Fish Tank has gone Green!

[Cubby]

Hi guys and gals,

Im hoping some one will be able to help me out with my problem.

I have had my tank for roughly 4 months now and about 3 weeks ago i changed my filter from an internal filster to a canister filter.
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Every things seemed to be going well until Monday last week when the water started to get cloudy and then a few days later it started to go green.

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I have had the light on between 1pm and 11pm and from looking around the site it seems its to long. So i have shortened it from 5:30pm - 10:30 pm. I have also been doing water changes every two days (about 20%) yet 2 days later its just as bad. Should i be doing it every day?

Also the tank is near a window but there is no direct sunlight onto the tank so im not sure if its a problem
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I have also been using algaefix to also try and clear it but nothing is happening.
The fish seem to be fine but i would like to clear this up so it looks good.

Thanks!

[wombat1100]

I would say your biggest problem is that window, move the tank away from it if possible if not maybe block out the end of the tank on the window side for a start, also be careful of over feeding your fish, the excess food also feeds the algae.

[dean_alicia]

that window was the first thing o noticed as well.. thick black cardboard will do fine to black it out.

[_PhanToM_]

Hi,

I've had this problem a while back as well,
The steps i took was to stop feeding myfish, (3 days) and covered my tank up so there is no light at all. This does have an impact on your plants if you have any you might want to reconsider this option,

3 days later the water was still green but not as bad, so I started adding algae fix and changing 20% on a daily basis, This will clear it up but also reduces your good bacteria count. so I did my best not to distrube the gravel during the water changes.

Hope this helps.

p.s Very nice looking tank!

[yarra2]

Are you sure it's not the new canister? To me it sounds as if your problems started with a non-effective canister filter. Any chance of running both the old internal and the new canister together until it all settles down. Maybe some Bio-Booster (or something similar) would help get the cycle going and maybe not so much water changes.

Mike

[Cubby]

Hi guys,

Thanks for you responces.

Wombat/Dean - I have now closed the blinds and put up a piece of carboard so ill see how that goes over the next few days. I only feed my fish a small amount ever two days so i dont think thats a problem.

Phantom - I have cut my light down quite abit but im not sure i will cut it off compleatly due to my live plants.

Mike - Im just not sure. I did run both filters once i noticed the problem for about 4 days and it didnt change it at all as that was my first thought as well. Ill have a look for some Bio - Booster.

Im also thinking that if i cant clear this up over the next few weeks to prepare a small tank to keep the fish i have and completley drain my tank and bleach all my rocks. But im leaveing this for a last resort.

Ill keep you posted how i go over the weekend.

Thanks

Adam

[2LOUD2OLD]

I recently had an algal bloom and sorted it out in a matter of days with an internal uv sterilizer, worked an absolute treat

[Stormwriter]

I'd be interested to know what kind of fish and plants you have in the tank , and what you are feeding them (both fish AND plants)

Raven

[Cubby]

Hi guys,

Its Clear!! :)

Thanks for all your help. Iv been MIA due to some car troubles and was only able to get back to work on my tank about 2 weeks ago.

Basically i removed the 'new' canister filter and replaced it with my old internal power filter and with in 3/4 days it was crystal clear!

Im going to give it a few more weeks before i give the canister filter ago again just to see if that was the problem.

Anyways here are a few shots with clear water..
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Any ideas on a filter so i can remove the large black one that iv got now? Would like to keep it nice and neat.

[yarra2]

Tell me, was the canister a new or second hand one? I've sort of thought all along that that was the problem....

Mike

[Cubby]

It was brand new from http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=4293&catID=6