Always Have Green Smelly Water... Extremely Frustrated!!

Lately I've been dealing with extremely green water.. and I'm sick of it.

Ive always gotten green sand because of my lights.. ive tried 3 different lights, and cut the time to only 7/8 hours a day.. still get green sand no matter how much I mix it and reduce light so I just gave up and accepted it.

The past few weeks I've been getting green water now. At first it was just cloudy, then green started to come.. now its cloudy and green!!

Ive been trying everything to fix it!! I've done multiple water changes, big and small.. ive kept lights off for 20hrs a day, I've completely cleaned the filter(aquaclear 110), and ive gotten activated carbon.. everything does not help. After big water changes the green comes back within a day or two.. green goes on the sand within hours.

Any help would be appreciated..

My parameters are:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-20ppm

Heres pictures!

 

its not a permanent fix but 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon will kill it off.

 

Is the tank near a window?

 

Rather find what's causing this.. and no its not near a window

 

How often are you doing water changes? What type of lights do you have?

 

I really don't have a set time on how often, all really depends how much Nitrates when I test there is. sometimes its weekly, sometimes its biweekly when nitrates are still pretty low on the first week. This green water has me doing bigger WC's weekly tho. I am using Marineland 48" led advanced strip light

 

I would turn down the light, the fish don't really need light at all, its really just for our observation. As long as there is some ambient light there good. Why do you have such an expensive and bright light with no live plants? I think the lights definitely the problem, can you dial it down?

 

^^^ This ^^^

Without live plants to utilize the light and nutrients in the water, all you're doing is boosting constant algae growth.

 

I can't dial down the lights.. only has 1 setting..
I got the light for cheap.. LFS sells for $400, I got it for $150 brand new off of Kijiji.
Honestly I was just looking for a good light and I figured a $400 light was fine(tbh I don't even like it that much, its not bright.. but it has a night setting which I like.)

I see.. I dropped down my lights to 6/7 hours a day, and STILL.. so much green. Other than having zero light, what can I do?
I do have a fixture with a single t5 bulb in it.. I got it when I first got the tank. This light REALLY turned my sand green, which is why I looked for a new one. Should I use that?

 

I can't dial down the lights.. only has 1 setting..
I got the light for cheap.. LFS sells for $400, I got it for $150 brand new off of Kijiji.
Honestly I was just looking for a good light and I figured a $400 light was fine(tbh I don't even like it that much, its not bright.. but it has a night setting which I like.)

I see.. I dropped down my lights to 6/7 hours a day, and STILL.. so much green. Other than having zero light, what can I do?
I do have a fixture with a single t5 bulb in it.. I got it when I first got the tank. This light REALLY turned my sand green, which is why I looked for a new one. Should I use that?

$150 is still quite a lot for an LED. My Finnex Ray2 is much more powerful and cost me $180 retail.

Other than zero lights, your only other option is to start adding live plants. Specifically, fast growing stem plants and floaters like frogbit and duckweed. Not only will these soak up any excess organic matter that would feed algae, but floating plants would actually shield your sand from too much light.

I understand that live plants aren't what everyone wants, but considering I blast my tanks with 10 hours of light per day and rarely ever get a spot of algae on the glass, I know for a fact they work.

 

I think the LED should be brighter than the t5, I don't know why the t5 was doing that..... This is going to sound obvious but have you tried scrubbing the glass to just stay on top the algae? How much are you feeding?

 

$150 is still quite a lot for an LED. My Finnex Ray2 is much more powerful and cost me $180 retail.

Other than zero lights, your only other option is to start adding live plants. Specifically, fast growing stem plants and floaters like frogbit and duckweed. Not only will these soak up any excess organic matter that would feed algae, but floating plants would actually shield your sand from too much light.

I understand that live plants aren't what everyone wants, but considering I blast my tanks with 10 hours of light per day and rarely ever get a spot of algae on the glass, I know for a fact they work.

well my LFS sells it for $400 so... idk..
Yes I was thinking maybe getting some live plants.. I always wanted Java moss or something like that.
Maybe Ill sell this light, and try a different one. I like current USA.. I had one before I got this one. Should I maybe just use my t5 bulb for now?

I think the LED should be brighter than the t5, I don't know why the t5 was doing that..... This is going to sound obvious but have you tried scrubbing the glass to just stay on top the algae? How much are you feeding?

