Help!

[BlueFox]

This is a newly set up planted tank (Rena 150 x 50).

The tank was set up by my girlfriends dad and left for a while before putting any fish in it. Against my judgement, the fish went in thick and fast but, hey, who am I to tell the father-in-law what to do?

Anyway, all the fish seem fine without a single loss. They include tetras, clown loaches, mollys and angels. A couple of weeks after all the fish went in, the water started to appear cloudy. I thought that it was down to the fact that too many fish went in too soon and the filter (Rena XP3) had not had chance to develop properly and he had some sort of bacterial bloom.

So for the past few days, he has been making regular water changes to try to clear the tank. 10% the firest day; 10% the second; nothing the third, 25% the fourth and 15% yesterday.

However, I went round there last night and found this....



Horrified, I immediately tested the water...

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5
pH = 7.6

Apart from the pH being high, all else seems OK. The fish do not seem stressed at all.

Please help me to help him.
Thanks in advance.

 

[mybutterflyiris]

That's an algae bloom. Looks like there is only one filter on the tank. For that size you need at least two. Algae is caused by sunlight (and some aquarium lights). Thusly, lessoning the light will help it as well. But I think filtration is a major thing, and I'd recommend an under gravel filter.

 

[FBF]

that xp3 is plenty enough filtration, dont waste the money.

not all algeas need light to grow.

it is an algea bloom and id suspect the owner is leaving the light on too much. the water changes are a good thing. just leave the light on for about 5 hrs a day and that will clear it up. id say the tank is cycled now and the water changes have kept the fish alive.

also under gravel filters are old news. people dont use them anymore they trap too much dirt. this certainly wont help reduce the nitrates which are feeding the algea. nor will a second filter

 

[pokagon55]

http/www.aquariumfish.net/information/green_water.htm

Here is a good site that will answer your ? on green water.

http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/watercon...cloudywater.htm

here is another

http/www.petresources.net/fish/article/trouble.html

ok last one

I first thing I would ck is the tap water for phosphate levels,then reduse the light and the amount you feed the fish.