I have one goldfish in a 10 gallon aquarium with a filter, so why does the water get green every week?
I have gravel and nothing else in the tank. I clean it every week. I was thinking of putting some plants in it. Do you have some suggestions. I change about a third of the water every week.
I clean with gravel suction.
Tags: gravel suction, plants, Tank
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
Goldfish do tend to foul up the water very quickly. I have a fantail goldfish and a feeder goldfish (felt bad for the little guy and my other one needed a friend so i got him!) in a large goldfish bowl and the water tends to stay relatively clean (with partial water changes and NO filter but I do have live plants). I’ve had the water tested and its in peak condition as well.
What I believe your problem is, is that you keep the aquarium in direct sunlight throughout the day. When I kept my bowl in the window, I would get green water time from time. This green water is algae that grows at exponential rates due to the sunlight, but not to worry, it doesn’t harm the goldfish from what I know. It would be ideal not to have this though as the cleaner the water the better. Also, get a few snails in your tank, you can buy them for relatively cheap and depending on the species they can be very prolific, meaning you get more snails and your goldfish have a baby snail snack when they want (the babies look like little white worms). Not to worry though, the goldfish leave the adult snails alone as they are too big to fit in their mouths, they do get curious sometimes and investigate (mine like to follow the snails and poke them, but they never harm the snails). The snails eat up the residue and algae on the surfaces in your tank. Also, if you plan on getting live plants, definitely get snails as they will eat any dying leaves or stems off your plants (not to worry though, this is normal and healthy for the plan and tank), thus continuing the plants growth cycle and keeping rotting plant matter out of the tank.
Also, if you just recently set up your tank it could be a bacterial bloom ("new-tank syndrome") that occurs when an aquarium begins regulated beneficial bacteria and working towards a balance of bacteria needed and waste produced. However, this usually causes the water to take a whitish hue (as though there is milk in there).
My suggestion would be to continue to do partial water changes, but to take your aquarium out of direct sunlight and put it in a spot that still gets sunlight (goldfish do need sunlight to be happy!) but not direct full day light. I moved mine (it was originally directly infront of the window in a nook of sorts) right beside the window, but away from being directly infront of it (so it was out of the nook and against the wall by the window). Ever since - clean water!
Also, make sure you are not overfeeding your fishies, as this can contribute to bacterial or algael blooms. Also, do keep your gravel in there, gravel does trap debris and faecal matter inside but it helps with overall water quality as the organic matter is not floating around the tank, plus, it will build up colonies of beneficial bacteria inside the gravel to some extent. Simply use your gravel suction to clean up the leftover organic matter in the gravel while doing your routine water changes and you should be fine.
And lastly, do get some live plants for your goldfish, but do be wary that they will eat some plants (usually the kinds that have softer foliage). Anubias, Banana (really cool looking plant!!!), and Onion plants (note: its not actually an onion plant we would grow in our gardens, it’s only named so because of the resemblance it holds) work really well!!!
and PS. I will be moving my goldfish to a 10 Gallon when my turtle outgrows his tank.
Also, don’t listen to some goldfish answers out there as some people tend to overreact in their answers. Stay in contact with someone who works at a pet store and approach them with any questions you have, they tend to know much more, plus, you make a friend!
Hope I helped and good luck!!!
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
How big a fish? also, even with water changes, golds can foul a tank quicker then you would think. Green water could also mean too much light. Your gold should really be in at least a twenty with double the filtration.
By clean, do you mean the whole tank? Or gravel vacuum? Or what?
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
I had the same problem!! Try putting it in a place away from windows or too much sunlight, and turn off the light on the aquarium.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
Algae? Try getting an algae eater, or algae killer.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
The fish doesn’t make the water turn green. The old water and rocks make it turn green.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
Well,you need to put some gavels on it.cause when you feed it,some of the food will sink to the gravel and not dirt so much the water.The water gets green ,because goldfishes make a lot of waste,Also,you need to make sure that it is not algea.If it is,thank you need to clean the glass of the tank every week.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
The water sometimes goes green if the aquarium is within direct sunlight or if you use fish food that is meant for tropical fish
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
First, make sure your filter is working properly. Also, if you keep the aquarium in direct sunlight all the time it causes algae to grow at a more rapid pace. Lastly, if none of these tips work, adding a live plant to the fish tank is always a good idea.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
It’s the sunlight. It causes algae to grow quicker. Keep the aquarium out of the sunlight.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
maybe your filter is broken and goldfishes are kinda dirty.or u could maybe buy those algae eaters that suck on the mirrors evertime and u could get a catfish bristle nose i think too i read they eat the food that falls on the bottom of your fish tank but they will still need there own food.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
Add a sponge filter or a foam insert in your filter. These will eventually remove the single cell algae or euglena that cause green water, not overnight or even in a week, but naturally without chemicals in two or three months. Add floating plants like duckweed. Duckweed will shade the green water and remove plant fertilizers dissolved in the water before the algae can use them. Your goldfish will eat it and it’s excellent food for him, so growing duckweed in tank near a window is a good idea. I mix regular and Giant duckweed, water sprite, and Riccia fluitans, since these are all floating plants I have. My goldfish eat all of them, with the giant duckweed left for last. Submerged plants won’t be able to compete with the algae, besides a goldfish will up root them and eat off the roots if not the whole plant. Also be sure your aquarium light is on a timer and that the tank is blocked from direct sunlight streaming in from a window. Algae prosper when there are irregular lighting cycles, so the timer will discourage them.
Also consider removing the gravel at least temporarily. Uneaten food and fish waste accumulate in it and chemically break down into minerals that encourage algae to grow. A small goldfish is at risk in a ten gallon tank and its waste products are concentrated contributing to the green water problem. Fancy goldfish need about thirty gallons for the first goldfish, while the long body types need 55 gallons for the first fish. a small tank can stunt them, after which they don’t develop right. Internal organs are harmed and the fish may only live a few years or less, not its normal life span of 25 - 75 years depending on breed.
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
If it’s the water that is green, not the glass, you may have had an alge bloom. I had one once and it can only realyl be helped by removing all natural light for a few days. Place a towel over the tank during daylight hours and leave your tank light off. In the evening treat your goldfish to the light coming from artifical lighting in the room. Repeat for a few days and the alge bloom should pass.
Don’t prolong this treatment more than a couple of days, the fish needs natural light! If you are getting alge on the glass there not much you can do but clean reguarly. It’s actually a healthy sign, it means you have good water conditions in your tank!
A properly functioning filter will remove debry and provide a place for your bacteria to grow and thrive but won’t remove alge or reduce nitrates.
I would pop some plants in to make your fish happier, they like hidey holes. Be weary of live plants though, goldies are greedy and will eat them selve to death if allowed!
February 8th, 2010 at 16:59
That’s weird. How big is your fish? I have one goldfish in my ten gallon and his water is really clear. no algae eater or live plant. You might just need a bit of a stronger filter. mine seems to work really good. It could also be the food you feed it. Some food just makes the water cloudy. It can also be from feeding it too much. good luck