newbie help please
- Thread starter cav414
- Start date
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3531502
Okay thank you how did it get in my tank? And could i just take out the rock its on my nearest saltwater store is 2 hours away
Things like Aiptasia are hitchhikers, and they usually come on a piece of rock. Even a small rock attached to a coral can carry all kinds of critters. Most are beneficial to the system, but a few aren't. The problem with removing the rock is that the beneficial bacteria, and various unseen creatures will die if exposed to air for too long. This will result in having to scrub and re-cure the rock. I have heard of people injecting Aiptasia with lemon juice to kill it. I suppose you could scald it with boiling water if you can confine it to just the area with the Aiptasia. Most Peppermint Shrimp eat Aiptasia, but there's no guarantee the one(s) you buy will. If it's not a large rock, I'd just remove it from the tank and burn the Aiptasia with a propane torch. That's how much I despise them...
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3531502
Okay thank you how did it get in my tank? And could i just take out the rock its on my nearest saltwater store is 2 hours away
Things like Aiptasia are hitchhikers, and they usually come on a piece of rock. Even a small rock attached to a coral can carry all kinds of critters. Most are beneficial to the system, but a few aren't. The problem with removing the rock is that the beneficial bacteria, and various unseen creatures will die if exposed to air for too long. This will result in having to scrub and re-cure the rock. I have heard of people injecting Aiptasia with lemon juice to kill it. I suppose you could scald it with boiling water if you can confine it to just the area with the Aiptasia. Most Peppermint Shrimp eat Aiptasia, but there's no guarantee the one(s) you buy will. If it's not a large rock, I'd just remove it from the tank and burn the Aiptasia with a propane torch. That's how much I despise them...
pegasus
Well-Known Member
The needle must penetrate the "body" for lemon juice to work. You can't just squirt it on. It will recede into the hole in the rock, so you may have to make several stabs at it to be sure you've penetrated it. Once done, remove the needle and use the syringe and some tank water to rinse off any excess juice before replacing the rock.
If you're nervous about using sharp, pointy objects... you can use a large syringe (without needle) filled with !!!HOT!!! water. Turn the Aiptasia down, over a sink, and blast it until it falls out.
If you're nervous about using sharp, pointy objects... you can use a large syringe (without needle) filled with !!!HOT!!! water. Turn the Aiptasia down, over a sink, and blast it until it falls out.
cav414
Member
Im back everyone, please let me know if I should be posting in another forum.
Okay I have been working hard to get my tank clean 10gal water change, cleaning filters, pumps, class, every two weeks, and moving dead spots around every other day my chem lvls are good and my water clear. But in the past two weeks i'm seeing a lot of changes.
One the grass like stuff on my live rock is dieing sorry idk what it is called
The top rock was covered in it a couple weeks ago.
Next I am getting some brown spots on some of my live rock that sits on my substrate.
I am also noticing discoloration in my substrate under the top layer
I know some of it is algae on the glass. And finally I am getting a brown residue on the inside of the glass to the point that I have to clean it every day.
I think part of my problem is that I don't have enough clean up crew
1 turbo snail
2 small snails
2 small crabs
1 chocolate sea star (which is doing good despite my fish)
And on a final note one of my fish bit me for the first time this morning not sure which one it happens to fast lol
Thank all of you for your help
Okay I have been working hard to get my tank clean 10gal water change, cleaning filters, pumps, class, every two weeks, and moving dead spots around every other day my chem lvls are good and my water clear. But in the past two weeks i'm seeing a lot of changes.
One the grass like stuff on my live rock is dieing sorry idk what it is called
The top rock was covered in it a couple weeks ago.
Next I am getting some brown spots on some of my live rock that sits on my substrate.
I am also noticing discoloration in my substrate under the top layer
I know some of it is algae on the glass. And finally I am getting a brown residue on the inside of the glass to the point that I have to clean it every day.
I think part of my problem is that I don't have enough clean up crew
1 turbo snail
2 small snails
2 small crabs
1 chocolate sea star (which is doing good despite my fish)
And on a final note one of my fish bit me for the first time this morning not sure which one it happens to fast lol
Thank all of you for your help
tthemadd1
Active Member
Cav. Do you test for phosphates?
A lot to look at for this.
1. Do you use ro water? If your water quality is very good than your algaes will die off. They need phosphates to survive. Also your local water supply may use chemicals to remove algaes from the main water supply which could in turn cause an effect in your tank. Not likely but a possibility. Best use practice use RO. Algaes also bloom and die off in tanks during the cycling process. This isn't the main cycle we talk about in regards to nitrification.
2. The brown algaes are a cycling process as well as from silicates that are in our drinking supply. So again RO water is best practice
3. How much do you feed your fish too much good breaks down giving nutrients to algaes. So finding the right balance is key.
4. Different bacteria will buildup in your substrate or sand bed. This is normal which be the reason for the color in your sand. Again it comes back to water quality. I use a sand sifting star fish to in my sand. They do eat beneficial as well a nuisance micro fauna so it's your call on that. But again back to water quality before you add it to the tank.
5. Get a magnet glass cleaner. I use mine every day to keep the glass clear for viewing.
6. Many fish are territorial. They will nip at your hands. I have two clownfish which hate when I put my hands inthe tank and bite me all the time. Just part of the game. Damsels are notorious for this type of behavior. So as long as you can handle the slight irritation I wouldn't worry about it.
