Cloudy water

[nero]

Hi all,
Ive always had sparkling tanks, until a few weeks ago. It started when I added driftwood (yes, i soaked and boiled it a bazillion times) and I a got tea coloured tank for a couple of weeks. But that cleared up, and now I have cloudy tank. My question is: It is a distinct GREEN murky colour. Does this identify if it is an algal bloom or what? I (unfortunatly) am relying on my mother to feed my tanks at present, so she MAY be overfeeding slightly. But then again, judging how well she fed us when I was a kid the fish are lucky they arent all dead from starvation....

 

[jflowers]

Algae blooms are as you describe, milky white cloudy is bacterial bloom. Over feeding will certainly not help with either type of bloom.

Jon

 

[Blue Lobster]

Hi all,
Ive always had sparkling tanks, until a few weeks ago. It started when I added driftwood (yes, i soaked and boiled it a bazillion times) and I a got tea coloured tank for a couple of weeks. But that cleared up, and now I have cloudy tank. My question is: It is a distinct GREEN murky colour. Does this identify if it is an algal bloom or what? I (unfortunatly) am relying on my mother to feed my tanks at present, so she MAY be overfeeding slightly. But then again, judging how well she fed us when I was a kid the fish are lucky they arent all dead from starvation....

Green algae bloom can be quickly cured with Algae-fix.

It works wonders, put it in and about 2 hours later the water is crystal clear.

Bear in mind if you have algae eaters, supplimental food should be provided since it kills all the algae in your tank.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..I'd avoid the chemicals....the mostly likely cause is overfeeding and possibly overlighting. Phosphates can be a problem too if they are heavy in the drinking/tap water. Try keeping the tank light off if you don't have live plants (fish won't be hurt), do water changes and cut the feeding back. I'd always try 'noninvasive' methods first before going the chemical route. SH

 

[webcat5]

I had trouble with green algea (Vulvox) turned out that the hardness of my water was way off. Softened the water, algea went away.

 

[Blue Lobster]

Hi..I'd avoid the chemicals....the mostly likely cause is overfeeding and possibly overlighting. Phosphates can be a problem too if they are heavy in the drinking/tap water. Try keeping the tank light off if you don't have live plants (fish won't be hurt), do water changes and cut the feeding back. I'd always try 'noninvasive' methods first before going the chemical route. SH

Turn out the lights for 3-4 days and it will disspear too but I like looking at my fish too much.

This stuff is a lifesaver when you have a house full of people coming for dinner. Call me vain but it sucks when you overhear "I thought he was like, really into fish. That tank looks nasty, hmmph". My show tank sometimes gets a dose the day before a party just to help polish the water.(It's ok, I don't party that much)

Crystal clear water and no side effects? I'll take it.

 

[nero]

Thanks for the replies, i suppose it is algal then. The lighting hadnt occured to me! I do have live plants, but only dim light ones, so I will cut 3 hours out of the lighting, and supervise the feeding when i am there next. I will use algae-fix as a last resort, but its a bit scary, because I love my two ottos soooo much!!! (though they quite happily suck onto the sinking tablets i feed the cories)