green water

[focus]

can anyone help me i do a 25% water change once a week and at the same time i clean the gravel and 1 of my sponge's in my fillter.
after i do this i water i lovly and so clear but after a day or two the water stars turning green.
i have a 18 gal tank with a EHEIM AQUABALL 2210 fillter.
i think the filter isn't big enought to run my tank but my lfs told me to get this one,
am i right or is green water the norm

 

[lordmoose]

Sounds like an algae bloom...this is either because of too much light getting into the tank or more likely overfeeding/high nitrite levels. Test your water ASAP.

 

[focus]

Sounds like an algae bloom...this is either because of too much light getting into the tank or more likely overfeeding/high nitrite levels. Test your water ASAP.

water leavels are fine just did them only feeding once a day so it might be light
i have real plants so how long should i keep my light on its on about 10 hours a day at the mo but and this is abig BUT about 2pm till 4pm there is sun light on the tank from the window and its been hot 8) could this be the problem?

 

[lordmoose]

direct sunlight is usually the cause of algae. I turn my lights on once the sun has totally risen, and turn them off before it gets totally dark outside to avoid shocking the fish.
IMO you should use an algecide to kill off the algae (remove live plants first tho it'll kill them too)

 

[focus]

don't realy want do that as the plants are very well in the tank i might get a bigger fillter seen the one i do want its that big it can drain and refill the tank a day
have to start saving the pennys

 

[Xenity7]

How old is the tank? it could be you just haven't gone through the entire algae cycling process. If your tank is only 18 gallonsI doubt that there are any filters to small for it... if you are worried about that, try adding another of the same kind, or some kind of bio-media

 

[Kissifish]

Sorry to hear about your green water. Had the same problem back in the beginning.....Bad algae overgrowth and lots of ammonia!!!

There is a product called Algae Remover. It is a liquid and will kill the algae, but after it dies you have to vacuum all the dead algae out, cause it never totally dies and will 'resurrect' and green up again.

Stuff worked for me. Found it in the local Wal-Mart fish department.

 

[revengeishere]

i am having the same problem right now...im currently doing a 3-5 day blackout(covering the entire tank with a blanket and it seems to be doing really well(i cud slighly see the fishes at the back whereas before, i couldnt)..its been 3 days and ill see the results tommorow and maybe on sunday(crosses fingers).

 

[CFC]

Avoid using algecides at all costs,they are strong chemicals that are very harsh on aquatic life forms and can affect bacteria populations in the filter (if your in the UK then you will have trouble finding these products since they have now been banned).
The green water,as previously mentioned,is usually a combination of too much light,especialy direct sunlight,and high nitrates.
I would suggest doing your water changes twice a week,25% each time,and closing the curtains/blinds during the time that the sunlight is on the tank,placing some activated carbon in the filter will also help.Increasing the ammount of plants will also help in the long term as they will compete with the algea for the nitrates in the water preventing the algea from getting established.

 

[Sye]

I had the same problem, I bought Green Away made by Interpet it clumps all the suspend algae together then the filter picks it up, within an hour the water is clear