Bright Green Water. Need help Desperately

[aduvall]

I have a 29 gallon tank that Im currently using until I get my 120 gallon up and running. (One Puffer, and one Tang in this tank)

--My water has turned green. I did 40% water change on Saturday, and another 40% water change on Sunday. Scapped all the Poop out of the rocks as well. Thiught I got everything, the first time around.

Today the water is still bright green. So green that you can not see though it.
After two 40% water changes...Why is this, and how can I get rid of it?

This tank has no live rock or live sand. Just gravel. I have two hang on filteration units on it. We even replaced the cartridges in the filters.
Please help...
Thanks, Angie

[inwall75]

Hey Angie,

This is a phytoplankton bloom. The quickest most efficient way to get rid of this is to buy or borrow someones UV Sterilizer and install it on your tank.

If this is not possible, you must remove all lighting. Turn off the lights for several days. Tape black construction paper to all glass areas that will allow light in.

Those cartridges are not going to help you at all. The phyto are so small that they will fit right inbetween the media.

After you get rid of the phyto, determine why your phosphates are elevated. For instance, are you using tap water? Are you protein skimming? Do you vacuum the gravel on a regular basis? Are you overfeeding? Are you not removing waste on a timely basis?

[aduvall]

Thanks for the advice. I have already lines the glass with black crate paper and turned off the lights.
Thanks Again for the advice.
Angie

[aduvall]

Is this phytoplankton the same thing as what people produce for selling?

[JohnO]

You might also reconsider the 40% water changes.

John

[inwall75]

Originally Posted by aduvall

Is this phytoplankton the same thing as what people produce for selling?

There's numerous species of phyto. Some of what you have could very well be one of those same species. A lot of people have filter feeders in their tanks that will eat the phyto if it's the right size.

For instance:
Feather dusters
Clams
Several azooxanthellate corals (non-photosynthetic corals), sea-whips, sea-pens, some Gorgonians
Possibly Goniopora and Alveopora corals (the jury is still out on this one)
Some scallops
Christmas tree worms
Tunicates
etc.

[euthyphro]

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