Aquarium water filter problem
This is my aquarium. No matter how often I change the water, this is the result. It was ok initially but this is the present state.
I bought a new water filter to replace my old one.
It is quite powerful. The water is now a little bit cleaner but the green color persists. Can some body out there please advise? There is no sand or anything that makes the water murky. The fish are growing well and the water seems cool.
By the way, I rear Taiwanese Red Parrot fish. Any advise is most welcome. Thank you.
The way it was before the problem cropped up.
Maybe you should try a little more expensive filter with larger aquarium.
i got no money lah
hi, i am not an expert, but here is my suggestion. put the fish tank indoors away from sunlight, and light it with artificial light. the sunlight makes the green algae multiply. the filter will not correct it.
i have shaded the aquarium a little now
What you have is a fungus problem, not a filter problem. It is because your tank is exposed to too much sunlight (or if you switch on your tank light for too long per day). If the fungus is green (in your case), it’s too much light. If it’s brown, it’s too few light exposure.
You can buy chemicals to get rid of it, but the long term solution is the position of your tank.
Btw, cute red parrots
i took note of the sunshine comment. hopefully the problem will be solved
As per Anthony, it could be due to sunlight. Otherwise, it could be due to bloom in algae due to new water added. Reduce feeding so as not to overload the filter.
i will do as you say thanks
Do you want to buy more of your water plants?
I can easily sell you at RM3/- per bunch.
thanks for the offer. hopefully one of the readers will be interested. i dont have much time for gardening nowadays
Last time, I bought this yellow powder from the fish shop. It comes in a rectangle box which cost around RM3-RM3.50. Pour the yellow powder into your water filter. I think a box will be enough cos in that box, it comes with 10 (if I am not wrong) tiny packets. Put a few packets will be enough and keep the rest for future use. Next time, avoid your aquarium from direct sunlight too prevent algae growth in your water.
now that i have followed the readers’ advise, the situation seems to be improving
Sorry, not a fish person, I have cats! Have you asked the people at the pet store?
That’s why no fish in my house liaw lo… But that one ho… The filter you bought is small la, can really work meh?
I agree with most of the other commentors; there’s too much sunlight on the aquarium making the algae grow faster so if you can put it away from direct sunlight & try not to use artificial light too often either…I had the same problem brader so I know!
Hi,
Stumbled across your blog. I’ve been a fish hobbyist since my school days.
From your discriptions & photos, your tank is suffering from green water syndrome. This is due to the growth of microbial algae feeding on fish waste & rotting food/plants. Couple this rich nutrient with strong sunlight & you’ll have an explosive bloom of algae.
Countermeasures:-
1. Do not over feed. Feed only as much as your fishes can eat in 5 minutes. Remove any unconsummed food from tank.Overfeeding causes unconsummed food to rot & enrich the algae bloom.
2. Do not place tank in direct sunlight, as algae needs sunlight for photosynthesis. If you can’t shift your tank due to space or Feng Shui constrain. Then I would suggest:-
3. Install an UV clarifier, available from some petshops, priced approx RM100~RM250. What the UV clarifier does is to kill off the algae with ultra violet light as it passes through the system. Lastly if you like:-
4. Purchase some algaecide from the petshop. These algaecide has been specially formulated for aquarium use. But I am never one for chemical solution.
5. If you like to go green, you can always set up a separate biological filter using water plants to extract the nutrients from the tank before returning the water back to your aquarium,thus starving off the algae. Plus point is that you’re not damaging the environment & have lots of healty water plants!
If you can achieve a balance equilabrium in your tank system, you do not even have to change the water for years on end! Just top up the water to compensate for evaporation.
Cheers & may your fishes multiply!
thanks so much for yr comment. i will do what i can but without spending money the best i can do is try the water plants angle. hopefully it will work. once again, thanks so much
What can I add after all the advice above.
I remember when my dad had a huge fish tank, he bought some sort of water snails which help get rid of algae as the snails survived on algae.
hey,thats a great idea
Hi, it is algae. Because your acquarium is placed outdoor, or exposed to too much sunlight (if placed indoor). The answer is very simple:
1. Remove the acquarium to your sitting room, away from the sunlight. You will have no more greenish water, because without sunlight, there will be no algae.
2. Alternatively, buy a UV Light. The acquarium that you have is small, so, just buy a small one from Kim Lee Acquarium (Opposite Tung Hua Sec Sch) or other acquarium centres. It is very simple to instal. You need only to switch it on for a few days and the water will clear, no matter how strong the sunlight. Guaranteed. After the water is cleared, you only have to switch it on a couple of days a week, to save its life span as well as saving a few sen a day.
BTW, Algae will still grow a little on the side of the glass panel, but you can just clean once in a month or two with a magnet. Your tank will look wonderful and clean. The fish will be healthy too. Also, make sure that your parrots are not injected with steroids.
Another hobbyist
I won’t try snails because it might bring unwanted parasites
thanks . point noted