why does my fish tank turn green so fast

Why Does My Fish Tank Turn Green So Fast – Solution

Nothing is more frustrating than having your fish tank turn green. But the real question is why does my fish tank turn green so fast? Am I missing something?

This can be a sign that your water is polluted or that there are not enough beneficial bacteria to keep the water clean. But there is more to it. Let’s see what are the factors that cause fish tank turn green.

Why Does My Fish Tank Turn Green So Fast?

The green coloration of your aquarium is usually due to algae. If you find out what are the reasons for algae growth, you will find out the reasons behind your fish tank turning green.

Here are the most common reasons I found:

1- Excessive Light

fish tank light

Many people don’t realize that too much light can cause algae to grow in your fish tank. The best solution for this is to turn the lights off for a few hours each day or place a plant on the side of the tank opposite where the light is coming from so that it blocks some of the rays from hitting the water surface.

Or you can place your fish tank in a dark place, in a room with no direct sunlight or fluorescent lights that come directly into the tank.

2- Nutrient Imbalance

An unbalanced nutrient level in your tank can also cause algae growth and thus fish tank turning green. Algae need nitrogen and phosphorous to grow, so if you have too much nitrogen or not enough phosphorous, then this can lead to excessive algae growth.

You’ll need to get some additives such as seachem flourish excel or flourish excel dosing pucks which will help balance out your nutrient levels so that they aren’t too high or too low.

3- No Regular Water Changes

how to keep fish tank clean without changing water

This is one of the biggest reasons why a fish tank turns green so fast. You need to do regular water changes in order to keep your tank clean and healthy. By changing the water on a regular basis, you will also be removing any waste that has built up in your aquarium.

4- Overfeeding Or Underfeeding

feed time fish

Overfeeding or underfeeding can cause algae growth on the walls of your aquarium. If you feed your fish too much food, they end up releasing more waste into the water than what a normal amount would be for their size.

This can cause an overgrowth of algae which can cause cloudy water and other problems within your aquarium. Also, if you do not feed them enough food, then they may starve and release more waste into the water than normal which can also cause cloudy water and more algae growth within your aquarium as well as other health issues with your fish such as white spot disease or other bacterial infections that could kill them if not treated quickly enough!

5- Addition Of Too Many New Fish

If you add too many new fish at once, they will out-compete each other for food and space in the aquarium, which can lead to a rapid decline in water quality and a thick layer of algae on the glass. One way to avoid this problem is by adding new fish slowly over time. Another way is to make sure that you have enough live plants in your aquarium to support all of these extra animals.

6- Overtocking The Aquarium

avoid overcrowding in fish tank

Overcrowding an aquarium leads to poor water quality, which can lead to algae bloom that blocks out light from reaching your plants’ leaves and prevents them from photosynthesizing properly (making food).

Although it may seem counterintuitive, overcrowding isn’t just bad for your plants, it’s also bad for your fish! When conditions get too crowded, it becomes harder for them to find food or get enough oxygen into their bloodstreams because there isn’t enough room for them all to swim around without bumping into each other constantly (which makes them stressed out).

7- Low pH Level

The pH level of your water determines the amount of acidity in the water. If it is below 7, then there is high acidity in the water and it can result in algae bloom and turn your water green. Your fish will also die if you leave them in an acidic environment for too long, so you need to monitor your pH level and make sure that it stays at around 7 or above.

The best way to do this is with a water testing kit which can be bought from most pet stores. Once you buy one of these kits, you can test your water once a month or so and adjust accordingly if necessary.

8- Lack of Co2 Dissolution

Co2 is essential for photosynthesis, which keeps all plants healthy and happy. Without enough Co2 dissolved into the water, plants will start dying off and algae will grow much faster than usual because there isn’t enough oxygen in the water for them to live on (algae don’t require much oxygen). To fix this problem, simply add more Co2 into your system by using a diffuser or bubble wand which attaches to an air pump.

9- Not Using A Sponge Filter

One of the most important parts of keeping a clean aquarium is using a sponge filter. This filter will suck up any debris in the water, which will keep it from flowing back into the tank and causing an algae bloom.

If you don’t have this filter, then you need to check your water quality daily because if you don’t clean out your tank regularly it can cause diseases or death within your fish population.

10- Too Much Waste In The Tank

fish tank organic waste

Another thing that can cause your tank to turn green is too much waste in the tank itself. If there is too much waste in there, then there is not enough oxygen for everything in there to live off at once.

