Forty Fathoms

bdr · Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 27

So everything is the same as my old tank except the tank itself. the new tank is over double the size and a new light. The tank goes absolutly totally green in a week and a half even with a couple water changes. My guess is the prolem is the light but what can i do?

Nebthet · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 212

Is this a freshwater or saltwater tank you are talking about?

Do you check your water perameters?
What lighting do you use?

Do you treat your water before use?

rkelman · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 228 Location: Belleville

If I had to guess I would say you've re used the substrate without cleaning it and released alot of trapped organics / phosphates. It can take time for a tank to acclimate to new light too though.

bdr · Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 27

Yeah i did reuse the subtrate... Ive changed the water and siphoned the gravel a half dozen times and its still coming back. Could it have anything to do with going from a plain old t12 to a t5ho?

Dozerman · Joined: 27 Sep 2008 Posts: 144

quite possibly, if you had a buildup of nutrients then upped the light this could cause a bloom. You can turn off the lights and cover the tank (block out all the light) for a few days and that will starve the algae. you may end up with a bacteria bloom after the algae dies out (white cloudy tank) ... do a few water changes after you light the tank and it should subside. Ive had this happen once in a saltwater tank and in a freshwater tank, it didnt do any real damage but made a mess of the tank for a while

Killa B · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 104

you could also try a uv light its kills bacteria, algae, and parasites. I use the turbo twist 9watt and haven't had an algae problem since or parasites for that matter. Especially if you are fresh water there seems to be way more nutrients in freshwater probably because of the way lower light temp and more feeding. Or get a nice skimmer they clean dirty water really good and should help control your nutrient problem.

Dozerman · Joined: 27 Sep 2008 Posts: 144

still hasn't mentioned if its fresh or saltwater??? skimmer wont work on freshwater... ( well in certain conditions it will, but not like a saltwater tank)

Killa B · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 104

Skimmers were first designed for freshwater, that's where they came from. The saltwater hobbyists adopted it into their systems and now its something everyone does. Just to let ya know, so yes the skimmer will work on your freshwater setup to reduce nutrients and impurities.