Algae bloom - green water

[Jaide]

Now I remember why I got rid of plants years ago, water was always green and I could never get rid of it. Aside from removing plants altogether (what's left that my silver dollars haven't chowed down on) how can I make the water clear again? Algae rid doesn't seem to be working.

What plants will silver dollars NOT eat?

[ryanjury]

I don't think your plants will be turning the water green? Unless they're rotting and causing problems.. Usually plants use the nutrients in the water so the water doesn't go green?

Have you measured your phosphate levels?

[Jaide]

How do I measure phosphate levels?

[supasi]

With a testing kit, or take sample of water to lfs and they should be able to test it for you.

Silver dollars.......... equal no plants

feed them lettuce and they will slow down on the attack of plants, although they aree still seen as food to them

You will be getting green water from a nutrient imbalance,. Try a week long black out in the tank and then add some Indian fern or duck weed as it uses up excess nutrients faster.althouh with silver dollars, it prob wont last long enough to do the job.

HTH

[suphew]

Green water is a balance problem. Either too much of something or too little, usually too much nutrients or too little plants to use up the nutrients. Most likely some husbandry would fix the problem, water changes, syphoning gravel, cleaning filter and/or adding more filtration. Things like algae rid are a chemical band-aid and will at best only be a temporary fix.

[Jaide]

That will be it - not enough plants in the tank to feed on nutrients, I will rectify that one right now - thanks all