Need help

[jnguyen4007]

All,

 

For the past couple of weeks, I'm slowly seeing something in my tank that I don't know what it is and hoping that someone recognize it and perhaps know how to get rid of it.

 

I first noticed a stringy, brownish thing that at first I thought was brown algae on top layer of my sand. Then I noticed that it also formed on my overflow box, then on my rocks. On a daily basis, I would scrub them off of the overflow box wall as well as the underside of overflow box. I then used a turkey baster to blow at that sand to break up whatever it is that's on it. Tonight, I took a closer look at the brown stuff and they contained what looked like miniscule air pocket or some sort of embryo. They were everywhere. Again, I had to use the turkey baster and squirt at them to knock them off of the rocks and sand and scrubbed down the side wall of my overflow box. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, please let me know. Thanks.

[jason the filter freak]

Honestly sounds like cyano, the bubbles you see are a byproduct of cellular respiration

[jnguyen4007]

Honestly sounds like cyano, the bubbles you see are a byproduct of cellular respiration

 

OK. How do I get rid of them? Using UV sterilizer?

[lanman]

OK. How do I get rid of them? Using UV sterilizer?

Flow.... lots of flow. Reduce nitrates, phosphates, organics.

 

bob

[Grav]

Yep that is what it is.

 

Less food, more filtration, more flow, higher ALK.

[jnguyen4007]

Yep that is what it is.

 

Less food, more filtration, more flow, higher ALK.

 

 

I'm not sure how I can do more filtration unless you think my nano skimmer isn't up to the task and I need something larger. I've cut back the amount of food I give to the livestock to once every other day. I suppose I can cut back to once every 3 days. I currently have 3 MJ 900 running inside the 30 gal tank, I could replace one of them with a koralia 3 pump to see if that helps. On a nightly basis, I've been adding the equal part of calcium and Alk to the tank. I can increase the amount and see if that will resolve it as well. Thanks.

 

James

[Rascal]

I agree it sounds like cyano. If your Alk is at least 10 dKH and stable that is probably not the problem.

 

Flow seems adequate to me.

 

How long has the tank been set up? Sometimes tanks just go through a little mini cycle of cyano. Quite possible that patience (along with regularly blowing it off and syphoning it out) is your best remedy.

 

Other possibilities:

 

Is your skimmer functioning well?

 

Are you sure you aren't adding excess silica to the water?

 

Keeping up with your water changes?

[jnguyen4007]

I agree it sounds like cyano. If your Alk is at least 10 dKH and stable that is probably not the problem.

 

Flow seems adequate to me.

 

How long has the tank been set up? Sometimes tanks just go through a little mini cycle of cyano. Quite possible that patience (along with regularly blowing it off and syphoning it out) is your best remedy.

 

Other possibilities:

 

Is your skimmer functioning well?

 

Are you sure you aren't adding excess silica to the water?

 

Keeping up with your water changes?

 

 

The water changes is something that I'm guilty of. I didn't get around to changing the water in this tank in over 3 weeks. I need to get back to doing it once a week like I used to. I however did do a 30% water change couple of days ago. But, I will go back to doing water changes weekly if it will help. As far as silica goes, not sure where that would come from. Food perhaps?

 

I do appreciate you guys help in pointing out what you think this is. At least I am one step closer to figuring out possible solution for it.

Edited October 16, 2007 by jnguyen4007

[dschflier]

I agree I think for the size tank you have, doing more water changes is not that difficult and I would think that would completely resolve the problem as well.

[bk_market]

my old 45g use to have cyano problem. what i did was re-aquascape to create more open landscape so water flow eaier and getting rid of all dead spot. the day that i take all my rocks out i also scap all the cyano off. after that i never have the problem again and my tank look much better

[lancer99]

you might also try patience....IME (no too often experienced, lucily) cyano sometimes pops up, and a couple of weeks later, goes as quickly as it came.

 

-R

[jnguyen4007]

you might also try patience....IME (no too often experienced, lucily) cyano sometimes pops up, and a couple of weeks later, goes as quickly as it came.

 

-R

 

 

Patience is what I'm noticing that this hobby requires. Thanks everyone for your input. I'll take your advice and try them out. If one doesn't seem to do the trick, I'll move onto something else. Maybe it's the combination of all of the above to get my tank back to where it should be. Thanks again.

 

James

[zotzer]

Hang in there! I've been battling a bit of the pink stuff myself too.

 

The crazy thing is that it is only in the front of the display, where it is all open and the powerheads are pointing. Zippy on the back or sides, and mine is all on the sand, not on the rocks.

 

I am religious with my water changes (10%+ weekly), skim wet, and have good flow. Possibly the one thing I do is overfeed. I get out the turkey baster every other day and suck it up. Other than that, my plan is to wait, and try to be a little more judicious with my feedings.

 

Oh, and Sean at F&F said he is going to start carrying Mag pumps as of tomorrow, so I plan to pick up a Mag3 and upgrade the pump on my Remora Pro. That might help too.

 

Let's both hope it's just a phase. Good luck!!!

Tracy

[flowerseller]

kind of humorous that you need to learn patience fast, isn't it?

[jnguyen4007]

kind of humorous that you need to learn patience fast, isn't it?

 

 

LOL Yes, it is. As frustrating as it is for me to see these ugly things in my tank and having to clean them off every few days, I still love my quiet time sitting in front of the tank and looking at them.

 

James