HagenKB

Water goes green

My tank gets green water all the time. How can I permanently elimanate it so it won't come back.

My tank gets green water all the time. How can I permanently elimanate it so it won't come back.
Green water is generally caused by a population explosion of single celled floating or suspended plants called algae. These require enough light to grow and photosynthesize their food from nitrogen, phosphate and potassiium. In most cases where water turns green on a regular basis, natural sunlight is striking the tank, this allows the algae to prosper and populate to a very visible bloom. The most effective way to stop the problem, is to remove the access from sunlight in the tank. Without natural sunlight, the algae will have no energy source to manufacture the food it requires and will slowly die back.

Since these are only single celled organisms, in most cases they will be able to work their way though a filter, so it is extremely rare that the problem can be rectified by any common present-day aquarium filter. The only filter I have ever seen that removes algae was called a Diatom filter. While they were common many years ago, they are not readily available these days since they require lots of regular maintenance that the standard aquarist is unwilling to perform..

The only other way to limit the production of algae is to limit the phosphate available. Phosphate has been seen as a limiting factor for plant growth in an aquatic situation. In most cases, it will be plentiful in standard aquariums that are regularly overfed. Nutrafin Max is a low phosphate food, and given sparingly, over time the organic load will incorporate the available phosphate into its cells that it becomes a limiting factor that will not allow the algae to grow easily. Besides low phosphate foods like Nutrafin, there are phosphate removing resins available. You should consult you local pet store for these filter media products, such as Fluval Phosphate Remover and AquaClear Phosphate Remover.

Overall, the easiest way to slow the growth of algae is to remove all chance of sunlight hitting the aquarium. This should never be allowed because in addition the power of the sun will cause the aquarium water to overhead and vary in temperature radically between day and night. Also, reduce the amount of ambient light in the room if it is extremely bright during the day. Excessive use of artificial lighting can also cause the problem, so if you are running fluorescent lights on the tank, reduce the period they burn each day as well.

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