Tank neon green

[Saucymmonroe]

Back story: I have had the tank for 6 months roughly. Used tap water with salt initially. Got red cyano. Used chemi clean and switched to the pre boxed ocean water at about 4 months in. In June it was time for a water change. I had just enough boxed ocean water to change it. Forgot I didn’t have those white ammonia filter rocks in my Fluval 30. I was going to go to the store next day after the water change. Got a call from out of state(mom had to be resuscitated) it didn’t look good. Immediately packed up and drove out of state to get there as she was on a vent. She is thankfully ok. Doing rigorous physical therapy, but life changing for me and my family to say the least. So tank went probably about 2-1/2 weeks with no white rocky filter piece. Came back and it was green. I waited about another week because I had to get my family in the swing of things etc. The tank is a 14 gallon. I have no skimmer. I have a black air fan in the water (one of those magnetic ones). I have two clown fish, two hermit crabs, a fire goby, two turbo snails, an emerald crab (if it is alive), and 2 corals left. One coral wasn’t looking good and died in the water change. One looked bad and then also died after the water change. I did a 90% change Wednesday 7/17, or Thursday 7/18. Water looked clearer but put water in and siphoned more out a second time because when the sand was moved there was so much debris floating I thought it would help. I had to use tap water this time because I literally couldn’t get the ocean water anywhere as everyone was out, and I don’t have access to rodi water where I live. No changes seen due to tap yet, but after putting new water in and putting the white rock filter in it was still green. I changed the white rock filter again yesterday. Water is still neon green. Tank was in very good health before I left to go out of state. I feel like the tank is cool, but it has become a complete money sucker. I feel like although the water was fairly clear prior to my trip, it was always somewhat cloudy. Never where I would have felt happy with it. Now with this water change and the corals dying.. that’s $50 or more down the drain. I’m so sad. I can’t keep pouring money into the tank and have all the stuff die. I would love to get corals cheaper to replace the ones that died as I was getting the frags from Petco. But I’m not ready to put anything in the tank until I can figure out what is going on with the tank. I added the salt. It is at 35 in terms of salt. I also included a pic of one of the coral frags that died. The other one just disintegrated. Please help! Pics below.

 

[rongy]

I’m not an expert, but it looks like some kind single cell algae(maybe phytoplankton) bloom. My guess is that something died (fish or whatever) and causes nutrient spike. Did you test ammonia and Nitrate?

 

[One Reefing Boi]

Sorry to hear about the medical emergency but glad everyone is doing okay!

This looks like some sort of algae bloom. Is the tank near direct sunlight/bright room? How many hours do you run the light/day?

Doesn’t seem to clear up at night? Any parameters you know of (temp/salinity/alk/mag/calcium)?


Also, i would test your tap water or get an RODI filter and make your own. Tap water varies wildly between locations (even houses based on plumbing) so if you’re stuck using tap, at least know what you’re putting in your tank and test it. My guess is the tap water is introducing some stuff and causing this algae bloom to occur.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

I would also suggest running some carbon to help clear out the water. If it is truly suspended and an algae problem, I believe a UV filter could help too

 

[Saucymmonroe]

I’m not an expert, but it looks like some kind single cell algae(maybe phytoplankton) bloom. My guess is that something died (fish or whatever) and causes nutrient spike. Did you test ammonia and Nitrate?

Nitrate no, but the algae on the walls has been there for a while. I usually get it, the snails can’t keep up! lol. But I am still not sure about the cloudy water. Nitrate Inhavent checked yet. Ammonia, was high before the water change at 25, when it was 0 prior. But I thought by doing the huge water change and really drudging up the sand that a lot would be removed when all the waste came out. I will have to check nitrates today. Thank you!

 

[Saucymmonroe]

Sorry to hear about the medical emergency but glad everyone is doing okay!

This looks like some sort of algae bloom. Is the tank near direct sunlight/bright room? How many hours do you run the light/day?

Doesn’t seem to clear up at night? Any parameters you know of (temp/salinity/alk/mag/calcium)?


Also, i would test your tap water or get an RODI filter and make your own. Tap water varies wildly between locations (even houses based on plumbing) so if you’re stuck using tap, at least know what you’re putting in your tank and test it. My guess is the tap water is introducing some stuff and causing this algae bloom to occur.

Thank you! So the tank is in my son’s room near two windows that are sometimes open or have mini blinds in front of them semi open. The windows are maybe 4 -5 feet away from the tank. The light it varies.. was putting it on all day from maybe 8am-9am until 10-10:30pm. Now I leave it off during the day sometimes or I try to leave the blue light on for part of the day. But my corals don’t open up in the blue light. The water has always been cloudy, almost milky colored, but much more clear than milk. It just is never crystal clear. As far as I know, it doesn’t seem to clear at night.

Salinity is 35, temp usually around 80, as for calcium, mag and alkalinity.. not sure how to test for those. Haven’t yet. I have one of those test kits from Petco.. with ammonia, ph, etc. But I don’t have one for the others.

