Hi all,

Does anyone on here know much about coldwater aquariums?

The water in ours keeps going green, after about 4-6 days. I've been told it's because of algea, but how do I get rid of it?
Is there an additive that will sort it?

[Edited on 24/7/10 by fha772]

How big is the tank, do you have a filter/pump set up ?

If its in direct daylight it will keep doing it.
Use a UV light source to kill the algae. You can buy them on ebay. Water is pumped close to a lamp in a box

Ultra violet light but you will also need a filter with it the UV kills the algae filter removes it from the water.

You can get a chemical to help you clear it too, but it will only stay clear if out of sun and you have UV.

One other thing doesn't help which is food containing Algae, I used some for my cat fish recently and it has messed up the whole tank - never again!

A generous squirt of toilet duck will sort that right out.

(Disclaimer: That was a joke. Toilet duck will kill all your fish and is of course exclusively for use as a toilet disinfectant and a budget tequila)

[Edited on 24/7/10 by jlparsons]

But seriously... fine wool and carbon in your filter may help a bit, you can also get stuff you can put in your filter which will soak up the nitrates in the tank that plant matter like algae need to live.

As already said:

Direct sunlight will do it, use UV as it makes algae clump together so the filters can handle it easier.

Also keep the water moving, use a bubble filter and/or recycling pump. Algae prefers still water to grow.

I used to keep fish years ago, and once I got it right, I only ever had to clean it arond once every 3 months.

Also get yourself a Plecostomus 'Plec' for short. They clean the glass on the inside plus they are funny to watch.

HTH

I had this problem a while ago, turns out I was feeding them too much. I now feed them less often and have added two small plec's. Its only a 40L tank, I haven't cleaned it now in around 3 months and I only change around 4L of water once every 2 weeks.

Good luck.

chopped barley straw (IIRC)
kills of the algae and nicely organic and locost

quote:

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Originally posted by Daddylonglegs
Also get yourself a Plecostomus 'Plec' for short. They clean the glass on the inside plus they are funny to watch.
HTH

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I used to have warm water,

I used a UV light and a sucker fish as i called it, i must of had loads of algae as after a year it was massive.

I also have algae in my hot tub but the wife wont let me put a fish in it.

Im hoping to go and get a marine set up soon if the wife lets me

Thanks for your help guys, it's give me plently to go at.

So far the toilet duck idea doesn't seem to be wrking though!!
(Joke)