green water

[aidanchick]

Hey,

My water is getting cloudy. It's greenish. It's an alge build up right? How do I make the water clear again? Do I just keep doing regular water changes? Some days are better than others, the other day it was terrible, then the next day it was well more clear... How do I get it back to being crystal clear water?

 

[colesea]

Small volume water changes until the color is gone.

Do you have live plants? If not, shut the light off and keep the tank away from any direct sunlight or especially bright rooms. Hood lamps only need to be on for viewing and feeding, not all day or all night.
~~Colesea

 

[aidanchick]

I dont have any plants in my tank.

I have been doing some water chances, is every second day ok? I plan on cleaning the gravel later on this week, that can help right?

The water is slightly clearing up, but what could be causing the green water? Just leaving the light on too long in the day? My mom tends to turn it on when I'm not home, she wants the fish to know that it's "daytime" or something.

 

[colesea]

Trust me, the fish know it is day time.  Ambiant room light is plenty for fish. In fact, most prefer only half lit or dark tanks rather than that bright, glaring hood lamp, which to them signals being out in the open and easy pickings for a predator.   I would tell your mom to keep her hands off your light. The fish do not need the light on when nobody is viewing the tank. 100% garuntee that is what is causing your green water, too much light. Algae and light, where there is an overabundance of one, there is usually an overabundance of the other.
~~Colesea

 

[Matt Nace]

light plus too many nutrients could equal green water. I bet your gravel is full of stuff.

Vaccuum everytime you do a waterchange.
Also , timers work great, just time it so it stays on when you are around. Not planted tanks are usually kept on around 8 hours max(mine anyways)

 

[aidanchick]

Thanks so much everyone. I had a feeling it was because of the light. I'm leaving it off for a long time. Doing water changes, and gravel cleaning, on a more regular basis.

I'll also make sure my mom keeps her hands off my fish tank. Putting a sign up or something.