Oh wow, i hadn't checked this thread in a while. To give an update as to where i am with all of this:
I have identified a potential source of nitrates: spiders.
Yes, spiders. Not reef spiders, just your typical house spiders. I was cleaning the screen on my skimmer pump and found 4 dead spiders stuck to it. I was wondering about this; we have a lot of spiders in our house (since our screens suck) and i was curious if any were getting into the tank. Well, i guess i have my answer! I have some extra fiberglass window screen left and i think i will work on covering the sump containers and maybe the back of the tank as well.
Or, i could fix the dumb windows in the house....
Thanks so much for your suggestions doc. I will have to start yanking the stuff out more frequently. I didn't realize that about the carbon. You are right, i can probably use like 80% less: at the moment i have been using like 2 cups in different bags. Guess that's too much
I just got my shipment of Mg and Ca from The Two Part Solution, so i can now start upping my calcium, magnesium, and pH. To answer your question doc, my pH ranges from 8.1 to 8.2. Low i know, which is why i am happy i have my additives now.
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
I was cleaning the screen on my skimmer pump and found 4 dead spiders stuck to it. I was wondering about this; we have a lot of spiders in our house (since our screens suck) and i was curious if any were getting into the tank. Well, i guess i have my answer! I have some extra fiberglass window screen left and i think i will work on covering the sump containers and maybe the back of the tank as well.
heh... not sure they're a source of nitrate, but I did witness a wicked battle about a month ago between a large black garden spider and an aiptasia... the aiptasia won but died soon afterwards.
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Thanks so much for your suggestions doc. I will have to start yanking the stuff out more frequently. I didn't realize that about the carbon. You are right, i can probably use like 80% less: at the moment i have been using like 2 cups in different bags. Guess that's too much
Pull it out until you're sick of pulling it out... then do the same the next day. Every little bit helps.
Yeah, I used to use a cup in each bag too. One month when money for the tank was a little tight I used what I had left (maybe 2 tbsp in each bag) and sure enough the water went from a yellowish cast to perfectly clear in about 8 hours. From then on I've only used small amounts and have seen all the same benefits as when I used lots of carbon. Being cheap pays off sometimes! Not often, but sometimes.
Quote:
I just got my shipment of Mg and Ca from The Two Part Solution, so i can now start upping my calcium, magnesium, and pH. To answer your question doc, my pH ranges from 8.1 to 8.2. Low i know, which is why i
am happy i have my additives now.
Again, I wouldn't recommend going much higher than 8.5 or 8.6, or you'll be in a position like I am... if I miss a day of kalk my pH will probably tank due to low alkalinity -- it measures 7dKh but that's probably a false reading. I'll likely switch my methods to something like the two-part solution after I move this month.
Hehe, that is pretty cool about the spider and aptasia. I was worried the spiders were rotting in the tank and causing my levels to go up, similar to over feeding. Too bad i don't have a predator of some type in the sump. What eats spiders?
Pulling hair algae certainly doesn't rank high up there on my list of fun things to do, but i will take your advice.
That is interesting about the carbon. i just took out two bags to change them, and i will just leave them out. I have a plastic "tray' to put the carbon in (from an old HOB filter from my freshwater tank) which holds about 2 or 3 tbsp. I have this right under the return so a good deal of the water hits it.
I put the screens over the sump(s) also. If nothing else it will help keep water from splashing up.
Oh, and i should probably note that the algae is decreasing. Each step seems to help. Thanks again for all your help!
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
I can't stress enough how much a blackout period can help. 2-3 days isn't going to do much, but 15-20 days will. And if circulation is good, you won't get cyano or diatoms taking it's place. This can get the situation manageable for your clean-up crew and most livestock can bounce right back from it.
I can't stress enough how much a blackout period can help. 2-3 days isn't going to do much, but 15-20 days will. And if circulation is good, you won't get cyano or diatoms taking it's place. This can get the situation manageable for your clean-up crew and most livestock can bounce right back from it.
15 to 20 days! Wow, that is a lot longer than i had thought. I have done a week before but never anything longer. I will start yanking the stuff out and then start a blackout this week. Never hurts to save some electricity either.
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
Wow, that's a long time. Will corals/clams/aneomones be OK for that long? I assume you have to gradualy ramp up your photoperiod after that? How about just running actinics for 20 days?
You you need to pay attention to pH levels during a planned blackout such as this? I know that when the lights are off the pH drops, I would assume with the lights off for an extended period of time, it could get nasty...
__________________ "Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study Hard. Be evil."
The Palouse Region Aquarium Society is now PALOUSE REEFERS - http://www.palousereefers.com/
Abolish the IRS! Bring transparency and accountability to tax policy - close all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation. Support the Fair Tax plan... visit http://www.fairtax.org
ahh yes, that would make sense those bast@&% plants releasing pytochemicals whenever they feel like it. I'll surely try the freshwater dip before hand, sounds like a good idea to do
you could always buy a sea hair... what ive done and it tears up my HA. When it nips it down the almost none or runs out of stuff to eat i just put it in my refugium to take care of my chaeto until i start to see the HA grow back. then i fish him out and put him back in the main tank
also i tried going lights out for 2 weeks. turned it back on after 14 days and the HA went nuts again.
i was extremely dismayed and upset
Last edited by Coryg; 10-08-2007 at 03:27 PM.
Reason: forgot something
I thought about a sea hare, but concerned about starving it after the HA is all gone...
__________________ "Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study Hard. Be evil."
The Palouse Region Aquarium Society is now PALOUSE REEFERS - http://www.palousereefers.com/
Abolish the IRS! Bring transparency and accountability to tax policy - close all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation. Support the Fair Tax plan... visit http://www.fairtax.org
My sea hare is kicking butt currently. Check with your LFS if they will take him back after all your algae is gone. Mine said they would. Or, see if another local reefer will take him off your hands.
If the HA keeps coming back after it is gone the nutrients are coming from somewhere. You really need to figure that out and eliminate the source or you will battle algae issues all the time.
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