Indoor Green Water Set Up

[32Bit_Fish]

Is anyone running green water set up for your GF?

I have been thinking about setting one up, but....

[fishes2catch]

Yes, I have one that is housed in a 1 gallon jar. There is a layer of aragonite on the bottom and a community of guppies. I have also tried the method that Mike Hellwig described in his live foods book where you culture in a 1 gal jar with aragonite and a layer of dirt. The aragonite buffers and the dirt supplies the carbon and nitrogen. The jar with the guppies is the darkest green. I think that this is due the greater supply of nitrogen (fish waste and food waste). I have been meaning to fertilize the other jar but have not got around to doing this. Both jars live under a fluorescent lamp using bulbs rated for plant growth.

Mark

[Virginia ranchu]

Hi,

Yes, I have a green water tank that I keep to feed my daphnia culture. This tank is a 20 gallon high, and has 24 hour light by means of a compact fluorescent bulb (daylight type) in a clip on metal reflector-cone socket. The opening to the reflector is flush against the tank. In order to get your water to turn green you should keep a couple goldfish that you don't value too much in the tank to start. feed as usual with aeration , but no filtration. The water will get very murky before turning green. The seed fish will usually do okay through this period, but they will improve once the water turns green. I don't use this tank to condition fish, but I do notice that the shubunkins in this tank have better color than those I keep in clear water.

When the algae gets too dense, it "precipitates" and falls to the bottom. You should siphon the bottom periodically and add fresh water. Aim to keep a light green color, and not too dark.

Good luck,

Rob

[32Bit_Fish]

Thanks for sharing the information.

Do you guys noticed any difference in size of the fish? According to GW website, fish raised in GW supposed to be fatter and bigger than the ones raised in the clear water.

I have a 40G tank and I am going to get some strong light. What do u guys recommend in terms of lighting (WPG).

I probably getting a 150W PC light for my 40G, so I get almost 4WPG, still deciding getting a PC light or a MH light.

Obviously, the MH would cost more $$$$ as well as the electricity bill.

I'm ancious about getting GW for my fish, like to see some good result by using it.

[Virginia ranchu]

I wouldn't spend a lot of money on lighting for a green water tank. I just use the regular household type compact fluorescents with the 75 W equivalent lighting (less energy though). I think the green water method is best for outdoor situations. The problem is, you won't be able to see your fish through the green water. It's not hard to grow large, healthy goldfish in clear water in an aquarium, you just need to keep up the water changes.

[32Bit_Fish]

I wouldn't spend a lot of money on lighting for a green water tank. I just use the regular household type compact fluorescents with the 75 W equivalent lighting (less energy though). I think the green water method is best for outdoor situations. The problem is, you won't be able to see your fish through the green water. It's not hard to grow large, healthy goldfish in clear water in an aquarium, you just need to keep up the water changes.

Maybe I can find something at HomeDepot for the lighting. I'm not a DIY type of guy, except buying those expensive lights at the LFS, I really not sure how should I start at this point.

I've seen many articles/posts regarding benefits of raise GF in GW. It sounds magical.

I appreciate your advise and I will do some more research on GW

[fishes2catch]

I agree with Rob about the lighting. I like to think of growing GW is like growing a liquid plant. There are many cheap lights and bulbs that will do the job. I have heard that growing young goldfish in GW tends to produce healthy fish. I have no experience with this though I do think that the fish are partially benefiting from all of the planktonic critters that are usually associated with GW. I use my GW to feed daphnia cultures.

Good Luck,
Mark

[32Bit_Fish]

Guys,

I bought a lamp wit a 75 watts indoor plant light bulb. I'm not sure it's gonna work or not. I told the guy that I need to brew some green water, and so he recommended that to me.

The light is in yellowish color, and it isn't bright. It couldn't even lit up the hold tank, I had to keep the tank light ON at the same time.

Let's see if it wold work.

[nygold]

Were you able to cultivate green water?

I started a green water indoor tub about a month ago in a 12 gallon tub.
when I achieved green water I switched to a 50 gallon tub with about 40 gallons of water in it and seeded it with about 2 gallons of the old green water. So far so good. I'll try to post some pictures for you.
The blue tub is day 1 April 9th 2009 the green water was done on April 19th.
The 3rd picture is when I added an Oranda notice the water is not green. I removed ALL of the green water and left 1 gallon of it on the side on a small bucket. The tub was dumped and scrubbed clean filled back up with nyc tap water and seeded with the 1 gallon of green water. The Oranda was acclimated to the newly seeded green water. I read that fish shouldn't be added straight to green water they could die. After about a week in the 12 gallon tub I transfered everything to the bigger tub with the same lighting.
The last picture is the 50 gallon tub.

