Help! Algae Bloom!

**Scott Normington** · 08-05-2009, 03:03 PM

I have a 110 gallon freshwater tank that I recently moved to a new home. The tank was up and running for over 7 years with no problems.

Now I seem to have some type of algae bloom in the tank that I can't get rid of. The stone is all new and there are no live plants in the tank. I now have a well and I got the water tested at a local store and he told me that all my levels are correct. He suggested that I turn off the lights and salt the water and it will go away. I waited over two weeks with the tank lights turned off and I put a lot of salt in the water, but it was still very green. I did an almost complete water change, a few days ago. The water was clear for a day or two but now I think it's slowing coming back.

Any suggestions?

**Red** · 08-05-2009, 03:04 PM

Is it by a window? Can direct or indirect sunlight hit it?

**MonkeyPox** · 08-05-2009, 03:06 PM

Can you describe the algae?
What fish do you have in the tank?

**Scott Normington** · 08-05-2009, 03:11 PM

it is not by a window, it is in a dark basement

Tetra, Placo, Guarami, all community fish, I don't want to buy anything exotic till i get rid of this problem

I have two pieces of driftwood in the tank too, but no other organic material

**Sharon** · 08-05-2009, 03:11 PM

Algae is usually a result of too much light or an over abundance of nutrients. You mention well water...any idea what the phosphate level is?
What lights are you using on the tank, and for how long?

**Scott Normington** · 08-05-2009, 03:12 PM

the water is a milky-green color, in a few weeks in turns to almost pea-soup

**Sharon** · 08-05-2009, 03:18 PM

A five day blackout(with the tank taped with black garbage bag) will clear it. That means five days in total blackness, no peeking, no feeding. However if you don't find the cause, it will return.