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i have this little 30L Aqua One tank that was given to me by my sister.

at the moment it's housing 4 platys and a male guppy and live plants,

when ever i seem to add plants and leave the light on for more than a few hours a night the water begins to go green. eventually pea soup.

i have some photos
the light that comes with the tank.
http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/a1/light1.jpg
the light specs...
http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/a1/lightspecs.jpg
the tank with a biolux tube on it
http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/a1/tankwbioluxtub.jpg
with the original light
http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/a1/lighwa1.jpg

am i destined to have pea soup green water? or can i change the lighting, i'd really like this to be my desktop tank, but it always goes green! it doesnt matter how long i leave the light on for, eventually it'll do it...

any ideas?

Last edited by Stuquarium at 21-Sep-2005 00:54

Those tanks come with no filtration, so i'm real glad to see you have added your own

I *think* you are probably going to find that it is more of an over-doing it problem than the light itself.

you can get more targetted CF lights, but lets just run through whats happenning here first make sure we aren't missing anything


How long do you leave the lights on for per day? timer or manual?

Do you gravel vac?

How large are your water changes?

How often do you change the water/gravel vac?

Any other plants other than the stricta?



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

i am willing to change the lighintg if need be.

time wise it doesn't matter it could be 2-12 hours a day eventually it'll go green

i clean/water change 10L a week, again doesnt make alot of difference.

i don't know the name of the other plant, but i have the same plant in my discus tank and that hasnt gone green ever..

i've also tried UGF, with the internel filter with no luck. i recon it has something to do with the 8000K bulb.?

would buying this make much diff? it's 9w, not 11...

http://www. /prod574.htm

it probably won't make much difference really.

does the tank heat up a good deal with that loght on and the lid down?

Also, what area are you in? the drought is causing a lot more nutrients to be in the water, so a lot of us are having trouble with water quality at the moment. Some areas being worse than others.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

The lights is fine. I've got 2 of those in the 9 watt size over a tank the same size.

Check for ammonia. Ammonia and light = green water.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

not really in a drafty area,
and i'm thinking of doing a 90% water change and moving the tank into another room, see if that makes a diff?
then placing. 50% used water form another tank into this one and the rest new.

it rarley gets alot of natural light like all my other tanks.

it can be a little warm on top, but nothing out of the ordinaty.

ammonia is 0 as i set this tank up a week ago and added fish 2 days ago.

i should also mention that i have 3 other tanks.
all 4fters

ones marine, ones discus (in same room as aqua1)others tropical.. i leave the lights on those things for upto 12 hours a day! and it doesn't happen..

should i move it another room? the 30L tanks has only ever been in this one room, or find a new home for the fishes and sell it!

no more ideas guys?

i;ve tried it all expect meds, UV sterilizer, and that's a bit much for a little tank like this

ammonia is 0 as i set this tank up a week ago and added fish 2 days ago.

Did you try to do a fishless cycle on this tank ? If so what did you use ?
If set up one week ago when did the green water start ?

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

i did do a fishless cycle, i used old water from another tank and "cycle"

i've had 3-4 goes at this tank, starting fresh everytime change everything i can except 2 things,

the location,
the light.

and it always goes green.

i couldnt wait,

i;v moved the tank to a new room,
this room is mostly dark all the time, and i have a 4ft in here too, i can leave the lights on the 4fter for 10-14 hours with no greeness so logic should dicated that this little tank wont go green either.

fingers crossed!