Hope that helps.
A lot to look at for this.
1. Do you use ro water? If your water quality is very good than your algaes will die off. They need phosphates to survive. Also your local water supply may use chemicals to remove algaes from the main water supply which could in turn cause an effect in your tank. Not likely but a possibility. Best use practice use RO. Algaes also bloom and die off in tanks during the cycling process. This isn't the main cycle we talk about in regards to nitrification.
2. The brown algaes are a cycling process as well as from silicates that are in our drinking supply. So again RO water is best practice
3. How much do you feed your fish too much good breaks down giving nutrients to algaes. So finding the right balance is key.
4. Different bacteria will buildup in your substrate or sand bed. This is normal which be the reason for the color in your sand. Again it comes back to water quality. I use a sand sifting star fish to in my sand. They do eat beneficial as well a nuisance micro fauna so it's your call on that. But again back to water quality before you add it to the tank.
5. Get a magnet glass cleaner. I use mine every day to keep the glass clear for viewing.
6. Many fish are territorial. They will nip at your hands. I have two clownfish which hate when I put my hands inthe tank and bite me all the time. Just part of the game. Damsels are notorious for this type of behavior. So as long as you can handle the slight irritation I wouldn't worry about it.
Hope that helps.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3532196
I do use an ro/di for my water I bought it with the aquarium. And I am only feeding once a day and it's the individual frozen brine shrimp cubes. Should I do my water changes more often?
Frozen Mysis shrimp is a much better food, brine shrimp is like feeding them fish candy.
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3532196
I do use an ro/di for my water I bought it with the aquarium. And I am only feeding once a day and it's the individual frozen brine shrimp cubes. Should I do my water changes more often?
Frozen Mysis shrimp is a much better food, brine shrimp is like feeding them fish candy.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3532207
Lol maybe that's why they are so hyper thanks for letting me know
LOL...I was referring to nutrition...I don't think fish suffer from ADHD. Check for stray electric current, that would make the fish hyper.
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3532207
Lol maybe that's why they are so hyper thanks for letting me know
LOL...I was referring to nutrition...I don't think fish suffer from ADHD. Check for stray electric current, that would make the fish hyper.
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Those are green star polyps. It sounds like there's been a lot of activity going on in your tank, and sudden changes in water chemistry (temp, salinity, Ph, skin oil, etc) can cause them to retract. Star polyps and algae do not get along. Make sure NO algae grows on the mat. Bubble algae can be removed with a turkey baster. Hair algae will have to be brushed off. Both methods have to start gently, and once the polyps retract, you can get a little more aggressive. If you start removing purple chunks, ease up a little... lol! If algae isn't the problem, then it may be a bacterial infection. A coral dip may help solve the problem.
I recommended that you move stuff around to get better flow. I forgot to mention that you should only do this ONCE. Moving rocks and pressing them down into the sand kills critters living in the sand. If you look where the sand meets the glass, you'll see little tunnels. Your entire sandbed is full of these. In the last picture, there appears to be a gray patch in the sand. This is usually a sign that something has died (or was killed) and is decaying. If you press down on the sand while cleaning the glass, it will kill critters. You don't want your sand full of dead and decaying critters. Bad things will start to happen.
I recommended that you move stuff around to get better flow. I forgot to mention that you should only do this ONCE. Moving rocks and pressing them down into the sand kills critters living in the sand. If you look where the sand meets the glass, you'll see little tunnels. Your entire sandbed is full of these. In the last picture, there appears to be a gray patch in the sand. This is usually a sign that something has died (or was killed) and is decaying. If you press down on the sand while cleaning the glass, it will kill critters. You don't want your sand full of dead and decaying critters. Bad things will start to happen.
cav414
Member
I've moved the rocks once a few weeks ago and 2 days ago I depositions my power heads for better flow so hopefully that helps.
I think I do have algae on the live rock i'll get those clean asap, and the grey spot in the sand is actually a big green spot Is that bad? And should I cut back on my water changes? Im doing 10g every two weeks. Sorry for all the questions lol
I think I do have algae on the live rock i'll get those clean asap, and the grey spot in the sand is actually a big green spot Is that bad? And should I cut back on my water changes? Im doing 10g every two weeks. Sorry for all the questions lol
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3532218
I just looked up pictures of hair and bubble algae and I don't have ether of them just a brown tint on the mat and 2 very small spots that are brown and kinda leathery feeling
Hi,
New tanks go through all kinds of changes, keeping a good water quality will help eliminate the possibility of nuisance algae getting a foot hold. As you see algae crop up, slowly increase your CUC (clean up crew) Brittle stars (not the green) or serpent stars, a variety of snails. I would stay clear of hermit crabs, they kill snails for food and their shells.
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/40#post_3532218
I just looked up pictures of hair and bubble algae and I don't have ether of them just a brown tint on the mat and 2 very small spots that are brown and kinda leathery feeling
Hi,
New tanks go through all kinds of changes, keeping a good water quality will help eliminate the possibility of nuisance algae getting a foot hold. As you see algae crop up, slowly increase your CUC (clean up crew) Brittle stars (not the green) or serpent stars, a variety of snails. I would stay clear of hermit crabs, they kill snails for food and their shells.