stages stages stages

[ivet]

i finally got rid of my terrible red hair/cyno algae stage, im pretty heavy into the black sludge algae stage w/ diatoms. it comes up very easily, but man does it look terrible. I think its just about time to change the filters in my ro/di, which probably explains the diatoms.

This can also be because of my first fish!!!!!!! I bought a blue damsel "sparky the wonderfish - elite mantis tester esquier". He's been doing well for 2 weeks now! I do still hear a few clicks in the tank, but I think that may be from small crabs. Sparky's having fun with all this swimming room. he loves me too, as soon as he sees me he swims right to the front! Pretty soon I'll get him a friend.

This is also the first time my tank is seeing food on a regular basis, and now it looks like the tank is going through a new cycle (little bubbles everywhere, etc.) all numbers are normal, except for phosphates which are always unexplainably off the scale.

hope everyone is well!

[ 06-16-2001: Message edited by: ivet ]

[Alice]

Hey ivet;

I was wondering how things were going with you! The black sludge may be just another form of cyano...it comes in other colors rather than just the standard "Christmas" ones Does this sludge have bubbles in it and maybe look "snottier" or stringier than the cyano outbreak you had before? If so, it may be dinoflagellets rather than cyano. Changing your ro/di membranes/resins sounds needed if you are having outbreaks of diatoms.

Never did track down the source of the phosphates? It seems as though we ran through the usual gauntlet of "what-ifs" on that problem. Did you ever try testing with another kit and comparing?

Let's hope "Sparky" wants a friend in "his" tank as much as you want one in "your" tank!

Good to have you back!

~Alice

[Alice]

Phooey, looks like cyano to me but that's better than dinoflagellets.

[ivet]

Originally posted by Alice:
Hey ivet;

Does this sludge have bubbles in it and maybe look "snottier" or stringier than the cyano outbreak you had before? If so, it may be dinoflagellets rather than cyano.

Never did track down the source of the phosphates? Did you ever try testing with another kit and comparing?

~Alice

Hey Alice
it's very snotty, but doesnt act snotty when i remove it (just breaks apart). Here's a photo:


Yes I should try a new phosphate kit. I remember talking to a lot of people about it, and a lot of phos kits give you false results, especially when using ro/di/hi-s water.

I hope you can tell me what this sludge is!

Thanks so much, I hope all is well with you.