My t5 light up the entire scope of my aquarium, these LEDS only really light up direct under it with the rest being sorta dark..
I have zero algae on my glass, my nertile snails, plecos and shrimps do a great job
I feed every 2 days.. I do alittle over what my FISH need, because I have about 20 shrimp in my tank.. they go crazy once they see flakes and grab as much as they can hold lol

 

I fought an algae bloom in my twenty gallon for the first couple of months I had it. Be prepared for this to last awhile. It’s ugly but harmless. Turn your lights off permanently until this is taken care of. The fish won’t care. I also did fifty percent water changes every other day until there was no trace of green left in the water. I wanted to do it without chemicals and after a couple weeks the algae was gone. Once it was gone I slowly increased the amount of light until I could keep them on for ten hours a day. And six months later the algae hasn’t come back.

 

What are some fast growing stem plants? I don't really want floating plants.

I went to my LFS and they said:

"we see this all the time, just get this(kent marine pro-clear freshwater clarifier) and it will fix it up! it will cause the green algae to go to the bottom and then suck it up when you water change afew hours later"

I mean it worked, after my big water change it was pretty clear. and now today the water is already started to turn green again.. and the light was barely on!! maybe for 2 hours after my water change from now.. and its starting to turn green..

 

What are some fast growing stem plants? I don't really want floating plants.

I went to my LFS and they said:

"we see this all the time, just get this(kent marine pro-clear freshwater clarifier) and it will fix it up! it will cause the green algae to go to the bottom and then suck it up when you water change afew hours later"

I mean it worked, after my big water change it was pretty clear. and now today the water is already started to turn green again.. and the light was barely on!! maybe for 2 hours after my water change from now.. and its starting to turn green..

Anacharis, hornwort, rotala indica, moneywort, hygrophila corymbosa, water wisteria, foxtail, just to name a few low maintenance fast-growing stem plants.

 

I would agree that adding live plants to your tank will help, by using up excess nutrients in the water and substrate. You want them to out compete the algae for the available nutrients. My motto is plant plant plant... and when in doubt, plant some more.. lol... purigen may also help, check that out. Buy it online though, you'll save more money. Plus, it's reusable!

 

If you don't have any you may want to get a bag of polyester fiber fill. It is the same stuff we ladies and some gentlemen have used for years to stuff pillows. You can get a big bag of it for next to nothing at wal-mart or order from amazon.

Stuff as much of it as you can in your filter housing. Situate it so that it is the first thing your water touches before going through other media and then back into your tank. You may need to replace it almost daily until you get this green water under control. HTH

 

Would I 100% need the polyester fiber fill?

So when I add some plants, would I see a nice improvement on the green? Are there any other steps other than just planting and leaving(to get rid of green)?

I did see some plants at my LFS that I liked, not sure if their fast growing stem plants, but they looked nice.

would plants that require much more light do a better job controlling the green because its USING the nutrients?

 

Would I 100% need the polyester fiber fill?

So when I add some plants, would I see a nice improvement on the green? Are there any other steps other than just planting and leaving(to get rid of green)?

I did see some plants at my LFS that I liked, not sure if their fast growing stem plants, but they looked nice.

would plants that require much more light do a better job controlling the green because its USING the nutrients?

Plants that require more light generally also require more CO2. Stick to the easy stuff and plant as densely as you can afford to.

You will also notice, with more plants, the scent of your tank will change from an unpleasant odor to an earthy, organic "green" smell that is not at all unpleasant.

 

I like an more of a open tank, so I don't think ill be planting too much.. I just want to help with the green water. Acouple I don't mind

Sadly tho, my substrate is pool filter sand.. I can't plant until I get another substrate

 

Is the anacharis you have in there real or fake. Real ancharis is good. Do you have any algae eaters? I know they can only do so much but when I started getting algae I threw in a bristle nose pleco and he has kept my tank clean. It could at least help some.

 

I like an more of a open tank, so I don't think ill be planting too much.. I just want to help with the green water. Acouple I don't mind

Sadly tho, my substrate is pool filter sand.. I can't plant until I get another substrate

No need to replace, just put some root tabs in and you're good to go.

 

You can still plant in pool filter sand, just throw a root tab under heavy root feeders. Other plants you can consider because they feed from a rhizome is anubias, java fern, and African water fern. You'd just tie them to a piece of driftwood or rock. With the green water, keep up with your water changes to clear up the green, using the various tips and methods you've been recommended. The plants won't clear up the green, but they'll help in using up what the algae needs in order to continue growing. You just need the plants to out compete that algea, as previously mentioned.

 

My LFS said the roots of the plants won't do that well because sand is so compacted.. that they'll probably just die off..

