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water clarity problems

2K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
My 55gl tank has been up and running for 4 months now and in the last 3 weeks the water has a green bloom in the middle to were I cannot see clearly from one side of the tank too the other. I do 30% water changes weekly and all my water parameters are good. I have my lighting on a 12hr cycle and feed 2 times a day (flakes,pleco wafers). With only 15 tetras,20ish cherry shrimp and a 4" pleco I know that my fish load is low so what else could it be. The tank is heavily planted and has some Porous rock and drift wood with sugar grain sand for substrate. 2 hob's with just screen media and NO carbon. The plants are fed a liquid fert every other week which could be the issue or I have read of invert lighting being a possibility and since it has been nice out all the windows in the house have been open so may be that is it. I don't really want to add another chemical to fix the issue but it is tempting.
 
#3 ·
Sounds like a green algae bloom, usually due to excess nutrients and or lighting. What type of lighting do you have? I think it's the 12 hrs of lights that are causing the bloom ... it happens quite often. One strategy I've heard of is putting the lights on a 4 hr on 4 hr off cycle. It can deprive the algae of the light they need but should have minimal if any effect on your plants. Also excess food could lead to excess nutrients (fish waste and uneaten food). Try cutting down on feeding to once a day and or skip feeding 2 days in the week. No worries ... your fish can handle a couple of days without feeding.
 
#4 ·
Green water (as opposed to a white cloudiness) is due to unicellular algae. It occurs when light is too intense, plus excess nutrients.

I agree with what's been suggested; reduce your light duration, and reduce feeding. The more food going in to the tank, the more organics will be produced.

Chemicals willnot resolve this. They can mask the problem, but the underlying causes are still there unless they are corrected. Plus even worse is the effect many of the chemicals have on fish.

Byron.
 
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