Habitat - Indoor :: Odd Water Problem

[cutepanda86]

I cleaned Sheldon's tank and filter on Friday. Usually by some time on Saturday the water is crystal clear like glass. Here we are on Sunday and his water is not clear and slightly green (to be honest it was quite green when I cleaned). I've taken apart the filter (which by the way had the clearest water inside the filter) and put it back together. The flow has never been an issue as the output is circulating the water fantastically. So why would the water inside the tank not be clean or at the very least not green? It doesn't smell.

So any thoughts?

[Joddog]

Mine is the same way right now. No matter how clean, it's green.

[ljapa]

You've got algae, specifically one that lives in the water column instead of attaching to surfaces. What are your nitrate levels?

I'd try more water changes to reduce nitrates and lowering the light period for a bit. I've heard that reducing the light period by turning off the lights for a bit in the middle instead of starting later or stopping earlier can have a bigger impact.

For water column algae, you can also go the expensive route of adding a uv sterilizer to your filter intake line, but I'd look at other solutions first.

[cutepanda86]

That's weird because I've never had this problem before. I always use filtered water to add to his tank. I'll see about removing some water and replacing it. Thanks ljapa.

[Kansasslider]

This link might help you also.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/maint ... nwater.htm

[cutepanda86]

Thanks Kansasslider.

I'm definitely doing a water change this evening to see if this helps. I think I probably didn't remove enough of the dirty water on Friday and that's why things are looking weird now - the color of the tank is not crazy green like on Friday it's much less so, so more nasty water out will probably fix it. I appreciate the help and I'll let you know if the water change doesn't do anything.

Joddog - I would look at the link that Kansasslider posted and see if ljapa's suggestions would help you.

[Kansasslider]

I haven't had this problem but I have researched it. The biggest but not only reason for algae blooms is too much light. Too much waste is probably 2nd. One great way to fight it is less light/waste. Now, how to get rid of it. First try 20% water changes every day for 4 or 5 days. In extreme cases a tank blackout is needed. Wrapping black plastic aroung the tank for 3 days or longer. I would try the water changes for a while. Hope it gets better.

[cutepanda86]

Let us hope it isn't that bad. I appreciate the input. Hopefully it was me just not taking as much water out as I should have. There was algae attached to the side of the tank, I scrubbed it and then I decided that since the filter had been so awesome I would see if it could clear the water. Well it did do an awesome job just couldn't get all the way.

I have to wait until I get home from work today to try so hopefully by the am I will know if more drastic action has to be taken.

I thought it was weird how the water inside the filter was perfectly clear - I mean algae being circulated through the filter should still be algae on the other side right?

[steve]

I don't think I've seen algae in my filter before.

[cutepanda86]

Me neither. I was just thinking that if the water is being pulled into the filter and it's full of algae then how come the water inside the filter is so clean. I just figured there would be some kind of trade off.

[Kansasslider]

I get what your saying. Yea, that is odd. Maybe its just because its not a clear glass?

[cutepanda86]

Oh no the glass is clear. I just figured that it's my kind of luck in this situation that is my beloved Sheldon and his defective filters and tasty basking platforms and the fact that he likes to poop on everything. LOL

[Kansasslider]

The glass on your filter. Or lack of.

[cutepanda86]

The water "looked like glass" in the filter. Not so much in the tank. LOL

[Kansasslider]

I got what you were saying. I think you missed what I was saying. Doesn't matter. Hope it works out.