[32Bit_Fish]

I tried to brew green water in my 40g tank several weeks ago and I had about 35 watts on the tank. I leave the lights on for 10 hours a day, all I get was brownish algae. I believe I need to add more wattages on the tank.

I added a pot plant in my tank this weekend and I leave the lights on for 12+ hours a day. Let's see if there is any green algaes going to appear in the tank.

Wish me good luck of keeping the live plants with GF together.

I noticed the green water shown in your pics, they seems not as green as the ones I've seen in other GF website. I mean you can't even see the fish in a green water tank. I guess stronger light would be the solution.

[SeaWitch]

I tried to brew green water in my 40g tank several weeks ago and I had about 35 watts on the tank. I leave the lights on for 10 hours a day, all I get was brownish algae. I believe I need to add more wattages on the tank.

I added a pot plant in my tank this weekend and I leave the lights on for 12+ hours a day. Let's see if there is any green algaes going to appear in the tank.

Wish me good luck of keeping the live plants with GF together.

I noticed the green water shown in your pics, they seems not as green as the ones I've seen in other GF website. I mean you can't even see the fish in a green water tank. I guess stronger light would be the solution.

I was told here that you don't want the green water so green that you can't see your fish at all and that a lighter green is best. You mentioned the brown algae you got-do you normally have brown algae in your tanks? Have you checked to see how high the phosphates are in your water?

[32Bit_Fish]

I was told here that you don't want the green water so green that you can't see your fish at all and that a lighter green is best. You mentioned the brown algae you got-do you normally have brown algae in your tanks? Have you checked to see how high the phosphates are in your water?

Umm.. I want green water for my fish really bad, so I dont care whether I could see them or not.

I get brownish algaes whenever I leave the lights on for 8+ hrs a day for straight couple of days. I believe the low wattages would causing the brownish algaes.

[nygold]

32bit the intensity of the green water is up to each person some like pea soup others like antifreeze. I used both and I can't tell you wich one is better.
I don't think your green water problem is your light I think your using too much water. Try a smaller tank like 10-15 gallons and have your light from 6 to 8 inches above the water. Put 3 small feeders in the water, DO NOT feed with flakes feed them frozen blood worms. Keep the light on around 8 to 12 hours a day. You'll notice alot of evaporation don't worry. In 8 to 12 days you WILL have green water.
Once you have cultured your green water then seed your 40 gallon with 4 to 5 gallons of GW and it will be super green in 3 days, in 5 to 7 days you'll have your pea soup. After that you have to change your water or you will kill your fish.
Don't forget DO NOT add your good fish directley to the GW add them when you seed the water. You run a chance of killing them if you just add them to dark green water.

Keep us posted.

[32Bit_Fish]

32bit the intensity of the green water is up to each person some like pea soup others like antifreeze. I used both and I can't tell you wich one is better.
I don't think your green water problem is your light I think your using too much water. Try a smaller tank like 10-15 gallons and have your light from 6 to 8 inches above the water. Put 3 small feeders in the water, DO NOT feed with flakes feed them frozen blood worms. Keep the light on around 8 to 12 hours a day. You'll notice alot of evaporation don't worry. In 8 to 12 days you WILL have green water.
Once you have cultured your green water then seed your 40 gallon with 4 to 5 gallons of GW and it will be super green in 3 days, in 5 to 7 days you'll have your pea soup. After that you have to change your water or you will kill your fish.
Don't forget DO NOT add your good fish directley to the GW add them when you seed the water. You run a chance of killing them if you just add them to dark green water.

Keep us posted.

nygold, thanks for your input. Would you mind share a little more detail of your GW set up? I am not sure whether the GW article posted on RafflesGold site is correct, because it specifically mention about strong lighting is required in order to brew green water.

What would you suggest the wattages of lighting for my 10g tank?

[nygold]

What would you suggest the wattages of lighting for my 10g tank?

