heat problems?

happychem

happychem

redorkulated
Dec 9, 2003
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Halifax, NS
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We've been hit with somewhat of a heat wave, well, it seems to have passed. I suppose it's just relative, but for about a week and a half my tanks were off scale (lcd therm. only goes to 88oF).

Last week all my java fern turned brown and started to rot. Not the black at the tips followed by new plantlets, that I'm used to. This was a sickly brown that almost looked like a slime on the leaves, but wasn't. It started with just a couple leaves, then spread.

I've also noticed that the bacopa's not doing great either, just hangin' in for the most part. The rest are doing okay, but not thriving as before. The fish are being sluggish, there was an outbreak of brown algae and the Otos all but ignored it. I cut back feeding, but now that the temperature's dropped to low 80s in the tank, they seem to be a little more interested.

Things are pretty constant in the tank:
traces added every other day
CO2 between 15-30 (although it did take an excursion up to about 45 one hot day, I guess the yeast really kicked into gear due to the temp)
NO3 held around 10-15 (usually drops to about 7 in 2 days)
PO4 held at 1ppm (down to 0.25-0.5ppm every 2 day)

So my question, are the recent deplorable conditions likely heat related, or is there something else horribly wrong that I should be hunting for? Also, I cut off all the really bad looking java fern leaves, but left the rhizomes tied to the wood in hope that they'd grow back if the rhizomes were left undisturbed. Is this likey, or am I just wishing on a star? Should I just give up and buy some new java fern?
 
Hello Happ. Good to be back, huh!

Last week all my java fern turned brown and started to rot. Not the black at the tips followed by new plantlets, that I'm used to. This was a sickly brown that almost looked like a slime on the leaves, but wasn't. It started with just a couple leaves, then spread.
I've also noticed that the bacopa's not doing great either, just hangin' in for the most part. The rest are doing okay, but not thriving as before. The fish are being sluggish, there was an outbreak of brown algae and the Otos all but ignored it. I cut back feeding, but now that the temperature's dropped to low 80s in the tank, they seem to be a little more interested.


*All kinds of adverse things happen when the heat kicks in. Especially to native and semi-native plants. Bacopa Carolinia, which is definitely in this category, will be one of the first to show signs of slowing down or decline.

Things are pretty constant in the tank:
traces added every other day
CO2 between 15-30 (although it did take an excursion up to about 45 one hot day, I guess the yeast really kicked into gear due to the temp)
NO3 held around 10-15 (usually drops to about 7 in 2 days)
PO4 held at 1ppm (down to 0.25-0.5ppm every 2 day)

*During time of slow down, I would increase water changes and decrease fertilization by as much as 1/2 for a week or so. Don't forget the stores that are built up in the plants will tide them over, and are not being used as rapidly as during full growth. And the water changes will rejuvenate all algae eaters to some extent. 88° and up is really pushing it for plants and animals that inhabit the tank.
Meanwhile, algae takes no noticeable holidays, and will actually profit from an over-abundance of CO2. One of the nicest things about pressurized, is that it can be controlled and turned down during times like this. I bring mine down to 12 - 15ppm when necessary.

So my question, are the recent deplorable conditions likely heat related......

*IMO, yes

Also, I cut off all the really bad looking java fern leaves, but left the rhizomes tied to the wood in hope that they'd grow back if the rhizomes were left undisturbed.

*I think that you did the appropriate thing and when the temps start to come up, they will re-generate. Get rid of the decay and see if they come back.

Len
 
Thanks for the input Len. It was a frustrating few weeks, but I think that things are finally starting to stabilize.

I'll increase the water changes, it doesn't take that long to do. Hopefully things will start to recover now. It's a real shame, the bacopa was just starting to really get settled in before the heat struck, oh well.

Definitely good to be back, the worst part about all this crap was that AC was down for the main part of the problem. :rolleyes:
 
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