in_a_days' saltwater adventure - Page 6

in_a_days · 02-07-2008, 04:06 PM

I'm going to do another large water change today and see what happens. My concern is that somehow (no clue how) some copper may have leaked into the system. For like a week my hermits and snails were almost totally inactive, I lost a couple snails, and the 'shroom shriveled. All within a couple days after starting the sump. The hermits are looking normal again. But the invert inactivity seemed like a pretty clear sign that something was not right in the tank.

I'm encouraged to see hermits looking natural again. If it was copper or something along those lines hopefully it hasn't been too heavily absorbed by the rock and sand.

framerguy · 02-07-2008, 04:13 PM

You haven't had any children visiting lately have you? A friend of mine had some visitors with children and when noone was watching the kids dropped pennies in the tank to make wishes. He said it killed most everything. There's a nice horror story for ya!

in_a_days · 02-07-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by framerguy

You haven't had any children visiting lately have you? A friend of mine had some visitors with children and when noone was watching the kids dropped pennies in the tank to make wishes. He said it killed most everything. There's a nice horror story for ya!

Well I've had a couple kids in the house in the last couple months, but none of them tall enough to drop a penny or any other coinage into the tank.

The only place I can figure it could possibly have come from would be like some residue on the PVC pipe, or something in the glue. But I rinsed the pipes and used silicone non-toxic aquarium glue. I ran the sump (with flexible tubing) for over a week before actually PVC'ing the system and the whole time everything looked great, like better than it ever had before. So I don't think there was copper residue or anything damaging coming from the 10 gallon sump I added. It ALL correlates to hard lining the drain/return system. That's when shroomy shrunk and the inverts became inactive.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid and it's all about adjusting to the new flow.

Craig Manoukian · 02-07-2008, 08:34 PM

Is your nitrite test accurate? Nitrites are lethal to inverts.

in_a_days · 02-08-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Manoukian

Is your nitrite test accurate? Nitrites are lethal to inverts.

I have to think so. I've had it less than a year, and I've used it as recently as six weeks ago to detect nitrite in my little 5 gallon. I've never seen detectable nitrite in the main tank since it finished cycling.

The fish seem really happy after yesterdays water change. I'm going to keep a close watch on the nitrate and try to hold off on doing another water change for at least a week.

EDIT: I also went to Home Depot and picked up the $4 clip-on ballast for this kind of rig. I also picked up a 65W Bulb in the vein of what they're describing. I don't know exactly what the color is, but it's the "daylight" variety and looks very nice and white. I'm probably going to purchase one of the bulbs linked to on that page.

tbittner · 02-09-2008, 12:04 AM

Where will this bulb go? Over your fuge?

in_a_days · 02-10-2008, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbittner

Where will this bulb go? Over your fuge?

Correct. Basically a Chaeto growing bulb.

A couple snails that I had written off as dead came to life today. Hopefully it's a sign that whatever was irritating the inverts is passing. I also picked up five and a half pounds of pre-cured fiji live rock. I yanked out the coliseum lookin' think and a piece of lava and set the live rock in. It really is great looking stuff. Very porous covered with calcium deposits. And it smells nice and fresh so I'm pretty sure it's totally cured and ready to go.

I have a bit of a vision for how I want to rework the aquascape. But it's going to be some time and several paychecks before I'm able to spring for all the live rock that my idea is going to require. But in the end I think my tank will be much better of bio-chemically, and will be much more aesthetically pleasing.

A LFS had a pair of Green Clown Gobies. I picked up one yesterday and added it to the 'fuge. Beautiful little fish. So far he/she seems to be doing well. As long as it looks happy tomorrow I plan to pick up the other one as well.

02-07-2008, 04:06 PM	#76 (permalink)
in_a_days Midas Blenny Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 102 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: in_a_days' saltwater adventure I'm going to do another large water change today and see what happens. My concern is that somehow (no clue how) some copper may have leaked into the system. For like a week my hermits and snails were almost totally inactive, I lost a couple snails, and the 'shroom shriveled. All within a couple days after starting the sump. The hermits are looking normal again. But the invert inactivity seemed like a pretty clear sign that something was not right in the tank. I'm encouraged to see hermits looking natural again. If it was copper or something along those lines hopefully it hasn't been too heavily absorbed by the rock and sand.

02-07-2008, 04:13 PM	#77 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,660 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: in_a_days' saltwater adventure You haven't had any children visiting lately have you? A friend of mine had some visitors with children and when noone was watching the kids dropped pennies in the tank to make wishes. He said it killed most everything. There's a nice horror story for ya! __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

02-07-2008, 08:34 PM	#79 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 18,352 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: in_a_days' saltwater adventure Is your nitrite test accurate? Nitrites are lethal to inverts. __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

02-09-2008, 12:04 AM	#81 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: in_a_days' saltwater adventure Where will this bulb go? Over your fuge? __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

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