Green Tank ~_~

[nanotankcommander]

I cant stop my tank from turning green, its all over the glass. Tried covering from sunlight, feeding less often and also been changing small amounts of water everday.

~_~ please help a newbie, thanks.

 

[Greg_DS]

How long do you have the lights on each day??

Have you done a test for amonnia??

 

[nanotankcommander]

Ammonia tests are showing 0ppm if thats right. Usually have the lights on when its dark at night so about 4 hours or so?
Could the test be wrong? Im new to this

 

[Greg_DS]

Me too I'm afraid, I had a bit of a problem and cut the lights down a bit but 4 hours should be fine, it tends to be ammonia + too much light = algae, thought that might be the case but I was keeping them on for 12 hours.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Green water is the result of sunlight + ammonia= green water. Only thing is move the tank or i just got double lined dark choclate curtains for my french doors where sunlight hit

 

[nanotankcommander]

How do I combat the ammonia in the long run? Chemically?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Thats your filters job, is your filter cycled and how long for?

 

[nanotankcommander]

I've had the filter for the same time I've had the tank, 2 Years. I've change the carbon cartridges and the little white noodle things as often as it says on the packaging. Should I be doing something different?
Thanks.

 

[mtbdean]

You should't ever change filter media unless it has totally had it! Only carbon you should change¬!

 

[ctsv510]

You can get green water without measurable levels of ammonia that would danger the fish. More of a concern may be the oxygen depletion in the water. Steps to take as suggested, are to limit light on the tank (especially direct sunlight) and make sure you are staying up on your gravel vacuuming and water changes and not overfeeding. If it is really bad and you don't have luck with these steps, it's probably time to give it a one time treatments with an algae killer, making sure you do not overdose. That should clear the tank up, then give it a really good cleaning and water change and keep up with the low light and cleaning to make sure it doesn't come back.

 

[fishyfeet]

do yu have plants, if not leave the light off for a bit, how often do you do a water change, di

 

[This Old Spouse]

Please go to the beginner's section and read up on starting a new fish-in cycle for your tank. Although you've had the tank for 2 years, you've essentially started the cycle over again every single time you change out the filter media. As mtdbean stated, you should never change it out. The manufacturers only care about selling you their product and recommend changing it out, but that's rubbish.

An established set of filter media harbors wonderful bacteria that changes the ammonia to nitrite, then nitrate, and keeps your fish healthy. Without this process, the fish are swimming around in their own waste until you change the water, then it slowly fills up with their waste until you change the water again.

You should start by doing a huge water change of at least 90%. This means leaving just enough water for the fish to swim upright. Replace with warm dechlorinated water.

But please go to the beginner's resources. Much more info than I can put here. And good luck!