32Bit lets start from the begining.
You have a 10 gallon tank.
You have a small air pump with a clear hose and a brand new never used
air stone on the end.
You have 2 or 3 inch long feeder fish swimming around in the 10 gal. tank.
(Please don't start with your Ranchu) The fish are under alot of stress during
the culturing process. No need to risk a fish worth $100 when you can use one worth 10 cents and get the same results.
Now the light. Forget about wattage and think COLOR TEMERATURE, you want a light that is rated 6500k. Go to your LFS and buy the (Reef sun 50/50)
bulb. Buy the 24" bulb and get a hood that fits that bulb.
Feed hakari lionhead (sinking pellets).
Put the hood with bulb right across the top of the tank. If it sticks out past the sides who cares.
Fill the tank with cw so it's about and inch from the brim.
The bulb should be about 2 inches from the surface of the water.
You can leave the light on between 8 & 12 hours.
You will see about 2 or three inches worth of evaporation maybe even more
it's no big deal let it happen don't replace the water.
In 8 to 10 days you WILL see green water.
Let it go a few more days then put your 7 gallons or so of gw into your 40
gallon tank. 33 gallons of cw and the rest gw with the 6500k light, which
will now fit better on your 40 than it did on your 10.
Once you have your gw it will turn very dark green now it's up to you to
keep adding cw to try and keep the desired hue of green.
If you keep a very dark green tank your playing with fire a bit, if you make a mistake you risk the chance of oxygen burning to your fish.
I think I covered everything if I left anything out or you have anymore
questions feel free to ask.

[32Bit_Fish]

Why does it has to be a 24" bulb? The 10g tank is about 12" in length.

I have a bulb perfectly fit on the 10g. Can I just use this one? The only concern of using my 12" bulb is I'm not sure it has 6500k 50/50.

I have pure Ammonia home, so I can just add couple drops in the tank, it would achieve the same result.

[nygold]

Why does it has to be a 24" bulb? The 10g tank is about 12" in length.
I have a bulb perfectly fit on the 10g. Can I just use this one? The only concern of using my 12" bulb is I'm not sure it has 6500k 50/50.
I have pure Ammonia home, so I can just add couple drops in the tank, it would achieve the same result.

I suggested the 24" bulb so when your done cultivating your green water
in a little 10 gallon tank the you can use the same light to continue cultivating GW in a much larger container.
If you put 4 Ranchu in a 10 gallon GW tank your not going to get very good
grooming results. On the other hand if you used a tiny little light to create GW you my not be able to sustain the GW in a larger container.
Typical daylight is between 5500k and 6500k if your bulb is not with in this light spectrum I'm affraid you may not be able to cultivate GW.
As far as using pure ammonia I guess you would have to know how much to add to the water. I don't know if you add a little each day or a bunch right away.

Keep us posted and if there is anything else I can help you with just ask.

[thomasn]

I got greenwater exactly how rafflesgold (and NYgold) describes. It was going for 2 years with 130w compact fluorescent over a 30 gallon tub.

I was concerned that when it was too green, light was not penetrating to bottom so I switched to a 20,000K 150watt metal halide over the same 30 gallon tub. The greenwater collapsed in two weeks. (the reason I used the 20k is because I got it used and was waiting for more money to change the bulb.)

[32Bit_Fish]

I suggested the 24" bulb so when your done cultivating your green water
in a little 10 gallon tank the you can use the same light to continue cultivating GW in a much larger container.
If you put 4 Ranchu in a 10 gallon GW tank your not going to get very good
grooming results. On the other hand if you used a tiny little light to create GW you my not be able to sustain the GW in a larger container.
Typical daylight is between 5500k and 6500k if your bulb is not with in this light spectrum I'm affraid you may not be able to cultivate GW.
As far as using pure ammonia I guess you would have to know how much to add to the water. I don't know if you add a little each day or a bunch right away.

Keep us posted and if there is anything else I can help you with just ask.

Thanks to clarify. Actually I have one 24" and one 30" bulbs running on my 40g tank. And I have an extra 12" bulb for my 10g tank. I probably try to brew the GW with my 12" bulb to see if that would work, if not, I will get another bulb.

I used to cycle new tanks with pure Ammonia. The result was great and all I had to do was keep the Ammonia level at 0.50 PPM. I'm assuming this method would work for brewing GW.

[32Bit_Fish]

I got greenwater exactly how rafflesgold (and NYgold) describes. It was going for 2 years with 130w compact fluorescent over a 30 gallon tub.

I was concerned that when it was too green, light was not penetrating to bottom so I switched to a 20,000K 150watt metal halide over the same 30 gallon tub. The greenwater collapsed in two weeks. (the reason I used the 20k is because I got it used and was waiting for more money to change the bulb.)

It took you two years to brew GW in the tank even with a 130w bulb?

