Mystery Cloud From Hell

[roypark05]

I've been running the same 75 Gallon African Tank in the same spot of my place for a little over 2 years now. Same 2 filters have been in use the entire time; AquaClear110 and Penguin BioWheel350. These filters have always done the job, and there's never really been any significant amount of algae in the tank before (the tank is not really near direct sunlight).

So right now the load on the tank is not significant compared to what it used to be, although there's a good number of fish in the tank including plecos. I haven't been doing anything new with the tank, using the same chemicals (Prime, Stress Coat) I was starting to do more regular (weekly) water changes (10-15%) for about 2 months before my problems arose.

The water got cloudier than it ever got before. I gave the filter media in the AC a quick rinse and replace the cartridges in the Penguin. Gave it a day and when nothing improved I picked up a water clarifier (coagulant) that I used before (with success). As normal, the water got cloudier but instead of getting better it stayed at that level of turbidity. I tried a biological clarifier and same thing. Eventually the water started turning greenish.

I usually use carbon filter media in the AC for lengthy periods of time to ensure the water is crystal clear. I blame my carbon media for adding nutrients into the tank becauase I probably overused it. I figured thats why the water went to hell. I replace the carbon media with brand new. Still nothing.

So I still have no apparent signs of algae in the tank, I'm doing water changes like a madman, vacuuming the rocks a little extra, theres no algae on the gravel or the rocks but the water is like pea soup. I do a full cleaning of the filters. I'm careful not to disturb the bio filter but I clean the casing and give everything another rinse, same with the Penguin. I moved all my fish out for a couple days while I did this, and I did an 85% water change and I vaccuumed the rocks like theres no tomorrow. I make sure there tank still handles ammonia and I put the fish back in.

Within a couple days the water is white cloudy again...big time! In another day or two its greenish (not extreme green like what I think algae-riddled tanks are usually like, its a paler green). Anyway, I picked up a phosphate removing media, although I never measured the phosphate levels cuz I never had a test kit. Nitrates are reasonable. I've had a few plants in the tank for the last few weeks to hopefully control nitrates and out-compete any algae.

So with the water not getting any better for some time, I picked up an extra filter. A big eheim classic. I add some more coagulant and I'm doing water changes every 3 days or so. The water will look betetr for a short time only. 3 filters going on this thing and still no improvement! In fact it steadily gets worse over a span of a few days until it looks like pale pea soup again! I pull the phosphate media and its the only thing int he tank or filters covered in algae, so I'm starting to think its an algae issue. I throw out that media but since then I've been testing phosphates and I have little if any. I pick up some algone filter media and I put one in the AC and one in the Eheim. I also use a chemical that is supposed to readily clear water from algae (although it is a temporary fix, I figure if it clears it up the rest of what I have should handle it from there). I'm still doing water changes this whole time but still nothing.

I'm at my wit's end here. I can't even think of what else I can do. All my other tanks have way more nitrates and phosphates on a regular basis but they're crystal clear! What could possibly be going on with this tank???

P.S. The fish seem happy, I had jewels in there that spawned twice over this period. All the mbuna and peacocks have nice colours and are growing. No fish have died during this time other than when I moved them, a couple died in the other tank which was overstocked at the time.

Reward to anyone capable of solving this problem!

[Wingin' It]

Almost sounds like an algae bloom...ever think about trying a black out or a UV sterilizer?

[jvision]

I am at a loss. Green water is usually caused by excess ammonia, but your cleaning regime sounds good. If your lights are on too long, you'll get issues, too. Your lights really shouldn't be on much longer than 12 hrs - 6 to 8hrs is not too little.

From reading your post, I would guess that your lights are on 24/7, but if that's not the case I really don't know.

Let me share with you how I'd set up the filters, and maybe it will help.

The only mechanical filtration I have on most tanks is a sponge over the intake of HOB filters. I remove all of the store-bought media and cram in as many pot-scrubbies (or lava rock) as I can - my Ehiem filters are filled top to bottom with scrubbies; my ACs have the filter basket removed and the whole chamber is filled with scrubbies; other HOBs have the cartriges removed and are crammed full of scrubbies; my FX5 has the centre baskets filled with scrubbies, bio-cubes, and/or lava rock.

You get the point. Bio-filtration is my main goal. I use scrubbies most because they are cheap (8 for $1) and have one of the highest surface areas around, which is great for bacteria colonization. If you have excess biomedia, your bacteria colony will always be able to grow to the fish population you have. And, if your media allows for all surfaces to have water flow over/thru it (some media will clog like lava rock, and other pourus 'rock', ceramic, etc) your bacterial colony will always be present.

WHen the sponges on the HOB intakes get clogged, I pull them off and rinse them under the tap. With all the biomedia, I don't worrie about the bacteria in the sponge.

If you need some seeded scrubbies, send me a PM and we can do a trade.

[RD.]

Cloudy water (bacteria bloom) is a classic symptom of insufficient bio-bacteria. Something must have taken place to knock your bio-bacteria back at some point.

Your current situation (algae bloom) is typically caused by one or more of the following;

1. Too much light

2. Excess nutrients

3. Excess nitrates

4. Excess phosphates

Seeing as you have ruled out phosphates, my advice would be to perform a large water change, leave your lights off for several days, and do not feed your fish during this period.

Hopefully that will get things back on the right track.

[roypark05]

Sorry I forgot to mention about the lights. I've been leaving them off for the majority of the time. After I added the algone filter media I left the lights off for 2 days straight. When I turned them back on it was nothing but cloud, although not really green at all (then again it wasn't green before that either). For the past few weeks I turn the lights on for about 2 hours/day tops.

As I mentioned before, I've been doing things the same for 2 years now. I've never had an issue with algae and the lights were always on 8-10 hours per day.

Edited February 14, 2010 by roypark05

[RD.]

Exactly how you got to this point is anyone's guess, but the symptoms that you have described are classic examples of a tank that is no longer balanced.

At this point a dark out for a couple of days isn't going to get the job done, and as you have already found out there is no quick fix to the problem. (although a UV sterilizer would probably help greatly)

Seeing as you are using an Algone product, I'm guessing that you have read the following, if not, you might want to.

http://www.algone.com/greenwater.php

Good luck!

[roypark05]

Yeah I read that article, but it doesn't really help with my situation as it is. Like you say, there's gotta be an imbalance there and yeah it's anyone's guess how that happened. I'm not going to spend hundreds more on a UV sterilizer which should be unnecessary for a 75 gallon freshwater setup. So in the meantime, getting that balance back....start all over? That's not going to be easy. Last time I moved all my fish into my little 29 gallon for 2 days I lost a few of them as it was far too overcrowded. So that doesn't really leave me with much.

[RD.]

I think that you need to go back to the basics, perform a large water change, leave your lights off for several days, and do not feed your fish during this period. The last line of that Algone page states; "In almost every case green water can only be treated by lowering the eutrophication (the enrichment of an aquatic body) of the water column." - which is the key, remove the nutrients, and the algae will eventually die off. This will also allow the bio-bacteria in your tank to multiply, and eventually a proper balance will be restored.