Further Discussion On How To Cultivate Green Water From Scratch Options

[Maniacholic]

Thread splitted from How To Cultivate Green Water From Scratch

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I was wondering AFTER my green water is settled in my indoor tank can I have a media filter with only oyster shells as buffer?

[desireless]

Hi Maniacholic,

Purpose of oyster shells is for pH boost. Sodium BiCarbonate is still your best choice to maintain your tank water pH level

Adding a simple air filter with sponge within in an indoor green water water setup is fine. But I supposed you will need to wash the sponge every 1 or 2 days. Bear in mind that we try to keep a low level of BB in a green water setup because large BB colony might collapse your green water.

This post has been edited by desireless: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 1:12 am

[CP]

I have no doubts about the benefits of green water but am a bit confused by the strict prohibitance on the presence of BB.
I was wondering whether can we have green water WITH BB and filtration system,reason being then we can have green water benefits with less frequent or partial water change, enjoying the best of both worlds.
I have noticed in Aquatic Connection (Sims Place),their one feet depth display tank is thriving with algae (direct afternoon sun) and the tank  is running on filtration system.
Similiarly at Koi farms the Koi ponds,though the fishes are vacationing in green algae water these ponds are effectively run with bio filtration.
Unless these two instances are not considered green water maybe due to the different type of algae produced or some other reasons,isn't that the better way to keep goldfishes from the lazy man's point of view?

Your enlightening will be much appreciated.Thanks.

I think no in in RG has ever quoted himself so let me be the first to do so heh heh heh.

This query was asked by myself back in Aug 04 but I think I have understood it since.

[CP]

I was wondering AFTER my green water is settled in my indoor tank can I have a media filter with only oyster shells as buffer?

As what Desireless has mentioned it is better to use sodium bicarbonate instead of oyster shells as the shells will provide ample medium for BBs to cultivate hence it is a no no as far as maintaing the green water is concerned.

[CP]

Purpose of oyster shells is for pH boost.

Bro, I am a keen supporter of using oyster shells and I have lots of it in the filter of my bio-tank.But, I think the statement of it boosting pH may be a bit misleading.

It prevents a pH drop (ie acts as a buffer), by dissolving in the water once the pH drops below 7.8 +/- (not sure of exact figure).So if you have water of say pH 6 it is correct to say that it will boost the pH up to 7.8 but if you have water of pH 8 you will not boost its pH further by adding the shells.In short, there is a saturation point that it will not dissolve.

This post has been edited by desireless: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 1:12 am

[The Matrix]

there are differences between baking soda and oyster shells. Both are not booster, rather should be written as buffering agent. And if really need boosting effect, then add pure ammonia.

Desireless take note hor.

saturation of baking soda should be around 8.5-8.7 ph whereas oyster shell around 7.5 to 7.8 ph. But oyster shells increase gH. Do a check on that and u will know. If one use oyster shells or coral chip in filtration, will find the tank coated with a hardened calcium deposite after some time.

[desireless]

I am sorry I mixed up "coral chips" with "oyster shells". My eyes were looking at "oyster shell" and my brain understood it as "coral chips".

Sodium BiCarbonate is meant for pH buffer and Coral Chips is for pH boost. Oyster Shell works about the same way as Sodium Bicarbonate. My apologies if my previous posts in this thread caused any confusions.

Thanks to bro cpiw2002 for pointing this out to me.

[kingyo08]

i was wondering if i where to attempt to make an indoor green water tank with my ranchu in it, would the ranchu be bothered by all the lights?

[32Bit_Fish]

i was wondering if i where to attempt to make an indoor green water tank with my ranchu in it, would the ranchu be bothered by all the lights?

My fish used to be inactive while the lights are on 10 hours a day. But after a week of under the light, they are back to normal.

I think they would get used to the light eventually.