fishgirl

I have a 5.5G w/ 2 female platys and 1 small pleco (I don't know what type, But I know that it is not a common) about 3 or 4 inches long. I also have live plants and African Root.
3 days ago I noticed that the water is now blue.
pH 7.4
Ammo 0.0
nitrite .35
nitrate 120
Phos 5

Temp 78.1

Before I did a 50% water change the color was about the shade of 7.6 on API freshwater color test card. Now it is lighter.
What is making the water blue?

Shawnie

do you have decorations that have blue on them ? what color is your subtrate? I would do 2 50% water changes today...with a few hours in between..that nitrate reading is SKY HIGH and will kill the fish.then daily 50% changes will be needed with some prime or stres coat+ ..you really should find out what kind of plec that is and post a pic maybe ?

fishgirl

Subtrste is natural tan...the only blue is on the endcaps of the bubble wand.

Butterfly

What kind of background do you have on the tank. could it be a reflection. does it look blue if you dip it out in a clear glass and look through the glass?
Carol

Shawnie

great idea carol!
what conditioner do you use when changing the water? have you added ANYTHING to it at all ? what color is the food you feed them?

fishgirl

The water IS blue. I have a white background. No reflection. I have Nothing in my tank that could leach blue in to the water.
Food is reddish-tan color.
The conditioner I use is "AquaSafe" and "Stress Coat".
I have never used any meds that were blue in this tank.

Llama

Hmm, the only blue things I can think of is an anti-fungus dye that some people put into the aquariums.

This is incredibly strange...Some copper compounds* are blue as well... used copper based medicines?

Shawnie

do you have lil kiddos that might have put something in when you werent looking? other than your conditioners, and water changes, have you put any other liquids in the tank? very odd color for sure

TedsTank

Humm reminds me of years ago we kept finding potatos in our our tank...that is one step above pet water.

fishgirl

No kids. Hubby says he did not put anything in the tank....hhmmm....the cats arent saying.

fishgirl

I just did a 100% water change...I took 5G of good water from my 37G tank.

Shawnie

that is really weird...I hope everything works out ok!

Jonah

Just as an FYI Tetra Aquasafe is Blue and turns water a light blue shade if you add enough.

the colour fades after a while.

Actually my wife like the blue tint it gives the water when I use it and the fish don't seem to mind either way

Shawnie

I didnt know that...TY TY jonah!!! if i was a bettin kinda gal, ill bet that was it hahaaha

fishgirl

For my other tanks I have been using the AquaSafe and the water in them is nice and clear, so I dont think it is from using Aquasafe.

Butterfly

Do you have different filters on the other tanks? different filter media may remove the color faster.
carol

IIIHawKIII

the aqua safe i have is not blue. maybe safe start is...but my aqua safe is clear. no black or purple fake plants?

Chrisson

Maybe this could be it as described in this article about a algae problem somewhere:
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Algae

Another potential problem associated with increased levels of nutrients in water is the growth of algae. The presence of algae is indicated by the concentration of chlorophyll a in the water. Green algae can break through treatment systems, causing taste and odour problems. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can produce lethal toxins. When humans or animals consume water containing these toxins, they can become sick; animal deaths have occurred after consuming blue-green algal toxins.

Water from a dugout that has experienced a blue-green algae bloom and subsequent collapse (die-off) should not be consumed by humans or animals for at least two weeks following the collapse, since the dead algae could potentially release large doses of toxins. When blue-green algae are present, it is especially important that the treatment system be well designed, operated and maintained in order to supply safe drinking water. Blue-green algae in a dugout can be limited by reducing the nutrients present in the water, through watershed or reservoir management techniques (see the Water Quality Matters publication "Protecting Your Water").



Algae blooms are common, and can cause serious water quality problems as shown here.

EDIT: I FOUND THE REASON!

Read this:
The blue-green algae are much more harmful than the green algae types and produce substances that are toxic for fish. Excessive illumination and high nitrate and phosphate levels create an ideal environment for these algae. Fish do not eat blue-green algae and the best way to get rid of these algae is a week of total darkness in the aquarium. Several water changes are also a must to get rid of them.
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apparently it happens by very high nitrate. It probably bloomed in the water.

IIIHawKIII

good work!!