Root tabs are tablets with minerals fir the plants correct?
Someone at my LFS mentioned that id have to add them daily.. is this true?

My LFS is typically pretty good, but I think they just hired some peoole who have zero clue what their talking about

 

My LFS said the roots of the plants won't do that well because sand is so compacted.. that they'll probably just die off..

Root tabs are tablets with minerals fir the plants correct?
Someone at my LFS mentioned that id have to add them daily.. is this true?

My LFS is typically pretty good, but I think they just hired some peoole who have zero clue what their talking about

As long as it is not very fine sand or too deep (more than 2") it won't compact. Root tabs, depending on the plant, typically last 2-3 months before needing to be replaced.

 

As long as it is not very fine sand or too deep (more than 2") it won't compact. Root tabs, depending on the plant, typically last 2-3 months before needing to be replaced.

Now sure how fine it is, but heres a link to it:

My sand is about 1inch-1.5inch.. some places less some places more.

 

Root tabs are tablets with minerals fir the plants correct?
Someone at my LFS mentioned that id have to add them daily.. is this true?

My LFS is typically pretty good, but I think they just hired some peoole who have zero clue what their talking about[/QUOTE]
Nope... definitely not daily.... they're either miss informed, trying to sell a lot of root tabs, or using some kind of a different root tab I've never heard of..

 

Now sure how fine it is, but heres a link to it:

My sand is about 1inch-1.5inch.. some places less some places more.

Pool filter sand is fine, with tabs plants should be OK in your substrate.

 

Would me mixing my sand a lot affect the root tabs? I mix my sand a lot because of the green that grows on it

 

Would I 100% need the polyester fiber fill?

Plants might very well clear your problem right up and I would recommend you take that route too. The fiber fill will help polish your water while you wait for your plants to do their job of keeping the green water from coming back.

 

Would me mixing my sand a lot affect the root tabs? I mix my sand a lot because of the green that grows on it

It would cause them to put out clouds of dissolved fertilizer into the water column, potentially exacerbating your algae issue. That is one reason I had suggested floating plants, they don't need added fertilizer and are even more effective at competing with algae than stem plants.

Let's put it this way... I have a 20 gallon aquarium at my job. It is exposed to 10 hours of LED lighting per day plus it is next to a window receiving full sun every day. Since setting it up 3 months ago, I haven't even had to wipe the glass and have had only minimal bits of hair algae. Care to guess why?

 

Seachem Excell has algecide in it. Maybe dose some of that. Maybe you tap has phosphates in it. You could try phosfree to remove it in your filter.. or try both.

 

I have a 37 Gallon Tall tank. Its been running for about six months.

I'm home a lot, which allows me to baby my fishies.

I had this wicked outbreak of green algae about two weeks ago. When I emptied out the water into a white bucket...clearly green. And it was driving me crazy with all of the work and attention that I had put in.

The lights were on for 12 hours a day and sometimes all night if I had been lazy that evening.

My bf took a minute and googled it. He convinced me to shut the lights off. I DO have some plants, so I didnt want to stunt them in anyway. But I followed his advice -like he even knows anything lol.

It took four days strait. I was difficult.

I seriously didnt think it would work (it was so bad), but it did. The water was perfectly clear like never before.

The plants did okay too. I keep the lights on for about 9 hours a day now.

Interested in seeing how the plants/tank do with this new schedule.

 

I have Pool Filter Sand as a substrate and my plants are doing good, green and growing.

 

It would cause them to put out clouds of dissolved fertilizer into the water column, potentially exacerbating your algae issue. That is one reason I had suggested floating plants, they don't need added fertilizer and are even more effective at competing with algae than stem plants.

Let's put it this way... I have a 20 gallon aquarium at my job. It is exposed to 10 hours of LED lighting per day plus it is next to a window receiving full sun every day. Since setting it up 3 months ago, I haven't even had to wipe the glass and have had only minimal bits of hair algae. Care to guess why?

View attachment 418239

Interesting! Ive been looking into plants a lot the past few days. Was never really interested but I'm getting more and more interested.

A floating plant I like right now is Salvinia natans.. I love the way the root look when looking in a tank and there's abunch of Salvinia natans bunched up.
Anyone have any experience with them?

Would I need root tabs for floating plants? Or can I just get them and throw them in?

I found someone near me selling DIY root tabs:

Do you think their any good? Its also MUCH cheaper than my LFS.

 

UPDATE:

finally got some plants today, aswell as root tabs!

Going to keep this thread updated for anyone else having this issue.

Below are some pictures. Not the clearest but its the clearest I can get it(just did a 70% WC)