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Tank Green?!?!

Discussion in 'Freshwater General Discussion' started by waldmansd, Jun 24, 2009.

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  1. waldmansd

    waldmansd Thread Starter New Member

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    Ok heres the deal: 20 gal tank with mollies, small sharks, 1 algae eater, and some molly babies is turning green!! The substrate is like marbles and the filtration was a power filter, but was just changed to a bio wheel. Please help!!
     
    waldmansd, Jun 24, 2009
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    What are your tank parameters ? pH, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia ?

    Is the water itself green or is it algae growth on surfaces ?
     
    Anthony, Jun 24, 2009
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  3. waldmansd

    waldmansd Thread Starter New Member

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    Well I'm not sure because it's not my tank, but the owner used to every 2 weeks completely drain the tank to clean it and move the fish, so she was basically restarting it all the time. There are no live plants in there.
     
    waldmansd, Jun 24, 2009
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  4. waldmansd

    waldmansd Thread Starter New Member

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    O and its the water that is green it is not an algae problem
     
    waldmansd, Jun 24, 2009
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  5. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Green water is caused by too much light, it's free floating algae.
     
    Anthony, Jun 24, 2009
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  6. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    tell them to turn the lights back, and a uv sterilizer should work if they want to invest in one.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 24, 2009
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  7. waldmansd

    waldmansd Thread Starter New Member

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    Well but here's the deal she leaves the light off at all day and only turns it on at night when she goes to feed them but then turns it off again after they are fed. That's why I'm baffled! Haha
     
    waldmansd, Jun 24, 2009
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  8. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    It has to be getting light from a window/door. Green water won't grow without light.
     
    Anthony, Jun 24, 2009
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  9. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    yea is it near a window one of mines turns green all the time doesnt really affect the fish just looks ugly
     
    stevenrox, Jun 24, 2009
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  10. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Algae bloom. Three day black out. Take a towel or sheet to cover the tank during this period.

    And as you know....very, extremely bad to break down the tank and set it back up every two weeks. YIKES!
     
    James0816, Jun 24, 2009
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  11. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    But that won't eliminate the actual problem. They need to correct the light source it's receiving unless they want to do that on a regular basis (blackout)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 24, 2009
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  12. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    With reg maintenance...it will be fine. I keep my 29 near the sunny side window. No probs.
     
    James0816, Jun 24, 2009
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  13. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Sorry, gotta disagree here.
    It's my thinking that if you don't correct the light source that is causing the algae...regardless of tank maint...that your still gonna combat the issue again.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 24, 2009
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  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Yep I agree with Dawn. I have my 20 up stairs with two windows on each size of the tank. Even with doing weekly water changes algae has always been a problem in that tank.
     
    Anthony, Jun 24, 2009
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  15. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    np...as an example, the 29 runs a 64w 6500k light and the sun hits it for approx 8 hrs a day as well. 25% wc/wk. No issues with algae.

    Pull the curtain then or move to another location possible?
     
    James0816, Jun 24, 2009
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  16. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Did you ever have an initial problem with algae in the first place though with the light running and the light from the window?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 24, 2009
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  17. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    No probs initially. I did have a bloom quite a while back...bout 1 1/2 yrs ago. After black out...there has been no reoccurances.

    I might also add that my 46g is also exposed to direct sunlight. It is running 96w/65k. It only gets the morning sun so it is not as intense. Only aglae in this tank has been the occassional GSA.
     
    James0816, Jun 25, 2009
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  18. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Member

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    I had that problem with my 20 gallon. I did a 4 day black out. Changed the water twice a week and changed the carbon and haven't had a problem since. Mine is in my living room between my front door and my bay window. No problems anymore!
     
    jrow8162, Jun 25, 2009
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  19. waldmansd

    waldmansd Thread Starter New Member

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    Hey thanks a lot everyone I will let you know the outcome. I appreciate everyone's help!!! Thanks again!
     
    waldmansd, Jun 26, 2009
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  20. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    np! Keep us posted on how it's going :)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 26, 2009
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