FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I recently bought a filter twice the size of the one I used to have. My problem is that I was expecting the water to get even clearer than it was before but it didn't. In fact it got 100 times worse. I can't even see my fish when they goto the other side of the tank. The water is a green color. I checked my filter catriges and they are as clean as they were when I put them in. The water flow is perfect. I can't figure out what is wrong??!!! Someone please help me!!!!

Hi and welcome to FP . Did you run your old filter with your new one for at least a month? It takes time for a new filter to establish a bacteria colony, unless you used old media from your old filter. But usually I run my old filter with my new one for a while. You could have an ammonia spike if you did not do what i mentioned above. What are your water parameters? Another problem could be overfeeding. What is your tank size and your stocking? It also could be too much lighting. How many watts of lighting do u have and how many hours per day do you have the lights on?

Last edited by ericm at 13-Aug-2005 17:38

Well I have a 55 gallon aquarium with 11 fish in it. I have a 40 watt flourescent light. I think the problem is what you said about using the old filter though because I didn't do that. I'll try that to see if it works. Thanks for the help I appreciate it.

Well it is definately not too much lighting. Post some water parameters if you can just in case.

How long has your tank been set up? Green water (algae)can be caused by too much light, from your fixture or a window close to the tank or overfeeding. You might try some charcoal in with your filter media to help clear it up and do a couple small water changes (20%)weekly.

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Charcoal and water changes probably won't do anything. I have a problem with green water once a year in my 55 gallon. I think it has to do with the seasons for me. It is generally caused by an imbalance, whether that is overfeeding, too much light, or an excess of other nutrients. Do you have live plants in that tank? They could be a factor in it.

What green water is is really tiny free-floating bits of algae. You filter isn't fine enough to catch them. If you want to remove them like that, you need a diatomaceous filter. These are pretty expensive, so it is a lot easier to just find the root of the problem.

Even if you did a 100% water change, you probably wouldn't rid yourself of the green water. Some algae somewhere would survive, and since your tank has proven a good habitat for them, they would multiply and you'd be back to square 1.

---

They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

It depends on the reason. If the problem is an uncycled tank and too much nutrients in the water then a water change is definitely going to help.

If it's Green Water, just leave the lights off for 4-6 days & half the feedings & do a water change after 1 day you switch your lights on & you should be fine. That's what i did when i had Green Water.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com