Green water....for several days now

bsclarinet · 10/20/2009, 07:58 PM

Well my friend has a 55 gallon reef tank, and he has been fighting with green water for over a week. He's done several water changes, which don't seem to help. I've committed to helping him fix the problem, so that's why I'm here

I have been talking to him about doing a blackout for about 3 days, and then doing some large water changes to get rid of all the dead algae. However, I'm a little concerned about his corals. He has some softies: xenia, kenya trees, mushroom, and zoas. But also a candy cane and a frogspawn. Will the blackout hurt the corals if we do it for 3 days? Or does anyone have a better suggestion for getting rid of the green water?

arredondojason · 10/20/2009, 09:02 PM

sounds like a bacteria bloom so what i would do i purchase a UV sterilizer and it should be cleared up in like 3 or 4 days.

droberts · 10/20/2009, 09:33 PM

u.v. would definitely clear the algae bloom. but what started it? hows the water test? can he put his coral in your tank if you have to do a black out if buying a u.v. is out of the question?

Flipper62 · 10/20/2009, 10:16 PM

Is he running any kind of GFO.....Carbon, Pura-Complete,...anything ?

Toddrtrex · 10/20/2009, 10:52 PM

Is your friend using RO/DI water? And if so, what is the TDS of it?

An algae bloom causing green water would most likely be caused by excess nutrients, fix that issue and the tank should clear up.

PRDubois · 10/21/2009, 01:15 AM

I smell tap water???

reefbro · 10/21/2009, 05:07 AM

Run some carbon it should clear it up.

stingythingy45 · 10/21/2009, 07:34 AM

The only thing I've ever seen clear up"green water"is a U.V. sterilizer.
Btw,how is your friend checking salinity?The only time I had a rather bad bout with GW was during a hyposalinity treatment for ich.

bsclarinet · 10/21/2009, 08:16 AM

Definitely no tap water. He buys water from our favorite LFS. He doesn't have a sump or skimmer on the tank. I'm pretty sure UV is out of the question. I know he did have a bag of carbon in his filter, but I'm not sure if he is still running that or not. He was target feeding his corals, so I told him not to do that for a while. Perhaps he overdid it and that's what led to this. I also told him to cut back on fish feeding.

bsclarinet · 10/21/2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droberts

u.v. would definitely clear the algae bloom. but what started it? hows the water test? can he put his coral in your tank if you have to do a black out if buying a u.v. is out of the question?

I'm not sure about his water params. I know he has always kept them well maintained, but I don't know what the specifics were for the last time he tested. I wouldn't care to take his softies and put them in my tank, but I am getting ready to upgrade to better lights (haven't done it yet), so I don't know if his candy cane and frogspawn would do well with my light. Of course, I guess it's probably better than no light, right?

Toddrtrex · 10/21/2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsclarinet

Definitely no tap water. He buys water from our favorite LFS. He doesn't have a sump or skimmer on the tank. I'm pretty sure UV is out of the question. I know he did have a bag of carbon in his filter, but I'm not sure if he is still running that or not. He was target feeding his corals, so I told him not to do that for a while. Perhaps he overdid it and that's what led to this. I also told him to cut back on fish feeding.

Is he buying plain water or salt water from them? If it is plain, I would suggest testing the TDS of it, not all LFS's are good about maintaining their RO/DI filters.

What is all in the tank? Fish and corals

bsclarinet · 10/21/2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

Is he buying plain water or salt water from them? If it is plain, I would suggest testing the TDS of it, not all LFS's are good about maintaining their RO/DI filters.

What is all in the tank? Fish and corals

He buys salt water from them.

The only fish he has right now are 2 clowns.
Corals: candy cane, frogspawn, several zoa colonies, a striped mushroom, 2 kinds of xenia, kenya trees.

Also, I forgot to mention that he does have a ball of chaeto in there to try to absorb extra nutrients. And he does prune it.

droberts · 10/21/2009, 09:51 AM

a skimmer would definitely help to pull the crap out of the water. he should get one i got a sea clone for a 125 that i run on my 55 and i only paid $50 with the shipping

Seventy · 10/21/2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droberts

a skimmer would definitely help to pull the crap out of the water. he should get one i got a sea clone for a 125 that i run on my 55 and i only paid $50 with the shipping

+1 on the skimmer. It will remove some of the crap causing the algae, but will also pull the algae itself out if you run it during/after you clean the glass.

I went skimmerless for a couple months while I was upgrading skimmers and noticed alot more algae and diatoms during that time.

Toddrtrex · 10/21/2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsclarinet

He buys salt water from them.

The only fish he has right now are 2 clowns.
Corals: candy cane, frogspawn, several zoa colonies, a striped mushroom, 2 kinds of xenia, kenya trees.

Also, I forgot to mention that he does have a ball of chaeto in there to try to absorb extra nutrients. And he does prune it.

Before putting that water into the tank, I would have him test the phosphates of it.

