 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
and Kittens |
Schedule |
Services |
Links |
Page |
Us |
and Kitty feedback |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
and Kittens |
Schedule |
Services |
Links |
Page |
Us |
and Kitty feedback |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 A: We will try to explain what the problem is, what the causes are, and what you can do to eliminate it in your aquarium. Usually, green water is a result of naturally occurring conditions that the home hobbyist will encounter at one point or another. “Green Water” is caused by the rapid reproduction of a single celled algae, either a planktonic green algae, cyanophytes or phytoplankton. These organisms are almost always present in your aquarium in small numbers, but occasionally they will reproduce quickly and turn your aquarium a lovely shade of green. There is still some discussion as to what chemical compound or compounds act as a food source and cause this rapid reproduction, but most theories center around nitrates and phosphates. Nitrates are the end result of the naturally occurring nitrogen cycle in your aquarium and phosphates are introduced into our tap water by the company that supplies our water. Over time, without regular water changes (on average 25% water change every 30 days) nitrates will build up in your aquarium and allow the algae to reproduce. However, water changes may sometimes cause a green water bloom because the water that you are replacing in your aquarium may contain phosphates. This has been a simplified discussion of the conditions that are present to cause a green water and understanding the chemistry behind the condition is not necessary in understanding how to eliminate it. There are several schools of thought on eliminating the problem, and we will explore them all. The first theory centers on the use of a type of chemical additive to eliminate the green water. There are certain chemical additives that are algae “eliminators”. These chemicals can be useful when you are trying to remove algae from surfaces in your aquarium, but they have absolutely no effect on the organisms which causes green water. The other type of chemical additives act as more of a “glue” that work to cement the very small organisms together so they can be trapped by your filter media. Two brand name examples of this type of additive are “Algaefix” and “Accu-Clear”. These chemicals may require the repeated use and the frequent removal and replacement of the filter media. You can be successful in eliminating green water in this fashion and never have it reoccur, but it is also possible that it will start all over again after a short time. A second theory entails light starvation. Cover the aquarium completely with a dark, thick cloth and leave it covered without any light for 4 to 10 days. In most cases, this is not a practical solution and it does not prevent the green water from reoccurring. This method will kill the algae but not remove the nutrients from the water. It is also difficult to care for your fish while the aquarium is covered. The third method is to add live aquatic plants to your aquarium. This a sound theory if the green water is being caused by an elevated nitrate level, but will not work if phosphates are the issue. The best type of plants to introduce are “cut” plants like anacharis or hornwort which have an immediate need for nutrients. You can stimulate their need for nutrients by cutting an inch or so from the stem just before you place them in your aquarium. This method is sometimes effective, but if your aquarium does not have sufficient nutrients, you will not succeed in keeping the plants alive over time. The fourth and final method for removing green algae from your aquarium centers around the use of "ultraviolet light" (or UV light) to eliminate the problem. "Ultraviolet Sterilizers" use UV light as a type of "filter" to eridicate the algae from your aquarium. Here is the theory: You pump your aquarium water past an ultraviolet light, slowly, and the UV light kills the individual single celled algae as it passes by the light. Here is the practical application: UV sterilizers are a UV light protected by a glass tube that your aquarium water flows past at a relatively low speed. What you need is a UV sterilizer (either a hang-on-the-back model or a submersible model) and a pump that slowly passes the water in your aquarium through the sterilizer. Wild Side Pets has tried all the methods that we have outlined above and we have reached one conclusion: ONLY the UV sterilizer will eliminate green water from your aquarium permanently.  | Animal Facts | New Puppy FAQ's | Green Water | Chinchilla Information | Rabbit Care Sheet | Guinea Pig Care Sheet | Hypoglcemia Care | | Return Home | Puppies and Kittens | Events Schedule | Our Services | Great Links | FAQ Page | Contact Us | Puppy and Kitty feedback | |
||
 |
 |
