Hi all,

I have been having what I think has been mild green water, and now full blown
green water, in my tank for a long time. I was wondering if anyone in the Tampa
area monitored their water for phosphates?

Thanks in Advance

Ben


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Hi Leigh,

I contacted my city, and they don't test for or add any phosphates. However, I
do live in the phosphate capitol (FL). AFA green water, this has puzzled me for
some time. My 55 gallon has been cloudy (like about 18" visibility from the
side) for about as long as the tank has been set up (6 months). However, my 10
gallon is crystal clear (2 months). Recently I got pea green water (I know the
cause) and under certain lighting it looked the same as my old cloudy water. So
it's either algae or dust, I figure. I'm going to assume it's the first one and
plant heavily with stems. If that doesn't work, I figured I would just get a
HOT Magnum. does that sound reasonable? FWIW the 10 uses gravel, and the 50
uses coarse sand. Maybe dust, but I figure I can try plants first and just see.
BTW, is Seachem a good test for phosphate and iron?

Thanks

Ben
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ospam (TimmyBrisby) wrote in message ...
Hi Leigh,

I contacted my city, and they don't test for or add any phosphates.

Yes, they do, ask for the water lab folks. They gave you the brush.
They don't test for it all the time etc but they do test for it. Ask
to for orthophosphate level.

However, I
do live in the phosphate capitol (FL). AFA green water, this has puzzled me for
some time. My 55 gallon has been cloudy (like about 18" visibility from the
side) for about as long as the tank has been set up (6 months).

And why do assume it's the PO4? Most of the springs that are full of
plants in FL are also full of PO4 and are extremely clear.

However, my 10
gallon is crystal clear (2 months). Recently I got pea green water (I know the
cause) and under certain lighting it looked the same as my old cloudy water. So
it's either algae or dust, I figure. I'm going to assume it's the first one and
plant heavily with stems. If that doesn't work, I figured I would just get a
HOT Magnum. does that sound reasonable? FWIW the 10 uses gravel, and the 50
uses coarse sand. Maybe dust, but I figure I can try plants first and just see.
BTW, is Seachem a good test for phosphate and iron?


Okay, best for the $.
Not that it will solve much here.
NH4 is a good cause of algae, most FW areas in FL are Nitrogen
limited, not PO4 limited.
Florida is subtropical and the lakes and streams respond much
different than lakes in Canada or Europe that often lack aquatic
plants and certainly the production and biomass that is present in FL
which is a much better model to ask questions about planted tanks.
Does your tank freeze over every year or does it stay a constant 70's
F?
Florida springs do and many lakes are pretty warm and full of plants
all year long.

You can kill GW and number of ways, check some archives on the topic.
Blackout, Diatom cartiage(eg the HOT Magnum filter), UV sterilizer and
Daphnia are the most common methods to get rid of it.

Good plant health is the key to prevention in the future.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Hi Tom,

And why do assume it's the PO4

It gets talked about a lot the connection between PO4 and algae. So I thought
I'd check it.

NH4 is a good cause of algae, most FW areas in FL are Nitrogen
limited, not PO4 limited.

I am nitrogen limited, so I do add Nitrate. I hadn't been diligent on my PMDD
dutys for the past month or so. I started adding nitrate a couple of days ago
and there has been a noticable inprovement. Looking at this, I would say I
had/have high phosphate + limited nitrate. I don't think the swords would be
able to outcompete the algae, so I'll get a bunch of stems (which would grow
fast enough to hopefully outcompete the algae, right?).


Does your tank freeze over every year or does it stay a constant 70's
F?

It's an unheated tank and will get down to the 60s, but does not freeze (I live
in Florida ;-)

Good plant health is the key to prevention in the future.

Ditto. Been trying to get that on track for a while

Thanks Tom. I think I'm the right track with the Nitrate.

Ben
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