The Puffer Forum

The only natural solution I have found for green water is large(80% weekly) water changes combined with floating plants(I like wisteria, because it can be planted in the substrate later, grows under almost any lighting level, and does not become a plague like duckweed or water cabbage can.) After a couple months, I planted the wisteria and went back to 50% weekly changes, and the green water never returned. Did this in both a 2.5 gallon snail tank and a ten gallon DP tank, and it worked in both cases.

Too much light and nutrients without enough hungry plants is the formula for algae - whether atteched or free-floating or swimming. Which algal for appears and flourishes depends on the particular tan conditions.

But the sort of technique Nick used can certainly work. Anacharis is another useful floater, and a better nutrient sponge than even wisteria. But it does not like Excel at all.