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Green tinted water

Jon A

Seedling
Joined
19 Jan 2020
Messages
13
Location
Nottinghamshire, UK
Hi all,

My tank is currently nearing 6 weeks old, and is still suffering from tinted green water. To begin with I expected some algae bloom, but hoped that this would subside as the weeks went on with frequent water changes. Information on the tank as follows:

1. Size of tank: 250ltr, ADA 90H

2. Filtration: Eheim Pro 3e external filter

3. Lighting and duration: 8hrs per day (2-10), Chihiros LED RGB Series

4. Substrate: ADA La Plata Sand, Prodibio Aquagrowth Soil

5. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing: CO2 Injected, start 2 hrs before the light comes on and off 1hr before light goes off

6. Fertilizers used + Ratios: Tropica Specialised Nutrition, 2 pumps per day

7. Water change regime. The first four weeks I was doing 50-60% water changes twice a week, and since then I've been doing the same but once a week.

8. Plant list. Heavily planted

9. Inhabitants. Currently 30 shrimp (20 blue velvet and 10 wine red)

10. Full tank shot: See below


I have some issues with diatoms at the moment, but this should clear and I regularly clean any suffering leaves. Even after each water change the water isn't crystal clear and the tint remains. As the days go by between changes the water does get slowly more green, but not at all cloudy.

I've attached a couple of images for reference and would really appreciate some insights in to this on where I may be going wrong!

Thanks all
 

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Hi @Jon A

Assuming that Guillard's F/2 recipe gave me quite predictable algal blooms for phyto cultures, I could guess you may have quite large amount of trace metals, Na and NO3 in the water, probably Si too - it may come from the water source you use or from the ferts containing especially quite large amount of micronutrients. But that's only my guess, based on the ingredients of F/2, personally I've never had algal bloom in the main tank.
 
I did think this to begin with but added purigen after the first 2 weeks, and it's improved since then, as the water was initially darker and a little cloudy. The wood is Bogwood.
 
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Other than the tannins I would also think too much light compared to the plantmass. At what setting do you run your Chihiros?

I won't forget,a good while after I had set my latest tank , one day I realised the water was crystal clear. On that I was sure the tank was balanced!
 
It's hard to tell from the images but the tank is quite heavily planted, but the background is yet to really come in. The light is on an auto setting, and has been running at 100% power for the last 3 weeks. I did originally start at 70% power.
 
I suggest you lower the light intensity. I think it does more harm than good. I had the original Chihiros and I know how strong it is. I do not know the auto mode and I am not sure I understand what it means but I feel it could only lead to trouble.
I should add that the best practices to stabilise the tank is to get some floating plants.
 
Hi all,
Other than the tannins I would also think too much light compared to the plantmass.
A greater plant mass is the answer for me as well, unless you reduce light intensity. A sub-surface floater (like Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)) would really help. You don't have to keep it once your algal issues have stabilised.

Because you don't have any fish you can add some Daphnia and they will clear it up really quickly.

cheers Darrel
 
Thank you guys, I can use the manual setting on the light and set the intensity to something lower. Would you suggest lower intensity or just less time on?

I'll have a look at the floating plants. I must say I've never been a fan at all of them, but I'm happy to try anything to turn the water clear!
 
Hi all,
I'll have a look at the floating plants. I must say I've never been a fan at all of them, but I'm happy to try anything to turn the water clear!
I understand that there can be issues with aesthetics. I'd regard them a bit like a heater, or a drop checker, they are <"very much a tool"> to do a specific job.

The floating "green water" algae are growing because they are getting light and nutrient in the large volume of water around your central planting. If you reduce any part of the space, light and nutrient "triangle" they should reduce and eventually go away altogether.

cheers Darrel
 
Hi all, I understand that there can be issues with aesthetics. I'd regard them a bit like a heater, or a drop checker, they are <"very much a tool"> to do a specific job.

The floating "green water" algae are growing because they are getting light and nutrient in the large volume of water around your central planting. If you reduce any part of the space, light and nutrient "triangle" they should reduce and eventually go away altogether.

cheers Darrel

Thank you for the advice Darrel, I'll look at sourcing some floating plants to clear it up!
 
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