To Fluval or Not To Fluval - Page 2

bubble eye Mike · 08-06-2006, 06:08 PM

I'm so close to breaking it down and throwing in the towel. This is my last shot . . . If I can't get some kind of consistency going now, I think I'll convert back to FW.

I've invested close to $3000 and 3 months and still don't have a fish living in my tank.

Lots of cyano bacteria though!!! Wish I could sell that stuff.

In reality what I'd like to do is get a few fish in this tank, let it remain stable for a while and then maybe pursue a full blown reef tank. . . . for right now I need to stick to fish only . . . I think????

Phishnoob · 08-06-2006, 06:38 PM

Many of us have been down your road. Phosphates feed that stuff.

Water changes once a week, feeding every three days and ditching that filter media will help you out. Also, I skimmed through but you have to use RO or RO/DI water. I used well water from a tiny mountain way the hell up here and that goose poo or whatever is in there made a massive cyano bloom.

Ditch the bad water, cut back on food and cut the light to eight hours. Sit on your hands and it will come around. Don't leave us...just learn patience. This hobby is like using your bayliner to turn around an oceanliner and it takes a while.

bubble eye Mike · 08-06-2006, 06:56 PM

I recently started by RO/DI water from a local store. I cut my fluval off today and I'm running the skimmer only.

Does this make sense . . . this a.m. I tested nitrated at 20 + since I've turned off the fluval (about 2 hours now) they are testing at 0 . . . coincidence?

Phishnoob · 08-06-2006, 09:03 PM

This hobby takes so much **** patience Mike. Just do a water change and you will test yourself crazy. It is like keeping stocks in the ninetys and you will keep checking until you explode.

Try and really get a good base test then let er rest a little. Once you get some data in a week the TRT geek squad will be all over it. They are a hard drinking funny looking lot but they know their ****.

That Fluval though was a good thing to unplug. I had a wet filter full of media that turned out to be a nitrate factory.

bubble eye Mike · 08-06-2006, 10:15 PM

i tested everything just now . . .

amonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
ph 8.2
temp 79
ca ~450
dkh 12

I'm getting ready to QT a few green chromis that I hope to add in about 3 weeks. a new beginning!!!

Thanks
Mike

Junkzoo · 08-06-2006, 10:21 PM

You said you turned off the Fluval,,,if thats true , how about removing it from the tank, cuz it'll go bad in short order, from no water going thru it....prob will not affect the tank sitting idle, but why chance it,,,(like forgetting, and turning it one one day,,,,,,instant sewage,,,into the tank,,,,

Junkzoo · 08-06-2006, 10:24 PM

And ditto to sitting on your hands and letting things go in their own timeframe,,,,,,Everyone has gone thru a tank aging,,,,hang in there,,,and throw in a cup of patience into the tank,,it'll take care of itself,,,
Nothing happens overnight,,,,or completely in a few months,or even 6 months time,,,,,
One day you will notice that things are doing good,and the fun will be there,,,if you take it slow, and let things run their course,,,

bubble eye Mike · 08-06-2006, 10:39 PM

thanks jeff . . . I did remove it from the tank. Guess I wasn't clear about that.

I've been trying to be patient. It's been a long road though. Like you said, I guess that everyone here has been through what I'm going through. It's hard to look at a tank of rock.

What do think about starting the tank back up with a few green chromis. If I get them this week and QT them for 3 weeks.

right now my tank has a few cleaner shrim and some snails and one red serpant sea star.

any input is appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

ChrisPrusha · 08-06-2006, 10:43 PM

Good luck, Mike.

Hang in there! Patience is key.

One note: chromis can be meek, ime.

bubble eye Mike · 08-06-2006, 10:48 PM

thanks Chris . . . I'm trying not to get frustrated and learn as much as I can from those of you who have been at this for a while.

I've had FW all my life. I've always been intimidated by SW . . . my wife convinced me to go for it. Now I'm somewhat addicted . . . or just don't want to get beat by it!!!

ChrisPrusha · 08-06-2006, 10:51 PM

If it was easy Mike, everyone would be doing it.

It can be incredibly rewarding, though...so stay the course.

JennM · 08-07-2006, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubble eye Mike

I recently started by RO/DI water from a local store. I cut my fluval off today and I'm running the skimmer only.

Does this make sense . . . this a.m. I tested nitrated at 20 + since I've turned off the fluval (about 2 hours now) they are testing at 0 . . . coincidence?

Likely a coincidence. Nitrate is in the water - it wouldn't just vanish. Could your testing equipment have been dirty when you got the result of 20? Something isn't right - you wouldn't just eliminate organics in the water by removing a piece of equipment. It would take time to dilute out that much nitrate.

Jenn

Little Luey · 08-07-2006, 11:15 AM

Hey, Mike. Don't give up, it gets better after the initial algie breakout. You did a good thing by removing the Fluval, also remove all sponges/prefilters. the reason for this is that they really do not get the nasty stuff out of the water column, they just trap it. Water still flows thru it. The skimmer and LR is all you need. Use RO water for water changes and top offs also and add some more flow. You can manually remove the ciano when you do a water change.

Hang in there.

kristybe · 08-07-2006, 11:25 AM

Your tank sounds like everything is much better now. Looking at the bright side....your sea urchin is still alive. That's good! Some tanks take even longer than 12 weeks to cycle. Yours is on its way and your patience will pay of in spades once you start adding fish and corals. You've made it through a lot of the hard part. Just sit and wait for the cyano to kill itself....and maybe get a few snails which will eat cyano.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Kristy