More problems, a few questions

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rica5tully

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Feb 15, 2003
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Well, I continue to struggle away at this hobby. I'm having so much trouble I feel like I'm starting to lose interest, which is the really scary thing.

Could you answer a few questions?

1) I have reddish, slimy, stringy algae growing on my rocks. I've never had this kind of algae before. Is it regular algae or does it show something is wrong in my tank?

2) Someone (who should know) told me you don't have to age your water. Just mix it and pour it in when you do a change. This morning my damsel (the only fish in my 55) was dead. However, I have a snail and hermit crab that are o.k. Does this make sense? Wouldn't the inverts be more sensitive than the fish?

3) I don't have a sump. How do I do water changes so that it doesn't stress the fish? If I aerate the water for 24 hrs, check the SG and temp., is that enough?

4) I usually have fish about 2 weeks and then they die. Could I have some latent disease or parasite that is working on them and just lies around in my system?


I didn't have any trouble with FW, but SW has been nothing but grief so far...even though I love it. It's discouraging....

Thanks.
 
Originally posted by rica5tully
Well, I continue to struggle away at this hobby. I'm having so much trouble I feel like I'm starting to lose interest, which is the really scary thing.

Could you answer a few questions?

1) I have reddish, slimy, stringy algae growing on my rocks. I've never had this kind of algae before. Is it regular algae or does it show something is wrong in my tank?

2) Someone (who should know) told me you don't have to age your water. Just mix it and pour it in when you do a change. This morning my damsel (the only fish in my 55) was dead. However, I have a snail and hermit crab that are o.k. Does this make sense? Wouldn't the inverts be more sensitive than the fish?

3) I don't have a sump. How do I do water changes so that it doesn't stress the fish? If I aerate the water for 24 hrs, check the SG and temp., is that enough?

4) I usually have fish about 2 weeks and then they die. Could I have some latent disease or parasite that is working on them and just lies around in my system?


I didn't have any trouble with FW, but SW has been nothing but grief so far...even though I love it. It's discouraging....

Thanks.
Click to expand...


1. Sounds like slime alage, I would use only RO water for your tank. Do more regular water changes. I believe that I replied to one of your threads before and you were having dead snail issues also. But I feel that this might be a water quality issue. Do not give up, but remember this isn't an easy do it yourself hobby. Its alot of work.

2. You should AGE your water, Fresh saltwater is Caustic. That will harm your fish and other critters. I learned my lesson a long time ago, 20 years.. wow, it has been that long when I had my first sw tank. Also make sure the Salinity is the same. The salinity and temp could be off and through your fish into a shock.

3. That might be enough, but also do a little at a time. Do not be in a big rush but take out small amounts and replace it with the same amount, that might reduce the stress to your fish. But you are on the right track.

some times this hobby is very frustrating but it does have its rewards.

jim
 
Thanks for your help. I am using RO water (RODI).

Here's what I do with my water change. Can you tell me what you think?

1. I fill a 5-gallon bucket with 4 gallons of RODI water

2. I add 4 cups of IO salt

3. I mix it some with a wooden spoon.

4. I aerate it for 24 hours.

5. I siphon out 4 gallons, and then add carefully add the new water directly into the tank.

What I HAVEN'T been doing is putting a heater in my water. Do I have to do that? (I have a 55 gallon tank). Would I just lay a submersible heater in the bucket for awhile until it's warm? My heater has a thermostat.

But what I'm concerned about is pulling the heater out when it's hot. I know you can't do that. I'm in an apartment and just don't have the room for a big trash can full of water like a lot people do.
 
What?

What's this aerate your new water thing? Using Instant Ocean and Red Sea Salt, it says you can add instantly. I've been doing that for 1 month now, the fish seem okay.

What's with that?
 
The main thing is that artificial salts use a bicarbonate buffering system, which means that your pH and alkalinity can be off if the dissolved gases in the water are not in equilibrium with the air. I have often heard fresh ASW referred to as "caustic," but the analyses I've seen don't really bear that out. Probably irritating.
 
rica5tully

Personally, I don't age my replacement water when I make it, I make it and add it right away. I haven't had any problem with doing this and my tank is 9 months old. I also use Instant Ocean. I just take out the water I wish to change from the tank then make up bucket by bucket (I use a 2 gal bucket) of new water and add it straight to the tank. I mix it up with a wooden spoon and once all the salt is gone (mixed into the water) I dump it in.

Question on something you said ...

You mentioned that you make up a 4 gal bucket ... using 4 cups of instant ocean salt mix ... on the box it states that you should be using 1/2 a cup per gallon ... so that would mean you are DOUBLEING the amount of salt per gallon recommended and that might be your problem. You may be adding way too much salt to the tank at one time.

Hope that helps.
 
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