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Hi! I have a huge tank problem. I came to another site sometime back and asked for help...but it didn't work for long. and Now that site is dead.
I have a 50 gal tank with murky green water. If I clean the sides and change the water it is only clear for about a day or two. Then back again.
The tank is in a hot room (about 75 to 80 degrees...I can't do anything about that...Its in a nursing home). The overhead lights are on 24/7 but the tank lights go off every afternoon (again nothing I can do about that~)
Covers won't work because the residents just pull them off.
The tank has about 8 african ciclids and one suckerfish. I have tried live plants, anti alge drops and pellets...different kinds of algeeaters (other fish ate them) and even snails (sigh ate them too).
What else can I do? Please help! I don't want to have to get rid of the tank the residents love it!

Hello and welcome

How often is the water changed, and how often is the tank fed? Green tank water is caused by an excess of nutrients in the tank and excess light (read: room lights on 24/7). When you change water, it dilutes the nutrients for a little bit, and then they build up again and you have another bloom. Also, how old is the tank and how large is it?

You're unfortunately probably not going to get too far away from it if you can't get the light out of there.

Hi,
Green water is the result of an algae bloom, which is
generally the result of too much light and nutrients.
Heavy planting with a 10 hour photo period, floating
plants, and more frequent water changes should reverse
the problem.

Since you mention that the residents have adopted the
fish and are "always removing the covers," I would also
suspect that one, or several, are also helping with the
feeding. That excess food is probably the main reason
for the bloom.

I gather that it is not a "private tank" but rather
something that the institution funded. If that is the
case one "cure" you might consider is the addition of a
UV sterilizer to the filteration system. It will not
remove the nutrients, but it will kill the algae that is
floating in the water. To remove the nutrients, you will
need to change the water at least a couple of times a week.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

this might seem far fetched but the fish will like it too...if that water is turning pea green soup then as a natrual idea to clean out the green water put in a load of live daphnia...they eat green water and the fish will eat the daphnia.. just make sure you have strong airation going to the tank and see if this might help