ADG Raffle Tank - Finally!

[cichlid1409]

still green i guess? have you tried cutting back on the photo period?

[Mzungu]

Yup. I haven't been dosing ferts since it started, I turned the CO2 waaaaay down (can't see it, but I'm pretty sure it's off), and I'm running only two out of 4 bulbs on a reduced photoperiod. Yesterday I started a semi-blackout, and only had the lights on for about 2 hours, and today for just feeding the fishes. Oh, and doing water changes whenever I can.

Still green. :mrgreen:

My plan is to somehow borrow a UV sterilizer (I hope) this weekend. With this week being kinda busy, I don't trust myself to keep up with the dosing of H2O2 and doing the recommended water changes that go with it.

I've tried 2 different HOB's with micron pads as filter media (eradicated the other 2 outbreaks of green water I've had in the past within a day), and a few days ago I put a 2211 on there with micron pads and filter floss inside. All these are along with loading the main filter with micron padding when this first started.

Ugh.

[cichlid1409]

only had this happen one time (had my tank next to two windows ) massive water changes a couple times a week cleared it up but if your dosing ferts and such thats probably not the way to go.

[Mzungu]

I said 'screw it' and did another huge water change. The fish don't mind, I saw some of them for the first time in what seems like a couple weeks! I taped up the left side of the tank (the one close to the window) with some newspaper/junk mail, and there's a big piece of posterboard sitting on top of the light and making a sort of dome over the tank. If that's not a blackout, I don't know what is.

I'll post pictures of it later, but anyone who reads this, please cross your fingers for me!

[mnemenoi]

I have a few extra needle valves at home if you need it. They are quite tiny and should work for your purpose. It is set up for 1/8" female NPT connections, but I have adapters for nearly anything, just let me know. They just sit around in my toolbox otherwise... I can shot you a pic and its specs if you would like to look it over, they are industrial grade.

[Mzungu]

I have a few extra needle valves at home if you need it. They are quite tiny and should work for your purpose. It is set up for 1/8" female NPT connections, but I have adapters for nearly anything, just let me know. They just sit around in my toolbox otherwise... I can shot you a pic and its specs if you would like to look it over, they are industrial grade.

Wow, thank you!

Right now my main concern is getting this green water outta here. But when that's accomplished, and I actually find out how to properly set my CO2 and such, I will let you know! Thanks again!

[mnemenoi]

I'd say your blackout tactic should fix the problem eventually, I had great success dosing with Excel daily (1/2 listed dose). I have also heard daphnia can be superb in dealing with Green water, though finding a live culture might be tricky. I was thinking about adding some to my planted tank to see if they will actually live and offer a different food source for its inhabitants.

[mgarrido]

Re: ADG Raffle Tank - Finally!

Wow, thank you!

Right now my main concern is getting this green water outta here. But when that's accomplished, and I actually find out how to properly set my CO2 and such, I will let you know! Thanks again!

You need to add more plants, a lot of plants, on that way the plants can compite with the algae for the nutrients. Dose excel, no co2, no fertz, shorts periods of ligths and big W/C.

[Mzungu]

I said 'screw it' and did another huge water change. The fish don't mind, I saw some of them for the first time in what seems like a couple weeks! I taped up the left side of the tank (the one close to the window) with some newspaper/junk mail, and there's a big piece of posterboard sitting on top of the light and making a sort of dome over the tank. If that's not a blackout, I don't know what is.

I'll post pictures of it later, but anyone who reads this, please cross your fingers for me!

As promised, here are pictures of what I did this morning:



The most I've seen of the inside of my tank in a while:





"The Blackout"

[mark razmandi]

ive never seen that happen on a tank, you said it was from co2 fluctuations? how big were your fluctuations?

[cichlid1409]

you think that window is giving it too much light?

[Mzungu]

ive never seen that happen on a tank, you said it was from co2 fluctuations? how big were your fluctuations?

I think the CO2 fluctuations helped, because otherwise the plants might have been able to beat it, but I believe after reading some stuff about others who've had green water problems that it was from the sudden burst of ammonia from the new additions and the ensuing bacterial bloom. Totally my fault, but couldn't be helped because this tank was the only QT I had.

[Mzungu]

you think that window is giving it too much light?

Probably! It sure is giving Geoff more chores on the 300 next to it. We were going to put some drapes or something on that window, but just haven't got around to it. But I think that even though most/all of the tank lights have been off most of the time for the past week or so, the window gave the green water just enough to keep going. Hence the junk mail covering. I didn't see the point in a "blackout" with the sun still shining in. )

I don't think it was the cause of the green water, though. But it probably helped it after I lowered and then totally stopped the photoperiod.

[Mzungu]

Here's the progress of the green water, if anyone's interested. At the least, I hope it'll help someone in the future catch this before it takes over.

You can see the bacterial bloom in this picture along with the beginnings of the green water. March 14th:



March 15th:



March 17th:



March 21st, when I tried my first HOB with micron pads and filter floss:



March 26th, my second HOB (bought an AquaClear 70 and some Fluval micro-filtration pads to go along with the micron pads). Pictures are of a big water change and what the tank looked like after the WC:





March 28th, and the addition of the cutest filter in the world, the Eheim 2211:



Edit: Just FYI, most of these pictures are after a significant water change. I don't really have any pictures of the full-blown green water, as there's not much to see except green.

Edit #2: You can see the difference in the growth pattern of the Staurogyne sp. 'Porto Velho' as the days of green water progress. Without enough light hitting it, it starts to grow upwards instead of spreading out horizontally.

[cichlid1409]

is that window facing east/west? i would cover it up asap. aluminum foil works well. ) but seriously covering that window might solve all you problems if its letting in alot of light.