Green tint to tank

[Bevin Subocz]

i think algae... what can we do? Very green tint. 38 gallon freshwater. 8 plants, driftwood and an algae eater in tank.

 

[Byron]

A green cloudiness/haze is known as green water, caused by unicellular algae. It is caused by high organics/nutrients and light.

Regular (once a week) substantial (50-70% of the tank volume) water changes help to prevent this, as will vacuuming the substrate during the WC's, keeping the filter clean, not overcrowding fish and not overfeeding fish. Plant additives (fertilizers) can contribute since these may provide more nutrients than the plants can use. Some plant substrates such as soil can really cause this.

Water changes are preventative but once you have it these alone do not clear it up because they do not remove the underlying organic/nutrient excess. Various nutrients are sometimes mentioned, like nitrate, ammonia/ammonium, phosphate, iron, etc, but it is usually pointless to deal with one of these as the problem is more likely across several factors organic in origin. However, high nitrate is a sure sign of the organics, so cleaning things up to reduce nitrates will go a long way.

Without finding and resolving the immediate cause, any treatment that may work will be temporary.