freshwater problems

[SanguinesDream]

If your only going to do a 50% water change, stuff in a new carbon filter to pull the heavy metals out of it. Personally, I'd do at least a 75%wc with RO water and still pushing a new carbon filter.

[madchild]

Much like in salt water tanks, RODI water is super beneficial for fresh water tanks. I used to use conditioned tap water until I got into reefing, and since switching to RODI water in my fresh water tank my fish have gotten noticeably healthier.

[darkreef]

Awesome thanks ! All this talk just made me invest in a small ten gallon starter salt water set up. how much would I be looking at for a RODI? and any tips for someone who is going to set up a brand new reef ? I'll be looking at other forms just curious

[Caine]

Burnco is a great place for rocks. There is also Ornamental Stone in Calgary. It is low season for them but I'm told that they have much more than is listed on the website.

[darkreef]

So I took the rocks out and realized that my tank had this orangish brown algae growing on the walls . It was like a film until I noticed it all over my plants deposited in wiggley lines on decorations . So I wiped everything down and did a big water change(75%) . And turned down the lights to only 8 hours . The next day I was showing my boyfriend because it came back because we were looking hard we noticed tiny white worms moving like mosquito larvae. Now I stoped doing feedings hoping my RTBS will eat them and will continue to do 10% water changes (vacuuming gravel) . I don't know what to do because medications are poisonous to crustaceans. And algae chemical solutions are poisonous to plants .

[Caine]

Sounds like black beard algae.

Seachem Excel is a Glutaraldehyde based antibacterial agent that is also a mild algaecide as well as a liquid carbon source that plants can use in place of CO2. Do as much manual removal as you can and dose Excel. The algae will hate it and your plants will love it and the shrimps should be indifferent towards it.

[darkreef]

Thanks ! I'll try it out. Think my one red tail black shark will eat all the worms ? Guess he has a full supply of food until they die off?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Caine

Sounds like black beard Algae.

Except bbeard algae wont hurt any fish. So that wouldent cause the original problem.

I have a couple questions though.
When you said amonia nitrate ect all normal. What are the actual values of your amonia, nitrate and nitrite. Also what is the ph of the tank and the hardness of the water.

It is a good idea to get better food but that isnt causing this.

I agree you need to do larger waterchanges, if your doing them weekly at least 50%, i used to do monthly ones of 90% on my planted tank.

Also your slate shouldn't cause a problem, but you can check it by putting a bit of vinager on it, if it does nothing it is safe to use. If it fizzes up dont use it. Also
You said you have sand in the bottom, what kind of sand?

One thing that struck me funny is it seems like your trying to conbine two opposit enviroments in your tank. The plants you have are a lower ph, soft water enviorment, but the fish you have listed that have died are all higher ph very hard water enviorments, when you start adding plants the will lower the ph of the water on there own and 10% water changes quite possably wont be enough to keep it up.

Oh also what are you using for a water conditioner?

Steve

[reef-keeper]

If you grab rock out of the river you should search on how to condition them for your tank. I have a planted discus tank and use only RO/DI water for top up and major water changes. I add seachems fluorite tabs every 3 months. As for the algae how long are your lights on? And low cost food add really high phosphates that also cause the algae build up.