water color is green

[green water problem]

We have a 46 gallon bowfront aquarium. Unfortunately the
water is so green, that you can barely see the fish.
we have 4 fruit tetras, 4 head-tail lights, 1 hatchet fish, 2 small
platys, 2 sword fish, a golden dojo, an eel, 1 algae eater, a
rainbow shark, a angel fish and a small loach. All the fish are
medium in size unless otherwise noted.

We have a whisper power filter 60 for an external power filter. We have added an undertow 30/34H undergravel filter just 2 weeks ago to try to help with the green water. We have a standard flourescent light that is usually off with the exception of
about 4-5 hours a couple times a week.

Water temp is around 76 degrees F. And our test kit shows
0 ppm for Ammonia and Nitrites. The pH is alkaline, though.

We have torn the tank down 3 times so far in the last few months
and completely washed everything. However, we always have the same result. The water is crystal clear for only a few days and
then begins to cloud up turning green within 2 weeks. Any suggestions would be helpful as we are contemplating taking it
down for a last time and selling the equipment, however we really
don't want to.

We are considering a canister filter, but don't want to add the
expense if it won't help.

PLEASE HELP US

[aquak]

Welcome to the forum! If you do a search here on algae bloom, you will find lots of information, some of which I will quote for you:

"If you're having problems with green water you may want to add some live plants. Plants absorb nitrates as a sorce of food (among other things), and can help reduce the levels in your tank, completing the nitrogen cycle. Bear in mind that they only REDUCE, not remove the nitrates so you will still need decent water changes.
Having the plants would mean that the algae causing the green water would now have competition for these nitrates and it may cause it to die back somewhat.
Just out of curiosity what are the phosphate readings in your tap water and tank water? Phosphates are like super algae fertilizers, and may be contributing to the algae. If it is high, try something such as Roaphos (have I spelt that right?) which helps to reduce phosphates."

" I posted a similar post here a while ago when the water was green, and was told it was an algae bloom. I researched a little, cut down feeding and covered the tank up for a while and the green went away."

While most folks here recommend you not try to use a bunch of chemicals in your tank, one person had good luck with a product called Algae-Fix.

Probably most important is that you not continually start over. It often takes time to get things under control in a new tank. You need to do regular water changes, have enough filtration, (which you didn't, but now seem to), feed sparingly, and get some live plants. The plants will be more difficult with the UGF, but if you go to the aquatic plants site here you will find a current thread that discusses this. I have recently had lots of algae in my tank, though not in the water. I got it under control by limiting light and feeding lightly. If you are patient and also do the water changes and try covering the tank with a blanket, you will probably be successful. Meanwhile, are you watching the cycling process your tank must be going through? This will add to the algae problem until it is over. Each time you start over, the cycling process has to start again as well, causing stress to your fish. If you restarted less than 6 weeks ago, you need to be checking for ammonia and nitrItes daily. If the tank is cycled, weekly checking is usually OK. BTW, it would help us help you if you would fill out your profile more completely. Also, keep us posted on how things are going and we can help you as things change -- for better or worse -- along the way. Good luck!

[rockfish]

Just an FYI, as your tank is a closed system, if you use an herbicide to kill the bloom, all the organic matter that results from the kill off will be broken down by microorganisms and you will have additional peaks in the nitrate and other compounds available to cause other situations. The problem with adding any toxic substance in your tank is that it also kills off the beneficial’s as well as “problem” children. By breaking down the tank so much you reduce the beneficial’s as well. Whatever you do, do it at a good pace and have patience. It seems like a lot of fish for a tank that has never been stable. Practice doing the right things for a good time, regular partial water changes, do not over feed, limit the hours of light. But most importantly, don’t give up; success is generally right around the corner if we don’t quit.

There are mustard algae’s that are quite tuff. If you want to try something from a different angle, leave the lights on accept for a few hours a day and see if that doesn’t speed up the cycle of the algae. It is a bit counter intuitive and may not work, but it would be a fascinating experiment.

Blessings,

TR

[rockfish]

I just had another thought from high school biology. (That was a long time ago!) Ponds although full of algae often have low oxygen due to the use of oxygen in the braking down of decaying matter, such as dead algae, and poor circulation. You may consider making sure there is high circulation to insure a rapid gas exchange at the surface for your fishes sake, as the tank does its thing and finds stability.

Blessings,

TR