That bio-load is pretty light for a 55, so unless he is dumping a ton of food into the tank, there has to be something feeding the algae, and I am thinking that it is the water.

addictedtofish · 10/21/2009, 06:07 PM

A u.v. will clear that up but is expensive, some lfs rent them, if the u.v. isn't an option rent a diatom filter to clear it up typically 10-15 dollars to rent and will clear the bloom in 12-24hrs. CARBON will not clear this bloom.

twolfe98 · 10/21/2009, 06:14 PM

+1 on uv.. you can find deals or post in a local club to borrow one.. If your in southern md i can help you lol.. a guy in our club had the same issue last week, with in 24hrs he was crystal clear. He got a 25watter for 40 bux!! i know !!

jasoncampbell83 · 10/21/2009, 10:43 PM

Make sure he is only using RODI water and also there is some stuff called AllGone, it works great! I know someone who used it and it cleared up their green water, it may take a week or two... good luck!

bsclarinet · 10/22/2009, 02:44 PM

I'll talk to him about trying to rent uv or a diatom filter. He did start a blackout yesterday, and will do that through today. And it's funny that jasoncampbell83 mentioned Algone, cause I just picked up a box for him today!

10/20/2009, 07:58 PM	#1
bsclarinet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 132	Green water....for several days now Well my friend has a 55 gallon reef tank, and he has been fighting with green water for over a week. He's done several water changes, which don't seem to help. I've committed to helping him fix the problem, so that's why I'm here I have been talking to him about doing a blackout for about 3 days, and then doing some large water changes to get rid of all the dead algae. However, I'm a little concerned about his corals. He has some softies: xenia, kenya trees, mushroom, and zoas. But also a candy cane and a frogspawn. Will the blackout hurt the corals if we do it for 3 days? Or does anyone have a better suggestion for getting rid of the green water? __________________ Julie Current Tank Info: 45 gallon reef tank - 1 O. Clown - 1 bicolor blenny - 1 canary blenny - 1 six line wrasse - 1 watchman goby and tiger pistol shrimp - hermits, snails, emerald crab, urchin - sun coral - frogspawn - candy cane, variety of softies

10/20/2009, 10:16 PM	#4
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Is he running any kind of GFO.....Carbon, Pura-Complete,...anything ? __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

10/20/2009, 10:52 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Is your friend using RO/DI water? And if so, what is the TDS of it? An algae bloom causing green water would most likely be caused by excess nutrients, fix that issue and the tank should clear up. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/21/2009, 01:15 AM	#6
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	I smell tap water??? __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

10/21/2009, 07:34 AM	#8
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	The only thing I've ever seen clear up"green water"is a U.V. sterilizer. Btw,how is your friend checking salinity?The only time I had a rather bad bout with GW was during a hyposalinity treatment for ich. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

10/20/2009, 09:02 PM	#2
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	sounds like a bacteria bloom so what i would do i purchase a UV sterilizer and it should be cleared up in like 3 or 4 days.

10/20/2009, 09:33 PM	#3
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	u.v. would definitely clear the algae bloom. but what started it? hows the water test? can he put his coral in your tank if you have to do a black out if buying a u.v. is out of the question?

10/21/2009, 05:07 AM	#7
reefbro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: central arkansas Posts: 71	Run some carbon it should clear it up.

10/21/2009, 08:16 AM	#9
bsclarinet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 132	Definitely no tap water. He buys water from our favorite LFS. He doesn't have a sump or skimmer on the tank. I'm pretty sure UV is out of the question. I know he did have a bag of carbon in his filter, but I'm not sure if he is still running that or not. He was target feeding his corals, so I told him not to do that for a while. Perhaps he overdid it and that's what led to this. I also told him to cut back on fish feeding. __________________ Julie Current Tank Info: 45 gallon reef tank - 1 O. Clown - 1 bicolor blenny - 1 canary blenny - 1 six line wrasse - 1 watchman goby and tiger pistol shrimp - hermits, snails, emerald crab, urchin - sun coral - frogspawn - candy cane, variety of softies

10/21/2009, 09:51 AM	#13
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	a skimmer would definitely help to pull the crap out of the water. he should get one i got a sea clone for a 125 that i run on my 55 and i only paid $50 with the shipping

10/21/2009, 06:07 PM	#16
addictedtofish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 38	A u.v. will clear that up but is expensive, some lfs rent them, if the u.v. isn't an option rent a diatom filter to clear it up typically 10-15 dollars to rent and will clear the bloom in 12-24hrs. CARBON will not clear this bloom.

10/21/2009, 06:14 PM	#17
twolfe98 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hollywood MD Posts: 68	+1 on uv.. you can find deals or post in a local club to borrow one.. If your in southern md i can help you lol.. a guy in our club had the same issue last week, with in 24hrs he was crystal clear. He got a 25watter for 40 bux!! i know !!

10/21/2009, 10:43 PM	#18
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	Make sure he is only using RODI water and also there is some stuff called AllGone, it works great! I know someone who used it and it cleared up their green water, it may take a week or two... good luck! __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank

10/22/2009, 02:44 PM	#19
bsclarinet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 132	I'll talk to him about trying to rent uv or a diatom filter. He did start a blackout yesterday, and will do that through today. And it's funny that jasoncampbell83 mentioned Algone, cause I just picked up a box for him today! __________________ Julie Current Tank Info: 45 gallon reef tank - 1 O. Clown - 1 bicolor blenny - 1 canary blenny - 1 six line wrasse - 1 watchman goby and tiger pistol shrimp - hermits, snails, emerald crab, urchin - sun coral - frogspawn - candy cane, variety of softies