evo360

I have this problem with my tank that has been going on for months on end and I cant seem to sort it out. I have good clarity but there is a distinct green tint to the water especially if the water is veiwed from one end of the tank. Any ideas? I have even moved house while this has been going on which resulted in way more than half of the existing water to be replaced in one go. Looked good for a day or two but then went back to the same colour. This is driving me mad now. I have a submirsed wet/dry filter with three or four stage filtration and no live plants. The fish seem to be in good health but they seem a bit lathargic all of the time. Please help!!

susitna-flower

HI EVO, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Your aquarium profile says you know about the nitrogen cycle, but you haven't put down your water test results. It will help to figure out what is going on to have the results for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

Most here at fishlore recommend the API Master test kit (liquid) for freshwater, this has all the tests needed, and is cost effective with weekly testing.

We should also know just how many of each fish you have, and the variety of pleco. With all this information we should be able to help.

evo360

Thanks Susinta-flower. I have done all of the tests I can for some reason I have lost a bottle of nitrate test. I have tested for ammonia, which is reading 0. My ph level is 7.2 and my nitrite level is 0. I think i have good water judging those tests so I am still a bit confused!!

susitna-flower

The Nitrate was what I felt is probably too high. If your nitrate is 80 you will have water quality problems. Are you doing water changes? How much and how often? You said your tank looked better after your big water change when moving, for a few days...this tells me that if you upped your waterchanges it should help.

Your tank is only about 35 gallons, and you haven't' said how many of each fish you have, or what kind.

With the rule of thumb for stocking being 1" of adult fish per gallon, you have to figure what your fishes expected max is suppose to be. It makes a huge difference if you have bala sharks, iridescent sharks or redtail sharks. It also makes a HUGE difference if you have a common pleco or a bristlenose pleco. To sort this out, you really have to address these issues.

An overcrowded tank will have high nitrates, and be hard to keep clear.

evo360

thanks for your advice. I am going to buy a new test kit asap and check the nitrate levels.I know that the tank isnt over stocked, I will probably just up the water changes for a while and keep myfingers crossed!

susitna-flower

Upping the water changes should help. Good Luck

Peterpiper

You can run a UV in the tank ( 13 watt ), run a small power head, do 20% water changes 3 times a week, and the water will sparkle in 2 weeks. This will kill the algae that is in the tank.
You still need to keep your nitrates in check.

evo360

sorry to sound thick but whats a power head?

richard7467

a power head is a little motor that sits on top of the plastic tubes that conect to under gravel filters which sucks the water through the gravel up the tube and back into your tank....whats a UV?is this an ultra violet light