|
|
Have a question?
It's Free!
|
|
| Freshwater Discussion A place to discuss fresh and brackish water tanks and ponds. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
10-03-2006, 01:55 PM
|
#1
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
My 180 FWP Problem.
You have all seen my 180G fresh water planted tank, and it is a nice tank but for the last 8 months or so it has had a problem, and I think I now have it solved.
About 8 months ago, I had a huge dieoff, lost about 80% of the fish in there, mostly only the oldest ones survived, further more any new fish I put in die within a week. So after that happened I gave up on buying fish and decided to be happy with the handful of assorted tetras that remained. Perams are perfect, and the plants are growing like wildfire, I actually sell them to a LFS and make about $50 a month from it.
I do 50% water changes every week so about 8 months ago I picked up this 1/2 gallon of Decloranator. This is potent stuff, the 1/2 gallon claimed to treat over 30,000 gallons that's why I got it.
I was talking to a LFS about the problems yesterday and he told me that the decloranator I was using was not made for what I am doing with it. In fact he told me that it was made for removing chlorine bleach after bleaching decorations. He said that this declor does not remove Cloramine, and it does not detoxify heavy metals. The bottle does not state that it is not made for in-tank use, but it does say that it takes out chlorine, and makes no mention of Cloramine, or heavy metals like the others do.
So I am doing a whole bunch of 50% water changes back to back right now with a good (read expensive) declor that does everything (and i mean everything). This weekend I am going to buy about 10 Neon Tetras, they should have about a 90% survival rate, so I'll keep you informed.
Comments? Do you think it could be the declor I was using?
Whiskey
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 01:59 PM
|
#2
|
|
Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
|
Yes thats the problem.MO,Good luck with the fishies I actually have a fresh tank now and it is 1 month old and doing great with lots of fish.
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 02:51 PM
|
#3
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
Sweet! I didn't know you were into fresh Casey. You going to go with planted? You can do it super cheap and easy if you don't want to get all crazy.
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 02:57 PM
|
#4
|
|
Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
|
I would like planted but the wife says no she likes the plastic no light needed kind 
__________________
Double your drive space. Delete Windows
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 03:24 PM
|
#5
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
What size tank is it? I lit my 50G for lower light plants for only $20, it cost $20 more to step up to almost every plant available.
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 03:28 PM
|
#6
|
|
Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
|
Its a 30 gal cube,she says real plants make the water more dirty,I told her I didnt think so.
__________________
Double your drive space. Delete Windows
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 03:35 PM
|
#7
|
|
Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 10,096
Reviews: 12
|
Whiskey, I have never used a dechlorinator of any kind ever... the water we have here from the tap is a nice 7.0Ph. there is chlorine and chloramine but the action of filling the tank actually evaporates most if not all of it and in a tank with good flow any residue will be gone overnight. I never use those chems and have never had a problem with any of my FW fish including Discus, Rays, arowanas, or cichlids.
__________________
I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 04:14 PM
|
#8
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casey
Its a 30 gal cube,she says real plants make the water more dirty,I told her I didnt think so. |
Ya all that consuming nitrate and phosphate so they can grow really mucks it up  . Accually I dose nitrate and phosphate regularly, just to try and be able to get them to show up on a test kit.
Is that tank 24*24? If so 2, 20W normal output tubes, one 5,500K and one "Grow lux" would work great for most plants. (think shop lights at HD, they cost $12.)
I can even send you some plants if you want to give it as shot. I've done it before, I think shipping cost $5, just regular ground to NY.
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 04:14 PM
|
#9
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
Oh, BTW, the bulbs you get at HD too, for about $4 each, and should be replaced every 9 months or so.
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 04:16 PM
|
#10
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twitterbait
Whiskey, I have never used a dechlorinator of any kind ever... the water we have here from the tap is a nice 7.0Ph. there is chlorine and chloramine but the action of filling the tank actually evaporates most if not all of it and in a tank with good flow any residue will be gone overnight. I never use those chems and have never had a problem with any of my FW fish including Discus, Rays, arowanas, or cichlids.
|
Want to know what's funny? My 10G that I never use De-clor of any kind in has never lost a fish, everything else I do exactally the same as the 180.
That's another thing that kinda brought me around to this line of thinking.
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 04:19 PM
|
#11
|
|
Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
|
Let me think of a way to talk her into live plants
Yea its a 24x24 Oceanic.Thanks man 
__________________
Double your drive space. Delete Windows
|
|
|
|
|
10-03-2006, 04:55 PM
|
#12
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
Yep! Let me know. 
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-04-2006, 12:54 AM
|
#13
|
|
That Biker Looking Guy
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,446
|
Yeah the declor stuff I didint ever use it either just added the water. Like was said above most of the stuff evaps anyways so I never sweat it. I have a 30x30x24 now may consider a planted tank again once I get the reef stable and running right.
Jeff
__________________
Proud to be a card carrying member of the "J" Crowd
Body By Nautilus; Brain By Mattel.
If Walking Is So Good For You, Then Why Does My Mailman Look Like Jabba The Hut?
|
|
|
|
|
10-04-2006, 11:35 AM
|
#14
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
|
Do you do 50% water changes? I am a bit worried about the clorine burning the fish's gills.
Whiskey
__________________
Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
|
|
|
|
|
10-04-2006, 11:38 AM
|
#15
|
|
Bubble Algae Warrior
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Maine
Posts: 4,362
Reviews: 17
|
i just let my water sit out. never thought to check for metals in it
|
|
|
|
|
