[APD] Re: Green Water

["William M. Cwirla" <wcwirla at verizon_net>]

As a long time lurker and occasional poster, I would like to relate my 
recent experience with "green water."  I recently moved a 29 gal. 
classroom tank to another location.  (Thanks, Karen Randall for the 
inspiration to place tanks in school classrooms!)  After a large water 
change and the usual addition of potassium sulfate, the tank began to 
cloud.  Within 7-10 days it was pea soup green.  In 28 yrs of keeping 
tanks, I've never seen anything quite like it.  Visibility was less 
than an inch; the water was almost flourescent green.  It seemed 
"thick" to siphon and had that peculiar "algae" smell.  Not dirty, just 
green.  Standing in a public place, the tank was a major embarrassment.

I searched the APD site and read the lengthy green water thread.  
Initially, I tried aggressive water changes, but that seemed only to 
make matters worse.  I took Karen Randall's approach, which seemed the 
least aggressive.  I shut the lights off for five days.  I didn't cover 
the tank, so the fish could see with ambient room light.  I installed a 
HOT Magnum filter (great filter, by the way!) with its pleated micron 
cartridge.  And I did daily 10 gallon water changes (actually 2 five 
gallon water changes).

At the end of the five days of darkness, the water was moderately 
clear. At least I could see the back of the tank again.   I continued 
the water changes every other day for the next week.  By the end of ten 
days, the water had returned to crystal clear.  The fish seem none the 
worse for the wear.  Actually, I think they rather enjoyed the green 
and the water changes.  The slow growing plants (Crypts, anubias) are 
just  fine.  The fast growing plants (mostly hygros) showed some signs 
of stress (red/brown leaves), but are fast on the comeback trail.

Why did the green water happen in the first place?  I have no idea.  
Too long since the last water change? Sudden influx of potassium threw 
the nutrients out of balance?  Unexpected change in tap water 
chemistry?  Who knows?  I've long given up test kits and treat my tanks 
like potted plants.  They have a way of letting me know when 
something's not right.

Moral of the story:  1.  APD is the single greatest source of 
information on the planet when it comes to planted aquaria.  2.  Green 
water happens, but it isn't the end of the world, or the tank. Be 
patient.  3.  Keep up with your weekly tank maintenance.

WMC

_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo/aquatic-plants