Need help

[Carlgarner1989]

Hi
I have a tropical tank and I'm having a problem
My water turns green after about 4 days. It's that bad you can't see thru it. Not had the light on thinking it was maybe algae (cant spell lol) and I bought a new pump. Working full time so water changes are getting on top of me. I clean the filter in exsisting water and tap safe it. Any1 had this prob or know how to sort it? Also I have no plants or anything in the tank. Just stones could this be the prob? I got rid of my decor because I thought it look cheap lol. My tank is not overcrowded and the sides of the tank stay clean its just the water.
If anyone knows wat going wrong please help because I don't know wat to do
Ty carl

[Rockfish]

Hi,

How long do you normally have the tank lights on each day?

[Carlgarner1989]

About 8 to 10 hours a day. It's not in any direct sunlight either.

[Rockfish]

That doesn't sound excessive then, but you could err towards a shorter time period of 6-8 hours, especially if you don't have live plants.

Live plants can help outcompete the algae of course, but that doesn't mean you should be getting green water just because you don't have plants.

You mentioned water changes not being done due to working - if there have been long gaps between water changes it could just be a build up of waste nutrients that's sparked it off.

Sometimes green water problems can originate at the surface if there's little surface movement, so that's worth considering too.

[Carlgarner1989]

I was having to do water changes every other day or I couldn't see my fish at all. Went thru so much tap safe lol. Not cleaning pump every time just water. Pump sponges wer always clean tho. Al teduce the time the lights are on. Just really worried bout my poor fish....
Thank you very much for your help

[Rockfish]

Well at least one upside is that green water won't actually bother the fish at all! Many fish come from murky waters naturally of course, so it won't bother them.

The downside of course is that it looks unsightly to us and makes it more difficult to keep an eye on your fishes' health.

[Carylnz]

Have you checked your filter is working correctly?