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My fish tank water is getting really really green!

 

is this bad or good?.... 

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It is a sign of algae having enough nitrates to bloom.  Micro-algae loves nitrates.  Do you have a good plant - to - fish ratio now, or are the plants still small?  There is lots of opportunity for algae to bloom in well-lit tanks when the plants are not taking most of the nutrients yet.  It should not be a problem, but I have always added a UV-sterilizer to a new system for a while to zap the algae in the beginning.  I also shade my fish tank quite well.  If the bloom is left, it can crash and the decomposition could be oxygen demanding, but that would require a severe bloom with a pile of nutrients unused in the system.

Yeah my plants are still really small. Thanks for the help!

 



Kobus Jooste said:

It is a sign of algae having enough nitrates to bloom.  Micro-algae loves nitrates.  Do you have a good plant - to - fish ratio now, or are the plants still small?  There is lots of opportunity for algae to bloom in well-lit tanks when the plants are not taking most of the nutrients yet.  It should not be a problem, but I have always added a UV-sterilizer to a new system for a while to zap the algae in the beginning.  I also shade my fish tank quite well.  If the bloom is left, it can crash and the decomposition could be oxygen demanding, but that would require a severe bloom with a pile of nutrients unused in the system.
This would be what many people call the pea soup stage.  Add extra aeration, especially overnight and shade the fish tank well.
Tilapia love this kind of water. You are getting too much light on your water. Stop the feeding for a few days and shade your tank. It will clear up in a few days and make sure you provide lots of aeration.

Hi everyone I have provided tons of aeration and wrapped my tank in shade cloth I even stopped feeding my fish! its been almost a week and no signs of change. Nitrites and ph levels are really high but the system is only 2 weeks old. What do I do... I am a bit worried.

 

If the nitrites are super high, do a small water change to bring them into check. At 2 weeks you still have a little while before your filtration system is fully cycled. High ph (8-8.5) is fine for cycling.

Ryan

 

Thanks I did do a small water change maybe not enough, on Thursday last week... I will do one again today. When should I start back feeding the tilapia? tomorrow is going to make a week without feed. 

 

Shari

Ryan said:

If the nitrites are super high, do a small water change to bring them into check. At 2 weeks you still have a little while before your filtration system is fully cycled. High ph (8-8.5) is fine for cycling.
I would hold off feeding until you get your nitrite in check, then start feeding small amounts of food again and continue to take ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings
Oh Thanks Ryan will do!

Ryan said:
I would hold off feeding until you get your nitrite in check, then start feeding small amounts of food again and continue to take ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings

yep as they said. 

Patience, fish can go without food for a while and if those tilapia are not too small, they are probably eating algae anyway.

 

my tank still wont clear up and my fish are acting "slow"
Thanks! For the advice.

TCLynx said:

yep as they said. 

Patience, fish can go without food for a while and if those tilapia are not too small, they are probably eating algae anyway.

 

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