I came home yesterday and my 20 gallon tank that I have 2 percula clownfish in with some live rock the water has turned completely green. I don't know what caused this, I haven't added anything to this tank other than a turbo snail about a week ago. Did a test on water all showing 0, and did a water change it looks better but is still green. Any ideas what has caused this?
Green water what is going on with my tank?
- Thread starter lnintaz
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moortim
Mountain Goat
Sounds like some sort of algae explosion. How long has your tank been setup? Any previous problems?
Just a thought, I have a friend who had this happen, he installed a UV sterilizer and that took care of the problem in a couple days. Do you have one? I am not sure that you have the same problem but it sounds similar.
Tim
Just a thought, I have a friend who had this happen, he installed a UV sterilizer and that took care of the problem in a couple days. Do you have one? I am not sure that you have the same problem but it sounds similar.
Tim
green water in tank
The tank has been set up for about 6 months and was seeded with sand and crushed coral from a tank that is over a year old. My clowns get small amounts of food two times a day I haven't changed my matience on this tank I just can't figure out what is going on. I just don't want my clowns to die. I didn't see the snail that I had added, could it be dead in the tank and cause this type of reaction overnight? I have 2 55 watt power compact lights on 8 hours a day.
The tank has been set up for about 6 months and was seeded with sand and crushed coral from a tank that is over a year old. My clowns get small amounts of food two times a day I haven't changed my matience on this tank I just can't figure out what is going on. I just don't want my clowns to die. I didn't see the snail that I had added, could it be dead in the tank and cause this type of reaction overnight? I have 2 55 watt power compact lights on 8 hours a day.
moortim
Mountain Goat
A dead snail might cause small problems but it wouldn't turn the whole tank green. If your water parameters are ok then your clowns should be fine. In my experience green only comes from algae, anyone else have some info?
Tim
Tim
moortim
Mountain Goat
Is it possible for you to post a picture or two?
Tim
Tim
I can try to get my digital cam working when I get home to take a pic. But it is a merky green like this color. At first I thought it was just on the glass, you know that dusty green algae, imagine my horror when it was the water, I also smelled the water and it smells like my other tanks that are crystal clear.? I'm just stumped
moortim
Mountain Goat
I would love someone elses opinion but I am pretty sure you just had an algae bloom. Lots of water changes for a while and if you can try the UV sterilizer thing it might work. Is there build up on the glass or rocks as well? Anything that would point at a certain type of algae?
DonW
R.I.P.
You need a few things for that to happen. Light, did anything change. A window shade get opened, anything? Fuel, any kid feeds the clowns? Any, wacky temp change causing a die off?
I'd just keep doing the waterchanges and leave the lights off for a few days.
Don
I'd just keep doing the waterchanges and leave the lights off for a few days.
Don
joshinjosh
Cnidarian
i had that same exact problem before in my 38g. do massive water changes or get yourself a diatom filter. the diatom filter will work best, but if your water is as green as my water was, youre gonna need to get extra filter powder for the diatom because i ran out in the first 2 nights.
josh
josh
moortim
Mountain Goat
How is your tank doing now? haven't heard an update for a few days, I just wondered if you got it beat.
Tim
Tim
well I have done several water changes and it is almost completely gone. there is algae on the sand and some live rock but that was there long before the green water showed up. This tank is in a corner far away from windows and it's light is set on a timer for 8 hours a day, I have never seen this in any of my other tanks so that is why it has me puzzled. Thanks for everyones help.
I do have another question off of this subject though. I have been lowering my SG on my hospital tank to battle ick, I had a deep six coralife hydrometer which only goes to 1.012 and I need it to read 1.009 which is what I have been told to get it down to to kill off the ick. So i went and bought a instant ocean hydrometer and it is giving me a reading that is much higer than what the coralife is. Which one should I trust? I don't want to accidentally kill my fish because of something that my local fish store told me to do. They said that the coralife one is junk and that they stoped using it when they found out the readings were wrong. But I have used this type for over 2 years and all my fish are ok. My new instant ocean is saying a reading of 1.020 that is quite a bit of difference to me. So I have held off on lowering the salinity anymore at this point. My fish seem to be doing fine and ick is looking so much better. Thanks.
NaH2O
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2004
- Messages
- 8,568
lnintaz said:
I actually wouldn't trust either. Spend some extra money on a refratometer....it will save you a lot of worry about your salinity, and will be accurate. You don't want your salinity creeping up on your during the quarantine time at all, so having an accurate way to measure is important....you don't want your salinity getting out of the treatment zone. I'm not sure where you are located in Indiana, but if you are local to Indy, Premium Aquatics has refractometers at a good price, or you can order one online from any of the sponsors that carries them.
Also while doing hyposalinity treatment, monitor your pH, too. Do you have all of your fish in QT?
moortim
Mountain Goat
I have found that when it comes to SG most fish are very forgiving. I have been using a cheaper hydrometer for a long time and nothing bad has happened to my fish. Nikki is right though, especially if you start to get livestock that is more sensitive. Think about it this way, now you can justify spending more money on your tank.
steve-s
Well-known member
Actually in this particular instance, it's not the fish but rather the parasite that is the concern. If the salinity is not accurate (below 16 ppt but preferabley 14 ppt), the life cycle will not be broken.
As far as FO systems in general, salinity is not a huge issue otherwise.
