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Offline wendyjo

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Green water
« on: May 30, 2012, 09:31:21 AM »
I am having a serious problem with green water in one of my betta tanks.  It started when I added a moss ball - people have told me it can't be related but it sure seems to be.

In any event, it's a 5g minibow with a 7w corkscrew light that is not on very often.  No direct sunlight and not much ambient lighting.  Not overfeeding.  There is 1 betta and 1 nerite in the tank.  Live plants are a java fern and some duckweed.  I've been doing alot of vacs and it looks better for about 10 minutes and then it's green again.  It seems to be getting worse :(  Not sure what to do here.  Do I have to do a blackout?  If so for how long?  I hate to do that to a betta as they are so personable and friendly.  I guess if that's my only choice then I'd move him to an empty tank while I do it so he doesn't have to be involved in the process.

Any suggestions?  I just can't figure out why this is happening.  But I added a moss ball to each betta tank and now one has green water and the other has an outbreak of algae that looks identical to the moss ball (I do know they are algae and not a true moss).  I got rid of them but the problems persist.  I never ever had issues with these betta tanks before this.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
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Offline Essabee

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Re: Green water
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2012, 04:18:12 PM »
Green water is predominantly a ammonia problem.

Now what have you done to go raise it? That moss-ball - where did you get it from? Is it a cladophora ball with a nutrient core which has gone dormant and allowing the green water to form?

Clado and green water are not compatible - if your clado starts to grow your green water will disappear.

Lights out is not recommended - put lights on, and do frequent water changes to reduce green water and to coax the clado to grow.
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Offline wendyjo

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Re: Green water
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2012, 05:53:51 AM »
I got the moss ball from Petsmart.  I have no idea what it is to be honest - it's just sold as a marismo (sp?) moss ball.  It's was removed from the tank and tossed in the trash a few weeks ago when all this started.  It seemed healthy - no browning on it.

Ammonia levels have been OK when I've checked them, which has been maybe 3 times since this problem started about a month ago.  I honestly don't check ammonia that often because it's a single betta in a well established tank with regular water changes and I figure he can't produce that much ammonia.

I changed out 50% of the water on Monday and another 50% last night and I swear the water is even greener :(
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Offline Essabee

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Re: Green water
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2012, 06:36:23 PM »
You threw away the clado!!

Lower the water temperature to 25C and 72 hrs of blackout.

Say sorry to the beta from me.
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Offline wendyjo

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Re: Green water
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2012, 05:56:56 AM »
Yea I threw it away I've had nothing but problems in my tanks since I added them.  Evil, horrible things!
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Offline Guppyguy

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Re: Green water
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2012, 02:25:16 PM »
 :dunno: I saw "Green water" and assumed the problem was algae bloom. Then again I also know you're  smart enough to figure that out if that was the problem :duh:... those are some awful balls, huh? :dunno:
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Offline wendyjo

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Re: Green water
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2012, 07:15:03 PM »
Yes, green water is a type of free floating algae.
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Offline Guppyguy

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Re: Green water
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2012, 09:03:22 AM »
That sucks...I've never had that happen in my tanks. Or algae of any kind.
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Offline wendyjo

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Re: Green water
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2012, 09:51:35 AM »
I never did before either until I added those blasted moss balls.
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Offline LittlePuff

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Re: Green water
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2012, 10:21:46 AM »
Ia it getting better?
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