Prior to this month, I was using all of the ocean premixed water. It was still whitish cloudy, but since I left in June until July 4th week it has turned green. Then water change to tap, and it never cleared. The next day after water change it was still green. I will look into RODI again. Not totally clear about making my own. I am totally willing to put in the effort, but I’m so discouraged and my husband isn’t super happy about how much I have put into the tank $ wise of course. I thought I would buy the stuff and have expenses, but it just doesn’t seem to give me any respite in terms of spending. The fish in the tank definitely didn’t look good when I got back home. They look better from what I can see, but tank is so murky. lol. I live on septic. But I will have to try to figure out how to test the water further. Thank you so much!

 

[Alexraptor]

Phytoplankton bloom, most likely it was introduced with the boxed ocean water. I've had two blooms in my near 20 years in the hobby, and in both cases it was linked with the introduction of natural seawater into the system. (ocean harvested live sand shipped in natural seawater to be precise).

UV Sterilizer (you don't need an expensive powerful one, a green killing machine will do) and protein skimmer is the best way to clear it up, and some time with the lights off. Water changes "could" help, but IME it's pointless, if you can't break the bloom itself.

Checking nutrients while a bloom is in full swing is pretty pointless, because it will be sucking it all out of the water as fast as it can. Any die-off, large or small will also further exacerbate things.

 

[Saucymmonroe]

I would also suggest running some carbon to help clear out the water. If it is truly suspended and an algae problem, I believe a UV filter could help too

I do have carbon in the filter, but I can change it out. I changed the foam and the white filter, and they have some disclaimer on the box to not change all three at once.. so the bacteria isn’t disturbed (good). So I was worried to do so. I will give this a try as well! Something does seem suspended in the water. Particles. I thought maybe poop, but idk. Maybe algae. Thank you for all your help!

 

[Saucymmonroe]

Phytoplankton bloom, most likely it was introduced with the boxed ocean water. I've had two blooms in my near 20 years in the hobby, and in both cases it was linked with the introduction of natural seawater into the system. (ocean harvested live sand shipped in natural seawater to be precise).

UV Sterilizer (you don't need an expensive powerful one, a green killing machine will do) and protein skimmer is the best way to clear it up, and some time with the lights off. Water changes "could" help, but IME it's pointless, if you can't break the bloom itself.

Checking nutrients while a bloom is in full swing is pretty pointless, because it will be sucking it all out of the water as fast as it can. Any die-off, large or small will also further exacerbate things.

Thank you, glad to know most think just algae. I will try lights off for a bit. The sea water was that boxed imaginarium stuff from Petco. I got it because it seemed easier than messing with my tap. The sand I just put in from bags, but it wasn’t live. Not sure if that makes any difference. Leave it to me to get the once in a lifetime or (twice) bloom. lol. I will definitely look into this also. Thank you so much again. I was worried my tank was a a goner for sure. Why do you think the corals would have died? Maybe a combo of the ammonia and algae? I left the sad but living ones in during the water change. They just plain died.. should I take them out during these changes? Fish maybe too? I have never taken the fish out. I usually clean it once a month.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You don't have an aquarium, you have a glass box with water in it that turned into stagnant algae soup.

To have an aquarium that can support life, you need to add rock and powerheads.

There is probably no oxygen in the water, you need powerheads pointed at the water surface to oxygenate the water. You need rock to provide the biofilter. This is the foundation of a saltwater tank.

 

[Saucymmonroe]

You don't have an aquarium, you have a glass box with water in it that turned into stagnant algae soup.

To have an aquarium that can support life, you need to add rock and powerheads.

There is probably no oxygen in the water, you need powerheads pointed at the water surface to oxygenate the water. You need rock to provide the biofilter. This is the foundation of a saltwater tank.

Thank you, I do have bio rock, it is just in the very back and impossible to see in the water I do have a magnetic (I think power head ) not sure if it is the same. It is attached to the back near the light. Works like a fan under the water to circulate water. I had air stones also, but took them out due to the powered fan. But I only have the one (power head?) fan.

 

[Saucymmonroe]

I’m not an expert, but it looks like some kind single cell algae(maybe phytoplankton) bloom. My guess is that something died (fish or whatever) and causes nutrient spike. Did you test ammonia and Nitrate?

I did test ammonia before the water change it was 25 (higher than the zero it used to be. I haven’t tested nitrates yet, but will be doing this today. As far as I know, nothing has died other than 2 corals during the water change. One is still in there and I do need to remove it but it was alive before the change and the water was green at that time. I have changed the white rock filter twice, and I just changed carbon again. It did get a tad clearer after the carbon change but still very visibly green.

 

[twentyleagues]

Are you on city water? if so they add chlorine or chloramines to disinfect the water. What if anything are you doing about that? Among other issues tap water brings in but I have seen "successful" tanks using tap water.
You need more rock its your true filter.