Cheers
Steve
As far as FO systems in general, salinity is not a huge issue otherwise.
Cheers
Steve
Electrokate
Well-known member
Man... I sure wish I could grow greenwater/phytoplankton like that. My cultures crash easily, usually right after I get it a good gatorade green... I do know that it crashes because creatures that eat it contaminate the jars, if I want to restore it I sieve these critters out and then lower the salinity. So I guess hypo could have allowed greenwater already present in your tank to thrive, because it killed or knocked back something that is eating it. In my case it's rotifers and other plankters, don't know about your case. I started my cultures with DT's phytoplankton. If you use that then well, that's probably what it is. Great food for some coral, clams and feather dusters.
The few times I have seen greenwater explode in a tank it's been in the presence of extremely high phosphate. Last time that happened I had my friend bring a tapwater sample. It was over 160 out of the tap! No wonder she had algae. Also 40 ppm nitrate... you using tapwater by any chance?
I've got no degree in anything so am no expert, ... especially since I am pretty good at killing greenwater. Adding rotifers to your tank would do the job but your filter would probably take them out.
Use a lot of aeration because the ph could fluctuate as the green produces massive amounts of oxygen during the day and consumes it at night. Also, when it does die do a massive water change because it will lead to an ammonia spike. Usually the dieoff is sudden.
I agree on the refractometers. I would take the new one back to the store for a refund as it's likely not accurate. Plastic refractometers are terrible, every one is different. And they cost WAY too much. For the price of 2 you can buy one real refractometer off ebay. There is a lady in Seattle who sells them for a good price and she is honest.
Kate
My cultures crash easily, usually right after I get it a good gatorade green... I do know that it crashes because creatures that eat it contaminate the jars, if I want to restore it I sieve these critters out and then lower the salinity. So I guess hypo could have allowed greenwater already present in your tank to thrive, because it killed or knocked back something that is eating it. In my case it's rotifers and other plankters, don't know about your case. I started my cultures with DT's phytoplankton. If you use that then well, that's probably what it is. Great food for some coral, clams and feather dusters. The few times I have seen greenwater explode in a tank it's been in the presence of extremely high phosphate. Last time that happened I had my friend bring a tapwater sample. It was over 160 out of the tap! No wonder she had algae. Also 40 ppm nitrate... you using tapwater by any chance?
I've got no degree in anything so am no expert, ... especially since I am pretty good at killing greenwater. Adding rotifers to your tank would do the job but your filter would probably take them out.
Use a lot of aeration because the ph could fluctuate as the green produces massive amounts of oxygen during the day and consumes it at night. Also, when it does die do a massive water change because it will lead to an ammonia spike. Usually the dieoff is sudden.
I agree on the refractometers. I would take the new one back to the store for a refund as it's likely not accurate. Plastic refractometers are terrible, every one is different. And they cost WAY too much. For the price of 2 you can buy one real refractometer off ebay. There is a lady in Seattle who sells them for a good price and she is honest.
Kate
Well I have tested my water when I had the green water, and all my tests came out where they have always been 0 and my ph is 8.2 No change in water makeup or anything, only thing that I did different was add a turbo snail and since the water has cleared up completely due to several massive water changes it is crystal clear now. I have noticed since the green water is gone, my clownfish are acting really crazy, my male percula clown is staying for the most part under his fake rubber elephant ear mushroom except to come out and eat and when he is chasing the big female around he will peck at her sides and try to push her around in the tank back to their mushroom home. I'm hoping that they are finally going to mate. I have had them for over 2 years with no breeding yet. Do you think the green water gave them some kind of kick start to mate, if that is what they are doing, or do you think they have finally matured, they were tiny when I got them about a 1/2 to 1 inch long. All I know is that the male is always cleaning under the mushroom and he has become very bossy over the past few days. I do have the book by joyce wilkerson (I think that was her name) about clownfish, so I'm ready to be a grandma. lol
I have noticed since the green water is gone, my clownfish are acting really crazy, my male percula clown is staying for the most part under his fake rubber elephant ear mushroom except to come out and eat and when he is chasing the big female around he will peck at her sides and try to push her around in the tank back to their mushroom home. I'm hoping that they are finally going to mate. I have had them for over 2 years with no breeding yet. Do you think the green water gave them some kind of kick start to mate, if that is what they are doing, or do you think they have finally matured, they were tiny when I got them about a 1/2 to 1 inch long. All I know is that the male is always cleaning under the mushroom and he has become very bossy over the past few days. I do have the book by joyce wilkerson (I think that was her name) about clownfish, so I'm ready to be a grandma. lol
Electrokate
Well-known member
Hmmm. I think you do sound like you are going to be a clownfish breeder soon! Did you save any of the green stuff to feed rotifers? That's what I have it for, in case any of my fish spawn. No luck yet... Have fun, glad you have Wilkerson's book. I love that one.
Kate
That's what I have it for, in case any of my fish spawn. No luck yet... Have fun, glad you have Wilkerson's book. I love that one.Kate
saltwaterman22
Member
it is a phyto bloom and you probably need a uv starlizer because a water change is only a quick fix...The bloom will come back sooner or later ...You have to put a uv on for at least a month and then it will all be gone for sure...My 75 gal had same prob as you and belive me a water change does not fix it long term....
