why is my water green?

[dburr]

Filter floss.
WC won't work, carbon won't work. I did it all.
You have spore algae and it will multiply with water changes. It will liik clearer after the change and go back to where it is.
I used SEACLEAR by KORDON and filter floss in a whisper filter. I had to claen the floss everyday because it was clogged. Cleared up totally in a week.
HTH

 

[minitrucke]

Well I took everything out of the tank and changed half the water. Looks alot better but we will see if it comes back or not. Im also looking for a way to mount my crappy skimmer adn will get that going soon.
Thanks for the help

 

[tony detroit]

Originally posted by ClarkiiClo
A UV will work too and is cheaper than alot of ozonizers.
Not exactly true. The average UV bulb is around 40, after 5 years you've payed for the cost of an ozonizer in bulb changes alone. A ozonizer has no maintenance.
On a side note, a UV does no harm to a reef tank IMO. This is a common misconception with little to no data to back it up, think about it, nitrifying bacteria and microfauna live in your rocks, not swimming around in the water. A UV only sterilizes those things that pass through it.

 

[thomas712]

Originally posted by tony detroit
On a side note, a UV does no harm to a reef tank IMO. This is a common misconception with little to no data to back it up, think about it, nitrifying bacteria and microfauna live in your rocks, not swimming around in the water. A UV only sterilizes those things that pass through it.
The only thing I would like to point out for your consideration is that the microfauna in the larva stage is in the water column and it is free floating in this stage and can pass through the UV or get Ozonized thus killing it.

 

[beckzilla]

Originally posted by Thomas712
The only thing I would like to point out for your consideration is that the microfauna in the larva stage is in the water column and it is free floating in this stage and can pass through the UV or get Ozonized thus killing it.
What he said. :yes:

 

[tony detroit]

While I will agree that it is in the water column, IMO it is the majority in the rockwork that is important
1. Do you think that it survives going through a pump impeller spinning -1000rpm only a fraction of an inch from the walls?
I'm pretty confident anything in the larvae stage would never survive after being pumped through my Iwaki return pump
2. What about the ultraviolet spectrums put off by metal halide lamps?
Many lamps are recommended you run with shields, especially double ended bulbs, what about the potential for them to sterilize microfauna in the larvae stage?
I'm waiting for the professionals to do some analytical testing on UV with conclusive evidence that it does bad, in thought I do not see how it can be a bad thing.

 

[jbk65]

This is why I love this site.
Lots of different opinions all with valid answers.
JBK

 

[thomas712]

Yes I have thought about how many might survive through an impeller and I would have to say that survival looks pretty slim. Those that make it back to the rock have a chance at survival if they don't get eaten.
The MH question is also of valid concern and I would love to see articles like you ask for as well.
Oh well, some folks have pods and other micro crustations and some folks don't. Why some don't? Well the list is long and distinguished.
We should have started a different post on this, as I think this thread has been successfully hijacked, or at least evolved into somthing else.
Oh yeah, how's that green water doing?

 

[gregm779]

All I can say is that I've been running UV in my tank since setup, everything has been great and the fish seem healthier (haven't had any disease at all, at all). This may have nothing to do with the skimmer but I will continue to run it. The only time I unplug it is when I dose DTs and it stays off for about 6 hours.

 

[minitrucke]

well its still a mighty fine shade of green. Would be a nice color if it wasnt in my tank. Im going to try and hook up my uv tonight and I did put a big sack of carbon in my overflow so we will see what does

 

[fishamajig]

DIATOM FILTER
1/2 HOUR
NO WATER CHANGE
THATS ALL YOU NEED

 

[dburr]

YOU NEED A VERY VERY VERY FINE FILTER.
Carbon is not a filter. Carbon asorbes, not filters. You have free floating algae and needs to be caught and removed. The algae is reproducing itself. Thats why water changes aren't working. A UV will kill it yes, then how does it get out of the tank?
Diatom may work, I never used it. Filter floss will work, I have used it.
Stop spinning plates.