thingy going on
You can micro-clean the water, but the problem is still gonna be there, so it will come back
check for excess phosphates, try the lighting dealie, are you dosing ferts? how are the plants doing?
 
Originally posted by bortsamson
keep in mind tho, dont keep feeding the habit, stop it all together.
Click to expand...

LOL I know what you mean. :p

Plants are doing great.

One of the things I ordered today is a phosphate test, since that question has come up before. I couldn't find this test at my LFS.

I use Flourish Excel every other day, as per bottle instructions. Don't have CO2 on either tank.

I also have PlantTabs, but have only used them twice (at < half the recommended dosage) in 12 weeks.

What do you mean by 'try the lighting'? Turn them off, or? We have had the brighter lights for about 6 weeks now. Problem has been going on for ~ 2 weeks.
 
well, perhaps
so thats prolly.....30 watts each.....
90+ watts...thats not too much light
course I could be way off, lol
I have 170 watts on my 50 gallon, never had an excess algae problem, mind you I proactivly addressed my hair algae problem by reducing the lighting time from 14 hours down to 10
plants still doin great, algae....not so great, haha
 
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