Habitat - Indoor :: green water

[steve]

aside from green water, i've never had a sudden cloudiness situation, even with a new filter. are you using any BIOMAX media?

[marisa]

I'm not sure I agree with not doing partial water changes. I think they'll help with the cloudiness, but I wouldn't do 30% every day. I'd do less and I think I'd give a day or two rest in between and see if that helps.

I have a 110-gallon stock tank with 80-85 gallons of water in it. I last did a complete water change in January, after the new year, when I set up the tank again (had to be taken down for the holidays). It's now mid-May. I replace between 30 and 50% of the water weekly and I test weekly for ammonia and nitrite. The water I take out is crystal clear. The reading for both has been consistently at 0.0 ppm with the exception of once. I use no chemicals (but I do use spring water). I clean the filter monthly-five weeks, and that's because I'm using carbon in the filter, which does need to be replaced. I do vacuum/suction the bottom when I do the partial water change. Now that the weather's getting warmer I might do a complete water change during the summer.

Once that tank is established, that 30% water change is good (but weekly).

I don't know about the green, though. It's definitely not algae?

[Stacey]

I have no clue why this has happened, because it just happened out of the blue. I used to change the water weekly, not because I had to, because I wouldn't wan't to live in the water that i go "potty" in. I really don't know what media is used in the filter because I have never changed it, because the water was always clear, so I didn't worry about it. Should I change any of it, and if so, any recommendations? Should I just get a new filter? I am really worried about the health of my turt being jeopardized because of this.

[pkneeyahx]

stacey.. all I gotta say is XP3.. :]

nothing filters water like an external canister. and i can guarantee you that within an hour of filtering that green water with the XP3, you'll be tempted to drink it! it really is that good.

:]

[Stacey]

I have really been thinking about upgrading to the XP3, but with the wedding a month away, I don't even know what money is

Right now I have the Fluval 404, and it was doing great until now. Is there any inexpensive way I could "beef-up" my current filter?

[RES Tampa]

Adam

I have had my xp3 for about two months now and am starting to get some buildup in the hoses. Is that algae?

[steve]

hey res tampa - is the buildup in the hose tannish looking? i get that alot and its a real pain to clean, but i think its mostly waste product and not algea.

hey stacey - congratulations! i don't think that green water can be filtered out, you should do 100% change and clean out the filter and media (or better yet, replace the media)


-s

[marisa]

What's the media in it, Stacey? If you've never replaced any of it at least part of it should be replaced. Is there any carbon in it--if so, that should definitely go.

The hoses in the XP3 are a pain to clean. And it became such a pain that I just stopped doing it. The crud built up to a point and suddenly started to disappear; now they're just about totally clean again (Self-cleaning? ). I wondered if not cleaning would hurt my turt, but I've read of other keepers not bothering with it, and their turts (and mine) are just fine.

[RES Tampa]

Thanks to both of you. I guess I will not worry for the moment. i may try some algae treatment which might not do anything if it's just waste product like steve said.

[Stacey]

I have 2 levels of ceramic on the bottom and 2 foam inserts on the top.

[Stacey]

Just want to let everyone know that I left the water for a few days, and decided to clean EVERYTHING yesterday. I did a complete water change, completely scrubbed the ENTIRE inside of the tank and everything in it, and that filter that was so gross it took me over an hour to clean! Finally success! It has been running for approximately 18 hours (and counting) and it is sparkling clear!

Thank you everybody for your suggestions, (especially the one about relaxing), and advice.

Now I can post some pics of my baby and his set-up, if I only knew how!

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

So was the green water caused by the filter?

[STRAYKINGFISHER]

If you have your pictures on an online album you can post them here like this:

Copy the picture's url from the online album and in the posting section there is a square with Img on it, click on the button before you paste the pictures's url and then after you paste it.

[tfavaro]

I have had the same RES for 25yrs. This happens in the spring to my tank b/c the sun streams through the window and accelerates algae growth. This could be your problem