 

[Saucymmonroe]

Are you on city water? if so they add chlorine or chloramines to disinfect the water. What if anything are you doing about that? Among other issues tap water brings in but I have seen "successful" tanks using tap water.
You need more rock its your true filter.

Ok, thank you. I will have to figure out how to get the rock. Should mention the corals were really small quarter size frags from Petco so weren’t largely established. I am on a septic tank, no city water. I have bio rock from Petco, but they are little ones and not glued together. I was hesitant to use glue in the tank. Maybe I should take it out and put in glue? Would certainly make my life easier for moving things while cleaning. Do I need to remove fish and corals when cleaning? I usually leave them in. If I take them out, do I use this green water? If I do even if it is a small amount, won’t it just come back? Thanks again!

 

[TheFunnyFarm]

You might want to try dumping in a bottle of live copepods. Those guys naturally feed on detritus, uneaten food, phytoplankton and other algae. Their population will explode, but maintain an equilibrium relative to the bloom.

I’d also suggest getting a cheap powerhead with an air line that will infuse oxygenation into the lower depths. The one below can be purchased at Petco for under $20.

 

[Saucymmonroe]

Thank you! What are copepods? I am so new to all the stuff! lol. I will look into that power head. This is the one I currently have. If that’s what it is.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Back story: I have had the tank for 6 months roughly. Used tap water with salt initially. Got red cyano. Used chemi clean and switched to the pre boxed ocean water at about 4 months in. In June it was time for a water change. I had just enough boxed ocean water to change it. Forgot I didn’t have those white ammonia filter rocks in my Fluval 30. I was going to go to the store next day after the water change. Got a call from out of state(mom had to be resuscitated) it didn’t look good. Immediately packed up and drove out of state to get there as she was on a vent. She is thankfully ok. Doing rigorous physical therapy, but life changing for me and my family to say the least. So tank went probably about 2-1/2 weeks with no white rocky filter piece. Came back and it was green. I waited about another week because I had to get my family in the swing of things etc. The tank is a 14 gallon. I have no skimmer. I have a black air fan in the water (one of those magnetic ones). I have two clown fish, two hermit crabs, a fire goby, two turbo snails, an emerald crab (if it is alive), and 2 corals left. One coral wasn’t looking good and died in the water change. One looked bad and then also died after the water change. I did a 90% change Wednesday 7/17, or Thursday 7/18. Water looked clearer but put water in and siphoned more out a second time because when the sand was moved there was so much debris floating I thought it would help. I had to use tap water this time because I literally couldn’t get the ocean water anywhere as everyone was out, and I don’t have access to rodi water where I live. No changes seen due to tap yet, but after putting new water in and putting the white rock filter in it was still green. I changed the white rock filter again yesterday. Water is still neon green. Tank was in very good health before I left to go out of state. I feel like the tank is cool, but it has become a complete money sucker. I feel like although the water was fairly clear prior to my trip, it was always somewhat cloudy. Never where I would have felt happy with it. Now with this water change and the corals dying.. that’s $50 or more down the drain. I’m so sad. I can’t keep pouring money into the tank and have all the stuff die. I would love to get corals cheaper to replace the ones that died as I was getting the frags from Petco. But I’m not ready to put anything in the tank until I can figure out what is going on with the tank. I added the salt. It is at 35 in terms of salt. I also included a pic of one of the coral frags that died. The other one just disintegrated. Please help! Pics below.

Hook up a UV sterilizer.

 

[TheFunnyFarm]

Thank you! What are copepods? I am so new to all the stuff! lol. I will look into that power head. This is the one I currently have. If that’s what it is.

Copepods are a vital group of animal plankton. They’re the little buggers that Mandarin Dragonets feed on all day (as an example).

Your LFS will most likely carry 6oz bottles of them, though the most economical option is to by them from @Reef By Steele as their product is phenomenal.

 

[Rappa]

Before you do anything else, please get yourself a Reverse Osmosis water filter system... Preferably "RODI". You can get them on Amazon for as little as $150 to $500 for all the bells and whistles. This would be my starting point, and I wouldn't even attempt anything else until I had good water. That should be the starting point. If you cannot afford one, you might want to re-evaluate your hobby (unfortunately)... I am not trying to be harsh or bash you so please don't think that is my objective! This hobby can be expensive A-F... especially if you are fighting it all the time. Then you will naturally lose interest anyways... Tap water can be so bad, and well water can be even worse depending on your well depth and where you live. At minimum, you can get a large carbon filter to filter your house water to take some impurities out. I think without starting at zero TDS water, you will never be able to get your tank under control for a lengthy period of time. You will spend more money on testing kits and water chemicals to clear up your water, than it would cost to get yourself an RODI system. Does Petco offer RODI water for sale? I have friends that bring 5 gallon buckets to the local fish store and buy it from them. This will definitely help you.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

YES!! Copepods are awesome little critters. I keep my tank stocked with them for so many reasons