Green-X in a Back Mounted Power Filter

[Faith_at_Large]

I am currently battling Algae - I have it in the water and on the walls and all over my tank divider, and since the divider reduces the impact of the filter, my Betta is swimming in a darkening Green swamp.

I have scrubbers for my glass, and a foam square wrapped around my intake basket which becomes completely green and not re-usable after less than a week.

I picked up a package of Green-X and it says that it is suitable for all types of filters, but I am not sure where to put it, there are no instructions.

I have a Regent Power Filter (Wal-Mart special), which uses Penguin Fit-Rite filter cartridges. Has anyone else tried this? Do I put the bag behind the filter cartridge? Not much space there. Or in front of the filter cartrige closer to the outfall into the tank? More space here. Or somewhere else entirely? I can't imagine where else it would work. I figure that it probably goes in the bigger spot in front of the cartrige, closer to the tank.

Is it safe to assume that the Green-X pouches should be removed from their plastic wrapping but not from the clothlike bag holding it in?

[gm72]

The real issue here is not the algae but what is causing it. Treating with a chemical is not your long-term answer. The algae will continue to resurface until you determine the root cause.

Does the tank get too much light, either natural or artificial? What are your water tests? Any live plants?

As for the pouches, I don't know anything about them. Maybe go to the manufacturer's website and gather additional usage information.

[Chrona]

Here is a great site for algae

http://www.rexgrigg.com/Algae1.html

[Faith_at_Large]

My tank is in a well lit area, but not in direct sunlight. My house faces east and my kitchen is on the south side - this is where my tank it. I made sure that my tank was not near any windows and not in a direct path to sunlight coming in from the windows. I kept my tank lights off for the past 48 hours and it seemed pretty dark and gloomy in the tank.

I do not have any real plants, only artificial ones.

This stuff (Green-X) is supposed to help remove Phosphate and some other unwanted byproducts from my tank (which in theory removes the nutrients desired by the algae), but I don't know that it adds anything to my water - it might, but I think that it is supposed to work more like the carbon in my filter cartridge.

I am just trying to get a leg up on this stuff. My Platys love algae and are eating algae off my fake plants and ornaments and gravel and even the walls. But they are only on one side of my divided tank (the bigger side). My poor Betta is barely visible through the thick film of algae over his walls. My scrubber pads will work on the walls, but do nothing for my divider except may be scratch it up.

My current location is the only safe place to put the tank for now. Eventually I might put one in our basement, but not until the kids have grown - they can be very rough down there and a tank would be easily destroyed.

[gm72]

I have read that these dividers do not allow adequate water flow between the two sides. This may be your problem. Again, treating the algae will only delay your inevitable problem with it again. Maybe add another tank, a 5 gallon, to your repertoire for your betta?

[Rue]

I love Green-X :malelovies: I had a horrible algae problem! That took care of it! Now I just have a normal algae problem! But it's managable...and the fish help keep it under control by eating at it...

I have an AquaClear...I put the phosphate filter down first...then my sponge...and then my carbon on top (if you use carbon)...

Yes...take the phos. filter out of the plastic bag, keep in mesh bag...rinse well in non-chlorinated water...replace every 3 months...

[Drumachine09]

I had a decent Algea prob in my 10 gallon community, and a hefty problem in my Malawi cichild tank. I got these alka-seltzer like tablets called "no more algea" by junle. I didnt even have to scrape the algea off. i went to sleep, woke up, and it was GONE. Highly reccomend it. 1 tablet treats 10 gallons, and there is 8 tablets, so it treats 80 gallons, and they are only 2.75 a box. Very good stuff. Pick up a box just in case, it works like a charm.

[Faith_at_Large]

Thanks for the help. I will be testing out the Green-X this week. It sounds like the tablets are good to get rid of all the algae, but my platys love it so I don't mind a little bit. I agree that the dividers do not allow full flow through, but except for the algae, this is good for my Betta. Bettas do not like the faster flow of the filter on the other side of it (my Danios and Platys play in it), and Bettas can come up for air so aeration is not as critical. The heat seems to be fine on both sides of the divider, I keep the thermometer on the Betta side and the heater on the other side (I have had the thermometer on the heater side too).