lacey59

I have a freshwater tank that has been set up for a few months now with a Penguin bio-wheel filtration system. This past week the water has been turning green. I've done filter changes and partial water change without success. Any ideas on what problem is. Biowheel is working fine. Fish don't seem to be bothered, but water looks like heck. Thanks

asahlin

sounds like an algae bloom. Totally normal and should run its cycle. Try limiting light to about 8hrs a day. Does your tank recieve direct sunlight?? That can also cause massive algae blooms, as can over feeding. The other members of this forum can provide you with more detailed info...good luck

__________________
10 gal freshwater tank
4 artificial plants
1 castle hiding rock
1 small cave hiding rock
1 neon tetra
3 glowlite tetras
1 pleco

Jay

Hi lacey59 and Welcome to the Forum!!

asahlin is right on, it is algae

This is a very common problem for beginners, your filtration system has nothing to do with it, and it will not harm your fish.

Excuse me for a moment We need to do a sticky on this to help folks out, please PM me with your articles, I will edit and combine them and post for all
Thanks!!

Green water is a type of algae bloom, called strangely enough, "green water".
It is encouraged by over feeding (Urea production), too much light, too many fish, or all of the above. There is something going on in the management of your tank that these algae love.

It is almost impossible to filter out or water change away, as the algae grow and reproduce too rapidly. UV filters will kill it, Diatom filters will help, but it will come back.

The bottom line here is you need a multi front attack.

1. Find the source of the nutrients.
2. Stop doing whatever that is, like overfeeding or not doing regular water changes and vacuuming your gravel.
3. Cut your light down to under 8 hours. Sunlight if it is intense should be considered as part ot the 8 hours. It is one of those aquarium myths that sunlight caused massive algae. We can discuss that another time.

You may still need to do a 72 hour complete blackout of the tank, no peeking, no light for 72 hours. Don't worry the fish will be fine, the algae will die.

This intervention will get you to 0 algae. You will still need to revisit your maintenance routines 123 above or it will come back.

Please get back with questions.

Regards,
Jay

lacey59

Thanks for the info. We just set up this 30 gallon tank a few months ago. Had no probs until this past week. No new fish, no new plants, I only feed every couple days and tank has sat in same spot as our 15 gallon and does not get direct sunlight. So am stumped as to why now there's a problem. I've blacked out the tank for 72 hrs to see if that helps. I really appreciate the great feedback.