Do you know what caused crash? I've always thought more wattage is better in brewing GW.

[thomasn]

It took you two years to brew GW in the tank even with a 130w bulb?

Do you know what caused crash? I've always thought more wattage is better in brewing GW.

no not 2 years to brew. continuously running for 2 years with weekly 95% wc.

wrong light spectrum

[32Bit_Fish]

no not 2 years to brew. continuously running for 2 years with weekly 95% wc.

wrong light spectrum

So the only light spectrum would work in this case would be 50/50 at 6500k?

[nygold]

Not just in this case any and all cases, the light must be between 5500k and 6500k. Your just trying to copy real sunlight.

[32Bit_Fish]

Guys,

I was able to have green algaes in my gold fish tank after I dumped some liquid fert in the tank. The lights are still 30 watts on 10 hrs a day.

The fish eats the green algaes sometimes.

[devins23]

Is it a 30w regular light bulb? Also what fertilizer did u use?

[32Bit_Fish]

Is it a 30w regular light bulb? Also what fertilizer did u use?

30w flourence light for plants growth. The liquid bottle fertilizer from seachem I think.

well, I cleaned up all the algaes because I think it became the breeding ground for bacteria.

[Ranchu Rancher]

I started two 30gal breeders about a month ago trying to maintain green water. So far so good the tanks have 55w compact flo. on them that are on 18 hrs per day. I used urea to get them going. In one I have now placed 3 small Ranchus to see if I can improve their color and growth. I do not add anymore urea to this tank the three small fish are doing the job just fine. I plan on using the other to add small amounts to my fry tanks to help with feeding.

Gregg

[Corrie]

ok, stupid question time.

Why are you guys doing this when algae is so easy to culture as a pure culture?

Why not just set up some empty clear soda bottles, get a pure algae culture like nanno, fertilize it with a F2 like Guillard's, put a two bulb shop light behind it all and call it a party.

No fish torture, no worrying about pollution, parasites, etc a whole lot easier and can give you as much green water as you want.

Corrie

[thomasn]

there are a lot of different methods for culturing greenwater. some have been able to start a culture by putting fish food in a small volume of water with an airstone and set it in the sun outside. there is also a method of starting a culture using miracle grow fertilizer. I have only successful at the "fish torture" method.

maybe you can do a demo with your pure algae culture method. I think you'll need higher powered light than shop light though.

[bekko]

You cannot maintain an axenic culture forever. It will become infested with protozoans every so often so you have to re-isolate and bring it up from scratch in test tubes. I can't imagine doing this without a good scope. An isolation hood and HEPA filter helps a lot too.

Green water, on the other hand, is easy to make. The trouble with green water is you have to take what you get in terms of algae species composition. Some green water is magical while other green water is junk. And, you often cannot tell the difference with the naked eye.

Shop lights will work if you have enough of them.

-steve

[Corrie]

Simple and easy

http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/000B0858-DE56-1C73-9B81809EC588EF21_arch1.jpg

"I think you'll need higher powered light than shop light though."

nope

"You cannot maintain an axenic culture forever. It will become infested with protozoans every so often so you have to re-isolate and bring it up from scratch in test tubes. I can't imagine doing this without a good scope. An isolation hood and HEPA filter helps a lot too."

Of course you can, people do it all the time.
What you are referring to is called a mono-culture. If you're worried about contamination, don't contaminate your cultures.
Or, culture in a way that preferences a certain thing.

"Green water, on the other hand, is easy to make. The trouble with green water is you have to take what you get in terms of algae species composition. Some green water is magical while other green water is junk. And, you often cannot tell the difference with the naked eye."

Since you are starting out with a contaminated culture, it will still go mono-culture on you. Whatever is in it, one thing will dominate the culture. It could be plant or animal. Taking what you get, will guarantee you that you won't get what you want.

It's too easy to start out with what you want and keep it that way.

I don't understand why you guys are doing this in the first place though.
Is it to use to culture something like daphnia? or making the water darker so the fish will get darker colors?

[thomasn]

here is information about green water
http://vermilliongoldfishclub.com/greenwater-frame.html

do you actually have and maintain your own setup for green water using the shop light and the paste?

[Corrie]

"do you actually have and maintain your own setup for green water using the shop light and the paste? "

Thom, years ago it was the norm for all labs because there was no other choice.
When the frozen paste came along, it's a lot cheaper and easier, so most all labs converted over to it. We did too.

But yes, years ago, we had to run our own algae cultures.

Corrie