Help!!!

[Marx]

umm i was under the impression that i didn't have to do massive water changes in the aqaurium if it was planted every week.. i thought 25% by month was acceptable like it says in my planted tank book..

[DARKPHREAK]

I do a 30% WC and add ferts every week in my 75g.

[aidensmomma2000]

I think what you need to realise, is that everyone has a differnt idea of how to maintain/setup a tank, even authors.

If youre going to do eveything by the book, then you dont need advice from us really- if it s a good book it will answer all of your questions.

[aidensmomma2000]

stop doing that for 1 week.
everything will work out ok. you need to stop changing and testing everything in your aquarium every 4 hours and just relax and do nothing for 1 week.

when everything stabilizes in 1 week (it will), add some more ammonia and wait another week.  everything will be zero (Trust me).

Exactly! You dont need to add or remove anything, just leave it alone, dont even test anything for a week. Do your tests in no less then a week, and IF your readings come out fish-safe, then add some fish.

[BigDaddy]

My tank gets a 50% waterchange.  I dose my ferts 3 times a week.

The 50% water change ensures that at the very worst, there will never be more than double the amount of any given fert in the water at any time.

[dpatte]

art, i disagree. in fishless cycling you are trying to build a system that will consume 3 PPM ammonia per day. If you stop feeding the cycle 3 PPM / day then the cycle will die back.

i agree that marx should just fisnish getting his cycle going then (and only then) look at doing regular maintenace and seeing where the ph and kh end up.

but stopping the ammonia will let the cycle die out and is pointless.

[artw]

with regards to doing waterchanges I was referring to the fact that since Marx has a massive amount of nitrate in his water due to the fish less cycle, he must perform a 100% waterchange before adding fish.

david care to put money on that (biobed dying quickly)

[Marx]

ok now i have green slime looking algae growing all over my substrate in spots here and there...

im doomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marx]

i think its Cyno...

[luvfishies]

Don't worry, just add some current across the green slime, and wait it out.

Hang in there, you're doing fine!

[Marx]

i thought plants hate currenty??

[luvfishies]

*Some* current is necessary so that there aren't "dead spots" around the plants, where algae will grow.

Cyano LOATHES current, and for now, you need to aim a powerhead across the gravel to discourage the cyano (if that's what it is) from getting a foothold.

[Marx]

yup this morning after aiming power head 3 cyno spots dissapeared and 2 remain...

[Marx]

hey...  i took a glass of water out of my tank and there is no green tint in the water.. i wonder if its the tannins and the bacteria bloom that makes the water look green/hazy?

[BigDaddy]

hey...  i took a glass of water out of my tank and there is no green tint in the water.. i wonder if its the tannins and the bacteria bloom that makes the water look green/hazy?

Unfortunately, it's probably green water.  Not uncommon for a new planted tank.  Especially since there is all that nitrogen in the water from your ammonia dumps.

Sometimes it'll clear on its own... if it doesn't, I suspect that's why you are looking for a used HOT Magnum   :lol:

[Marx]

well i did lots of reading on green water..

and noticed that it can be caused by good lighting and no to low Nitrates.. In my new tank i am almost complete.. my nitrites are now .1 and my Nitrates were at 110ppm.. now at 5ppm.. no water change.. There not enought Nitrates in water so plants don't do there job.. henz green water..

also i read lack of Fertilizer like iron,potassium may cause green water..

anythoughts on all this??

[BigDaddy]

It has been my experience that a new tank that is well lit will almost unavoidably get green water.

In the tanks where I have had it, I used my HOT with diatom powder and left it to run for days straight, stopping it only to clean it when the micron cartridge got too clogged.

Usually, after a few hours, the green water is gone.  Leaving it to run for a few days ensures you get every last bit of it, all the while giving the plants a better shot to get well established.

[Marx]

ever heard of Vortex Filter?? i was looking at them today at Big als..

[BigDaddy]

Great diatom filter.. not much good for anything else.

At least a HOT can be a mechanical filter, a chemical filter, or a diatom filter.  Hell, it can even be a gravel vac or a biological filter with the right attachments.

[Shannon]

Holly Cow Marx, your on your 6th page here.  I think you are going into over protective, paranoia mode.  Ha! Ha!