Murky water

[Kikipunx]

Over the past couple weeks, my tank water has been cloudy/murky.
When I noticed it getting cloudy, I did a water change (50%), which
seemed to clear it up for a day or two. Then it started getting
cloudy again - now it's to the point of a murky, greenish color. I
can barely see my fish! The fish seem fine - they're not
acting/looking sick. Any idea of how to clear it up??

Info about my tank:
10 gal, freshwater
1 small, bottom-dweller catfish species
2 glass cats
1 molly
3 tetras
1 algae eater
I've tested my water levels over & over again - they're in the
normal range. My filter is working. No algae growing on tank or
objects in tank.

I've had the tank approx. 1 year & never had this problem.

Thanks
Christi

 

[tstenback]

sounds like an algae bloom if the cloudiness is greenish in color. How long do you have your lights on per day? does any sunlight shine directly on the tank?

 

[endparenthesis]

Ugh... green water... I'm dealing with that one too. I think I'm making my lighting too good.

Water changes haven't done me any good. Some people say you should just ride it out and it'll go away on its own. Of course figuring out what's imbalanced in there is the best way to go.

 

[tstenback]

I would not try to ride it out. An algae bloom can get so dense that it can actually use all the oxygen in your tank and suffocate the fish. This is rare but i have seen the results. This stuff needs light and nutrients. The nutrients are either nitrates or phosphates and the light is totally in your control. So to stop the bloom take away one or both and the immediate problem will go away. to deal with the long term ensure that you keep the gravel in the tank clean and dont overfeed. The over feeding will cause excess phosphates and that can lead to a algae bloom if enough light is present. Check nitrates weekly and keep the level below or around 20 if you can. If your tap water has them then keep it as low as you can or treat the tap water. HTH

 

[Kikipunx]

I have my light on for approx 8-10 hrs a day. No direct sunlight hits the tank. I'll try limiting the light....but how do you take away the nutrients?


Thanks

 

[tstenback]

Water changes to start with and then see what happens after a week or so.

 

[Kikipunx]

I have been doing water changes for over a week now....only clears it up for a day or two, then the green water comes back

 

[fish+peace]

my water is suffering too, ive been told in good authority to use a carbon filter

 

[endparenthesis]

Mine is starting to go away. I just lowered the light on the tank... guess I did have too much for the plant load.

 

[nirvanarama]

cut your light levels down to bout 3-4 hours a day if you can, and perhaps get a lower wattage (lower UV) light?

 

[sunflower]

I know there's a treatment by King British for green water.

Guess you'd be reluctant to add anything to the water though.

Just a thought.

 

[I_found_Nemo]

cut ur light time down a bit to bout 5 hrs coz light helps it grow (i think..).regular 30% water changes and it shold eventually clean out

 

[7chanaa]

do a 25% water change every day