Green Water

[clownfish]

I know there's a couple of threads about this already, but I need to know something very specific.

This is what happened. About a week ago I started running my T5s on a timer, actinic, day and Lunar (all night lunar), three days later I added a blue tang and a clownfish. I bough some tiny pellets for the tang, in fact it was these pellets New Life Anti-Parasitic Pellet Food 150g (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Food > Dry > Pellets > Saltwater > Small Sized ) so I started feeding the tang these. I noticed that my hermit and emerald crabs love it, so I guess I got excited and started feeding a bit too much (in my opinion) of these pellets. Ok, everything was fine, water clear, etc. I went to the LFS to get me some cleaner shrimp and a sand sifting goby three days ago, when I got back home, my water had turned green!!! in a mater of hours!!! So you can see how confusing this is...why on earth would the water turn green? and what can I do to fix this problem?.

One more thing, I started using salt from a new bucket a few days before this happened. It's still the same brand IO. I'm trying to pin point the culprit. Could've been the pellets, too much light/lunar, the new salt.

I did a partial water change and changed the carbon on my filter, I have two cartridges in there now..so far no difference. I have a 46 Gal. tank and did a 7 gal. water change that night the water turned green. I'm not sure how much more I should change.

My fish are fine, there's not sign of stress, they are happy and eat.

If a UAV is necessary, I need you please tell me HOW to use it. Will I need special equipment? All I have is HOT power filter and remora skimmer. Three powerheads. That's it. All the UAVs I've seen look like sticks that do nothing...I have no clue what I need to use them and/or how to use them. If the UAV is the only what that is.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this long post. Peace.

[tulare reef]

do you us etap water? if so the city may have treated the water and changed your chimestry. how long has your tank been set up?

[Camilsky]

Hey chap!

First of all do the water test! Pay special attention to phosphates! High levels may suggest algae bloom! Another thing is food. I've checked the link you have send:

Enhances the full spectrum of your fish`s color

Color enhancers/immune response boosters are mainly vitamins, vit B12! Can you check what is the level of different vitamins (written on the box) and post it?! Please focus on vit. B12! Why ?! It contains cobalt (cyanocobalamine)! Cobalt in ionic form can form lots of colorful salts with the components of marine water! These salts can be purple,blue and even green depending on composition and concentration! That could be another, alternative explanation of green color and the fact it doesn't disappear although You use active carbon! Carbon is very good against organic pollutions that can be easily adsorbed at its surface! The pollutant in this case would be inorganic! This would require an extensive carbon treatment!

Cheers!

[crappyballer]

start running some seachem purigen for a quick fix. (the stuff is awesome i run it all the time)

[Camilsky]

Originally Posted by crappyballer

start running some seachem purigen for a quick fix. (the stuff is awesome i run it all the time)

Hey chap!
With whole respect: I would do the test first... Only then you can draw any constructive conclusions and be able to debug whole thing... I can imagine you would like to have better control of your system instead of buying "magic" potions and just adding them ?!

[crappyballer]

i agree with you that the water should be tested prior to correction, the purigen will just help speed the recovery up. that is all i was trying to say

[clownfish]

Ingreedients

Krill, Herring, Wheat Flour, Algae Meal, Garlic, Soybean Isolate, Fish Oil, Beta Carotene, Spirulina, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Activated Animal Sterol (D3), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Folic Acid, Calcium, Pantotheranate, Pyriodoxine Hydrochlorine, Thiamine, Biotin, DL Alphatocopherol (E), L-Ascorbyl-2 Polyphosphate (C), Choline Chloride, Cobalt Sulfate, Ethylenediamine, Dihydroiodide, Ethoxyquin (preservative).

Guaranteed Analysis:

Protein (Min) 38%
Fat 10%
Fiber 5%
Ash 9%
Moisture 10%
Vit. A 8000 IU/KG
Vit. D 450 IU/KG
Vit. E 200 IU/KG

I'm thinking about doing another water change...how often and how much is safe to do this?

[clownfish]

HELP!!! Geek, my hero man, where are you??!!

[Jason McKenzie]

I think the above suggestions are good. Test you water and run carbon or Purigen.

If your water has turned green because of the food. You will have large amounts of Phosphates and Nitrates.

BTW I always look for food that are high in Spirulina for Tangs. It is a very good source of everything that Veggie's need. Try and get something where it is 1 or 2 on the ingredients list

J

[clownfish]

Jason, won't large amounts of Phosphates and Nitrates affect the inverts? I'm asking 'cause my cleaner shrimp are doin' just fine...they eat, they're happy, no signs of stress...

Should I do a water change again? I did a 7 Gal. water change two days ago. I have a 46Gal Tank.