Christmas Tragedy in My Tank

[sasquatch]

Lynn ! macaw's scare the blank out of me!! our african grey hates me and will remove chunks if I get close, Teresa feeds it with her mouth

[bluespotjawfish]

I think Steve needs another dog and 4 more parrots.



Guess I need to stay on topic - fish that is. The fish are really glad I'm doing WCs. I'm up to about 50% each time because of the ammonia. Nitrites are still about the same. I'm seeing more red stuff in my tank (on the back and top layer of the bottom).

I also want to thank whoever had this tip - I was having problems with my old protein skimmer filling up with water and spitting out stuff all over my walls (even on the lowest setting) until I read about using vaseline around the rim. I was going to reference the site or thread where I found this tip, but I couldn't find the site again. Anyway, I didn't have any vaseline so I used silicone lubricant (the stuff I use on my camera housing o-rings). It slowed the bubbles down and now it works like it is supposed to. I do have a new skimmer on the way, but this has made my old one is much more functional now.

[sasquatch]

I would really like a link to the skimmer site if you find it so everything is back on bake mode again, soon youll be back to normal, those water changes must be wrecking your day. Carry on camper. Steve

[bluespotjawfish]

I'll look around some more for the site. I think the link to it came from somewhere within RC, but couldn't find it. The WCs will be easier now that I am home again until Wednesday. It sure is hard to go to the LFS and just by salt though. Here is my tank today:

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/zS5Gt8pC

And for those who missed it earlier, here is the same tank in 2004:

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/ER7Zg4Pk

My coris wrasse disappeared today so he isn't in the photoshow. He hasn't buried himself for years, but maybe he did. Hope he comes back.

[boozeman]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

...I would really like a link ...

*perched high above the sanctuary bell tower where he stands ever vigilant, Linkman hears the distant call for help!*
http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.c...ariumSetup.htm

[bluespotjawfish]

That isn't fair. I have spent hours finding it again and just did. You beat me to it:

http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.c...ariumSetup.htm

[boozeman]

I am Linkman


my :Linkman title has changed...someone must've slipped me a kryptonite mickey...ooohhh ...I feel faint...getting ...weaker...help me travis ....witty !!!

[sasquatch]

Linkman!!!NOOOOOOOOO, you cannot fade in our time of need!! quick Light the LINKLIGHT... And not to be picky but the link supplied offers no suggestion of vasaline(I know this is going to hurt, but, I am the Brunt of ALL Jokes LOL) Steve

[boozeman]

.. yes it is there steve..
quote: "if the cup is overfilling with bubbles try smearing a little vaseline around the top of the cup and air vent to burst the bubbles and run the clear liquid back into the skimmer''
...bye steve...don't think I can hold on much longer.. *with his last ounce of strength Linkman flicks on the 'linklight' and collapses on the floor*

[sasquatch]

Farewell Linkman, may you arise like the phonix ( along with my reading skills lol) Steve

[lcstorc]

He will be back.
We all know he can't stay away.

[bluespotjawfish]

That must have all been a private joke. Now I know that if I want to be the first I'll have to stay up all night until I find it. The silicone lubricant is still doing it's job very well. I think even if I had vaseline, I would use this over that in the tank. My twinspot is back today and hunting! The cycling brought a few very large bristleworms out of the very bottom up to him. He loves them and is why I bought him in the first place. Nitrites are minimal since the WC, Ammonia is back up again. Fish are doing better with the higher salinity (now at 1.023).

[lcstorc]

Glad to hear things are looking better. Keep an eye on the ammonia and do more water changes as needed. Hopefully things are getting more stable.

[bluespotjawfish]

Looks like I made some progress yesterday. Stats this AM:

Ammonia = 0.3 (down from >4.9)
Nitrite = <0.1 (down from 0.3)
Nitrate = 5 (down from 10-20)

Hoping for a Happy New Year for my fishies. The dogs think they are getting their bath today in saltwater. (I hope I don't make that mistake, but I have been wearing, living, and drinking saltwater for a week now! Feel like I've been on a dive trip.)

Anyway yesterday I got more aggressive with WCs, looks like it helped. I would NOT recommend this except in extreme circumstances. For me, I figured my fish were basically living in ammonia and TW since I was already up to 50% WC each day and ammonia levels were bouncing right back up with these WCs. I was very paranoid about making a mistake during the process that would kill everything, but watched how the fish behaved and everything else very closely at all times (salinity, temps, and dechlorination of the TW correctly). It took several hours to complete the process and I kept pumps going throughout. I started by reducing the water to 50%, then I added 1/3 of this back in, took that amount out and then back in two more times, then topped it off. Ammonia levels stayed down overnight.



Again, I would only use in extreme circumstances. I don't have any corals present and over the past week decided that my fish are pretty tolerant to WCs. Stuff that really needs slow acclimation is already gone (i.e., my snails). Here is a link for the process to reduce nitrates, but I used it to reduce toxic ammonia levels:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/nit...l/aa091901.htm

Check out the new fishy pics in my gallery. Bluespot is happy!

[sasquatch]

Great news for new years, just think about all the work youve just done, and finally getting it back together, awsome!Steve