So I'm getting attacked with probs *pics update 11/13/07
- Thread starter asonitez
- Start date
I agree somewhat with the guys above about not adding anything for a while, but if you must add something, zoos wouldn't be a bad start. They are usually pretty tuff. Start with the smallest cheapest piece you can find and give it at least a couple of weeks to see how they are doing before you put anything else in. Also, IMO, Phosbuster and Purpleup are not very good additives. First of all, how could adding something to your tank remove something? That just doesn't make sense. It may precipitate phosphate, but so does pickling lime and it is a lot cheaper. Secondly, Purpleup cannot increase both calcium and alkalinity which means that if it is doing anything at all, it is likely throwing off your calcium/alkalinity balance. Calcium and alkalinity should almost always be adjusted using a balanced method such as a two part additive like C-Balance, B-Ionic, or using other balanced methods like pickling lime or a calcium reactor.
- Location
- New Jersey
Alright Alright I won't add anything. At ALL. :evil:
Just sit. and wait. and perform water change. and test. and wait. and scrape. and watch my chromis. and wait. then hopefully by my birthday in may i can buy a yellow tang and hear you all yell at me some more. (lol i won't do that. ive seen what you do to ppl that put tangs in a small tank. i'm afraid.)
In the mean time ill play with my cichlids and my minature r/c submarine. they like to attack it and beat it up. one even pushed it into its "cave" before. They are babies tho they eat pellets form my hand and nibble my fingers.
Just sit. and wait. and perform water change. and test. and wait. and scrape. and watch my chromis. and wait. then hopefully by my birthday in may i can buy a yellow tang and hear you all yell at me some more. (lol i won't do that. ive seen what you do to ppl that put tangs in a small tank. i'm afraid.)
In the mean time ill play with my cichlids and my minature r/c submarine. they like to attack it and beat it up. one even pushed it into its "cave" before. They are babies tho they eat pellets form my hand and nibble my fingers.
asonitez":3prg5gcr said:
We don't do anything, really, except admonish for lack of conscience.
Seriously, though, some things just take time and can't really be rushed. Keeping saltwater organisms is one of those things. No immediate gratification allowed.
Ok, now that sounds like fun. But, no pics = no submarine!
- Location
- New Jersey
Ill get you some pics of my Sub Tonight!
You can spend all the money you want on corals. However, in a couple of weeks all you will have is the frag plugs. The general consensus is NOT to add anything else for a month. Even your water changes are just prolonging the cycle period. Once the ammonia and nitrates are at zero, then you can add things SLOWLY. With each addition your tank needs a couple of weeks to adjust again.
every one is right baby steps this hobby takes time. I have had several tanks in the past and I never kept any of them going for more than a few months because we would rush everythingand end up with a very ugly tank. Well this time we started a 24 gal tank rushed it in the begining and had hair algae everywhere. after finding this site we stopped purchaise livestock and now several months later have a tank we enjoy. Just take your time it will be a lot less headache for you.
- Location
- New Jersey
What do i do about the seemingly large diatom outbreak i'm having? the Sand is turning a sickly nasty brown with lots of bubbles on it. its not red slime alge its something else. Do I just wait it out ????
You could just let it "burn itself out", which is to say that it's a normal occurrence and once the nutrients are used up usually goes away on its own.
Do take note regarding the water changes. If you're monitoring your nitrogenous wastes and nothing is getting out of hand (most important: ammonia) then you might want to reduce the changes. Since you've chosen to cycle with fish you have to strike a balance between allowing the cycle to happen quickly and maintaining appropriate conditions for them.
Do take note regarding the water changes. If you're monitoring your nitrogenous wastes and nothing is getting out of hand (most important: ammonia) then you might want to reduce the changes. Since you've chosen to cycle with fish you have to strike a balance between allowing the cycle to happen quickly and maintaining appropriate conditions for them.
- Location
- New Jersey
A Fine net? IT would seem that its coating the sand bed pretty uniformly if im not mistaken you mean just scraping the top of the sand scraping it off the walls of the tank and then releasing the air bubbles? jeebus is it me or does the diatom outbreak crawl your skin too? im at work and thinking about it is making my skin crawl.
:lol: It's just you. Just kidding! It doesn't make my skin crawl, but then again, I've seen (and smelled) some pretty nasty stuff.
You can either use a fine-mesh fish net, or you can make your own using pantyhose and a wire loop (you could use a hanger). It looks icky, for sure, but it's just diatoms. (This is making me think of a friend I had years ago who used the nick "Diabolical Diatom" because he hated how his prof focused on diatoms.)
What are your last ammonia and nitrite readings?
You can either use a fine-mesh fish net, or you can make your own using pantyhose and a wire loop (you could use a hanger). It looks icky, for sure, but it's just diatoms. (This is making me think of a friend I had years ago who used the nick "Diabolical Diatom" because he hated how his prof focused on diatoms.)
What are your last ammonia and nitrite readings?
- Location
- New Jersey
i didnt test last night i just got said said sorry to my clownfish and chromis, fed them and cried a little. I feel like a reef tanking failure even after investing so much $$ into making sure they were safe. I hope they go away.
asonitez":14w6dm8k said:
Whoa, don't get so upset! This is natural. Do you have any books? If so, what books? Also, go to http://www.wetwebmedia.com and search on "diatom outbreak", "cycle/cycling marine" and follow the extensive links. (Don't forget to check the radio button that says "search wetwebmedia". Bob, a friend, is very generous with information as is "the crew" (I used to do a lot of work with them). There is MUCH written on this stuff and what you're experiencing is completely and entirely normal.
I'm still waiting for a picture of your submarine.
- Location
- New Jersey
The crying thing was just theatrics but in truth I felt really frustrated. I have patience from playing MMORPG's and camping one monster every day 12 hours a day with 50 other Guild Members for 1 chance to kill it. I did that for 4.5 years lol. Patience I have. I just don't like when I take every precaution to protect living things and theres a possibility they might pass if this diatom junk dosen't go the way of kevin federlines singing career (down the crapper). I guess I'll reduce my light cycle down to 4 hours a day during feeding and then plunge the tank into darkness the rest of the time. I'm gonna even turn off the moonlights. Think those could assist the bacteria to grow wild?
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
