Cannister filters- religion vs reality?

**Fishguy2727** · 06-02-2007, 02:35 AM

Algaefix is perfectly safe in planted tanks and is great at dealing with greenwater algae.

**GoldLenny** · 06-02-2007, 03:57 AM

Something you can do with a canister that you can't do with an HOB is put in a micro-polishing pad as the final stage of filtration. This micro-polishing pad will filter out the very fine things. It won't solve your green water issues though. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113808 (Link is for example only. You can buy these at many other places online and retail as well)

There is a diatom filter that will filter out the algae or the UV filter which will kill water column algae but this can usually be solved by changing the biology/ecology of the tank.

**Greg Menke** · 06-02-2007, 04:01 AM

Well if it comes to filtering the green water, I'll go to McMaster-Carr and buy a water filter with media specified for this size particle and plumb it in. Its getting kind of crowded in the base at this point, would be nice to not add that and a pump.

The flocculant hasn't achieved much of anything this evening, we'll see if its made headway by tomorrow. Probably will visit a couple aquarium stores and see about a uv unit, I suppose I can keep it on standby on the cannister output, then turn it on if/when there are problems its suited for.

The tank has been running uneventfully for a month or so with a variety of tetras and plants, could the green water be related to the "tank cycle" I've read about? I'm not testing for nitrites and ammonia, just weekly KH, PH, nitrate, phosophate- all are pretty stable except nitrates have gone up a bit. I do bi-weekly 20% changes, a good time to vacuum and shovel out the snails that tagged along with some Petsmart fish (not going there anymore, we found proper local aquarium stores).

Greg

**Lady Hobbs** · 06-02-2007, 10:38 AM

And if your tank is sitting near a window, make sure you have the window drapped.

Instead of buy a bunch of expensive equipment, look for the reason you have the green water to start with. Try the black out method and if that doesn't work, one of the water algae eliminators.

**Fishguy2727** · 06-02-2007, 01:50 PM

The Algaefix is very effective and much cheaper and easier than any of the other methods listed so far.

Snails usually come in on plants, not with fish unless you saw them in the bag. And something like a yoyo botia will take care of the snails for you.

**GoldLenny** · 06-02-2007, 02:43 PM

I don't like adding chemicals to my tanks. Too many people throw a chemical fix at every minor problem.. and yes algae is a minor problem. It won't kill your fish like bacteria or parasites so there is no need to throw another chemical into the tank. If you don't figure out what is causing the green water (usually too much light and too much nutrients), then it will come back and you'll have to constantly be dumping more chemicals into the tank until it makes the EPA's Superfund Cleanup List.

**Rue** · 06-02-2007, 04:30 PM

...I don't like chemicals either...but my 25g is in the middle of a large, well-lit room...can't move it...

...the particulate remover worked very well...it's been a few years now and I haven't had the green algae return...

...I think I've also 'gotten rid' of the hair algae - finally! Mostly through elbow grease this time!

**Chrona** · 06-02-2007, 08:26 PM

The majority of algae can be killed by several days of 50% water change + complete blackout (not just turning off the lights, I mean covering the tank with an opaque blanket) However, it does not treat the source, but if you have isolated the source and just want to get rid of whatever algae is still in the tank (ie a BBA attack after CO2 failure) then chemicals would be ok I suppose.

**Fishguy2727** · 06-02-2007, 09:39 PM

A natural fix is the best. Almost every algae has at least one fish or other animal that can be added to eat the algae. However there is no such fish for greenwater algae that I am aware of. I add almost no chemicals to my water outside of buffers and special salts for those that need it to thrive, but Algaefix is an effective and safe chemical for this one specific problem.

**cocoa_pleco** · 06-02-2007, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Fishguy2727

A natural fix is the best. Almost every algae has at least one fish or other animal that can be added to eat the algae. However there is no such fish for greenwater algae that I am aware of. I add almost no chemicals to my water outside of buffers and special salts for those that need it to thrive, but Algaefix is an effective and safe chemical for this one specific problem.

ditto. algaefix is highly safe and a great product