This means that some things will die off first while others will stay alive longer than they should be able to because their bodies are trying to adapt to their new environment by changing color or shape etc. At the same time, this can also result in algae growth and make your water green.

11- Not Enough Oxygen In The Tank

If you have a fish tank that is not adequately aerated, this can cause your tank to become green in color. This green color is from algae that grow in the water as I mentioned earlier, which then feeds on the available nutrients in the water and begin to grow.

In order to prevent this from happening, you need to make sure that your tank has enough oxygen in it at all times. This is usually done by using an air stone or other device that will release bubbles of air into the water.

12- Using Tap Water Instead Of Distilled Water

Tap water contains chlorine and other chemicals that will cause algae to bloom if you don’t remove them before adding them to your aquariums.

Chlorine can also kill off good bacteria needed for biological filtration within your aquarium filter system so you want to make sure that you only use distilled water.

When using tap water make sure that you let it sit for 24 hours so that all of the chlorine has had time to evaporate out of the water before adding it to your tank.

How To Prevent Your Fish Tank from Turning Green

As we know that the most common reason why fish tanks turn green is because of excess algae growth. Algae grow in aquariums when they have poor water circulation, too much light, and not enough oxygen. The following are some tips that you can use to prevent your fish tank from turning green:

1- Regular Water Testing

When it comes to preventing algae growth in an aquarium, regular water testing is essential. If you know what’s in your water, then you can identify any issues and resolve them before they get out of control. If you don’t test your water regularly and only do so when something appears wrong, then the problem could be much worse than it needs to be.

2- Proper Stocking

The amount of fish that you stock in your aquarium will also affect how often your tank turns green. If you have too many fish for the size of your tank, then it won’t be able to filter out all of the waste from their bodies before it starts rotting inside the glass walls of your home aquarium.

This will lead to algae growth as well as other types of bacterial infections that could kill off some or all of your fish if left untreated long enough.

3- Add Live Plants

fish tank live plants

Live plants work to remove ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate from the water in the aquarium, preventing it from turning green. They also help control algae by absorbing light so algae cannot grow as easily on the plants. Live plants also provide a habitat for beneficial bacteria to grow on.

These bacteria help keep your water clean and free of harmful toxins such as ammonia and nitrite. The more live plants you have in your aquarium, the better they will be at absorbing these harmful toxins.

4- Balanced Lighting

As I mentioned above, Algae grows when there is an imbalance between light and dark periods in your aquarium. When this happens, algae will begin to grow on rocks, gravel, or any other surface that is exposed to light during the daytime hours. It’s important to balance your lighting so it doesn’t disturb this balance too much by either leaving all lights on 24/7 or only turning them off at night time.

5- Use a Filtered Tank System

A good filter system will keep the water clean and help remove excess nutrients that could cause algae growth. You may need to change the filter or clean it regularly because it can get clogged up with debris and other things that may cause them to stop working as well as it should.

6- Clean Your Filter Frequently

You should clean your filters at least once per month or whenever they are dirty enough that their effectiveness is diminished significantly. If your filter is dirty enough that it’s not working properly and there are still bits of debris floating around in your tank then this could be why there are so many algae growing on the walls and floor of your aquarium (and maybe even on top of the water too).

7- Feed Your Fish Properly

Another way to prevent green water in your tank is by feeding your pet fish properly. Some people make the mistake of overfeeding their fish which results in excess waste that contributes to algae growth in the tank. Make sure you feed them only as much food as they can eat within five minutes so it doesn’t get left behind and start rotting inside the tank!

Is Green Water in Fish Tank Harmful To Your Fish?

fish tank turning green

Green water in fish tanks is a common problem for aquarists. It is caused by a combination of algae and bacteria, and it can be very harmful to your fish. The green color is caused by the algae that grow in your tank, and the bacteria cause the water to be cloudy.

The main danger of green water in your fish tank is that it will make it harder for you to see how well your fish are doing. If they are hiding under plants or other objects, they may be injured or sick without you knowing about it until it is too late.

It can also make it harder for you to feed your fish since they can’t see their food floating around in the water. If you have plants that need sunlight to grow, then using an aquarium light with a blue spectrum will help keep this from happening as often.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article has answered your question: why does my fish tank turn green so fast. And if you’re an aquarium lover like me, the tips above should help you end up keeping it clean and healthy so that it doesn’t turn green any time soon. As always, if there’s anything else you can think of that we’ve missed out, please do share your thoughts with us in a comment below.