Green water PROBLEM

[Frosty]

So about a month ago I left my aquarium light if for 16 hours accidentally and ever since I’ve had horrible green water I’ve tried blacking out my tank for days I’ve tried water changes nothings worked. I recently bought some shrimp/plant sage algaecide to try combat this and I’ve sterilisers are hard to find in Melbourne for a decent price. Any other ideas? It’s really bad at this stage and I’m worried for my fish and plants.

[jayc]

56 minutes ago, Blazepelt said:

tried blacking out my tank for days

How long ways 'days"?

I'd start with removing that light as the first step. 

 

Then clean the sides of the tank, water change as much water as possible. Refill the tank to parameters that suit your livestock. Then black out the tank again immediately after refilling for at least a week.

Algeacides will harm your shrimp, so that's out.

The alternative is H2O2. I'll link a page that goes through it in detail.

https://www.aquasabi.com/aquascaping-wiki_algae_hydrogen-peroxide-treatment

 

A combination of all of the above should cure it.

 

The last option is UV light, but that's going to cost you money.

 

[sdlTBfanUK]

Wow, that's impressive!

I would test the nitrates to start with then do a 50% water change (if you can, do a substrate vac at the same time) and clear the algae on the glass. Add new water slowly though!

Do you have shrimps in this tank, I didn't think you did? Or any snails?

You may have been overfeeding! Your not using plant fertiliser I assume?

JayC has everything covered of coarse!

Simon

[Frosty]

My nitrates are 0.0 my plants suck them all up. My tank is shrimp free so algaecides? I have a few rams horn snails. And for jayc I blacked out for about 5 days no change. The tank is not in direct sunlight and I feed a few pellets ground up each day along with an algae water every second.

And no ferts 

[Crabby]

Hey hey hey! Don’t go using any algaecides that’ll harm snails yet!!! You still have my nerite in there! ?

I think a 1-2 week blackout after what jayc suggested. And don’t leave any water in the tank if you can help it. Use an airline tube or something to finish the water change. And this time I would suggest putting as many fish as you can in your 5 gallon, at least the cories and kuhli loach.

Good luck!

[Frosty]

The algaecide is shrimp snail and other crustacean safe!

[sdlTBfanUK]

As it is pretty green then maybe start as Crabby and JayC suggest? Transfer the fish and snails to another tank and completely drain the tank, clean it as much as you can, and start again with new water? That should speed up the fix and give you a better chance to keep on top of it?

Of coarse, it may happen again unless you can identify what caused it? Would leaving the light off for 16 hours cause it, usually I believe it is too much light that causes this sort of thing? I assume you have a filter set up in this tank, sorry to ask but can't see with the water so green? 

With no fish or snails you can at least use the algaecide or JayC H202 treatment as well without too much stress/risk?

Simon

[Frosty]

I left the light ON for 16 hours may have even been more.

[sdlTBfanUK]

That makes more sense, I misunderstood!

Simon