75 gallon Planted Office Tank Journal
- Thread starter geekpryde
- Start date
Yikes. Sorry to hear you're having such bad luck. I too have had several power outages in the last couple weeks due to very bad storms. I was without power and water at one point for almost a day, but I faired much better than you for some reason. I understand your grief with all the algae. It seems that for some reason when ever you try to combat one type of algae, another type pops up in it's place. It's a delicate dance trying to figure out the right chemistry for your tank. I'm finally having success with my tank using DIY CO2 and dosing with Excel simultaneously. I've also had my light for quite some time now so I wonder if perhaps it isn't quite as bright as it used to be, so things are a bit easier to manage? I've read through most of this thread, but I can't remember how much light you're using or if you've tried to decrease the light a bit by using screens or raising it up off the tank?
And you thought you were done with your tank and all there was to do now was sit back and watch things grow... Gotcha! Some how there is always something more to do. Maybe that's what makes it such an addicting hobby. I hope you can get things figured out for your tank. This thread has truly been rewarding to follow. Hope you keep it up!
And you thought you were done with your tank and all there was to do now was sit back and watch things grow... Gotcha! Some how there is always something more to do. Maybe that's what makes it such an addicting hobby. I hope you can get things figured out for your tank. This thread has truly been rewarding to follow. Hope you keep it up!
Wow, this is a lengthy build thread that I have somehow missed until just today! I must say, it is..."infotaining!"
Improving, I see your photography skills are...
Your tank has been coming along nicely (until the power outage I guess 
), such nice and healthy growth!
Don't have advice for your most recent algae utreak, but I have a tip for feeding the krill to your small fish. While the krill is frozen, break off a chunk and file it down into shavings using a serrated edged knife, then thaw and feed
Improving, I see your photography skills are...
Your tank has been coming along nicely (until the power outage I guess ), such nice and healthy growth! Don't have advice for your most recent algae utreak, but I have a tip for feeding the krill to your small fish. While the krill is frozen, break off a chunk and file it down into shavings using a serrated edged knife, then thaw and feed
myswtsins
Global Moderator
Sorry you're having such a rough time with everything right now. Trust me I understand how it is, I had a horrible algae problem that no one could ID but the best advice (and the only advice that worked) was from Tom Barr (duh!). I've learned A LOT since then! He gave you some excellent advice too all the way back at the 125th post, it's a bit of a novel but very informative!
Your problem seems pretty clear. Lots of light with fluctuating CO2 levels is always going to end badly. If your needle valve is that inaccurate your CO2 levels are probably not stable, plus it sounds like you've been trying to change the CO2 levels too. Since you added the 3rd light has the algae issue gotten worse or better? Refresh my memory please, what CO2 needle valve are you using?
Your tank has constantly been changed or adjusted and never had a chance to balance out. I've found that rereading my threads really shows me how much I have gone through or how my thought process has changed. I bet if you went through this thread you'd be shocked at how many times you've adjusted this tank, and those are just the adjustments you've documented.
I know you haven't taken my advice in the past but I'll try again.
: Lower your light intensity, focus on stable CO2, good maintenance & keep on top of your fert/WC schedule and things will work themselves out.
Good luck, I really hope things start turning around for you!!
Your problem seems pretty clear. Lots of light with fluctuating CO2 levels is always going to end badly. If your needle valve is that inaccurate your CO2 levels are probably not stable, plus it sounds like you've been trying to change the CO2 levels too. Since you added the 3rd light has the algae issue gotten worse or better? Refresh my memory please, what CO2 needle valve are you using?
Your tank has constantly been changed or adjusted and never had a chance to balance out. I've found that rereading my threads really shows me how much I have gone through or how my thought process has changed. I bet if you went through this thread you'd be shocked at how many times you've adjusted this tank, and those are just the adjustments you've documented.
I know you haven't taken my advice in the past but I'll try again.
: Lower your light intensity, focus on stable CO2, good maintenance & keep on top of your fert/WC schedule and things will work themselves out. Good luck, I really hope things start turning around for you!!
My thoughts on this is that I was overstocked and under-filtered. It was problematic without the power outage, and then having no filtration for two days killed me. I think a normally stocked tank with an abundance of filtration, and no algae issues, could probably go a few days without power without major issues, assuming your room temp is above 68 or so. Since all my Otos are now dead, either due to my tank issues, or becuase like everyone says, they are very hard to keep alive fish, I would say I am stocked at about 100%, which is better than 120% or whatever I was. It's too bad really, Otos are #1 best algae eaters IMHO, but if hardly anyway can keep them alive for more than a few months, what's the point?
Lights are back down to only the grow bulb. Gives the tank a nasty look which everyone hates, but I need to see if it will fix my algae issues. I dont think I am going to find the balance with this tank. I have tried alot and its been many months. I may end up doing more a rock scape for these rainbows, with some driftwood and (gasp) fake plants?! Not ready to give up yet, but if I still have algae in 6 months, plants are coming out.
Yeah, I spoke too soon , huh?
: You are totally correct about problems, issues, trying new things keeps people focused and interested I think. I just wish I could have a successful planted tank so I could become bored with it and move onto an african cichlid tank, or Marine tank. :Angel:Thanks for posting. Pictures of my nasty tank breakdown are coming in a few minutes.
Wow, this is a lengthy build thread that I have somehow missed until just today! I must say, it is..."infotaining!"
Improving, I see your photography skills are...
Don't have advice for your most recent algae utreak, but I have a tip for feeding the krill to your small fish. While the krill is frozen, break off a chunk and file it down into shavings using a serrated edged knife, then thaw and feed
Thanks for checking out my nice little thread here. It's grown quite a bit over these months.
Thanks for the trick about the krill, I wil try that. I didnt want to just toss the package in the trash, which was what I'm sure I would have done in like 12 months when I found the package in the back of the freezer. :grinyes:
I did try and cut them up with scissors, but I did sort of a bad job of it, and it was still too much food, and the portions were too large. I think your italian-ice krill treat sounds yummy.
Pictures from Tank Teardown
Plants being pulled out:
(side topic) Look how great the bulb roots are growing:
I started in the middle:
After removing some more plants:
With most of the plants out:
FTS with all plants out. Looks at that fithly water and mulm sitting on the substrate.
Looks at this filter pad below. I am not joking, but that BLACK pad used to be one of WHITE pads. It was only 4 weeks since I last changed this! I was shocked to see how nasty and black this filter got. New pad to the left to show color difference.
Yummy!:
Look how bad the Purigen got after only 4 weeks, the fdark side was facing down in the eheim.
FTS after replanting: (I tossed a good deal of plant matter)
The key to getting the water and substrate very clean, which it is right now, several days after the teardown, was that I took all the plants out, and swirled the substrate around like crazy, and just let the filters work for about an hour. This is also why the filters were extra nasty.
Enjoy!
(side topic) Look how great the bulb roots are growing:
I started in the middle:
After removing some more plants:
With most of the plants out:
FTS with all plants out. Looks at that fithly water and mulm sitting on the substrate.
Looks at this filter pad below. I am not joking, but that BLACK pad used to be one of WHITE pads. It was only 4 weeks since I last changed this! I was shocked to see how nasty and black this filter got. New pad to the left to show color difference.
Yummy!:
Look how bad the Purigen got after only 4 weeks, the fdark side was facing down in the eheim.
FTS after replanting: (I tossed a good deal of plant matter)
The key to getting the water and substrate very clean, which it is right now, several days after the teardown, was that I took all the plants out, and swirled the substrate around like crazy, and just let the filters work for about an hour. This is also why the filters were extra nasty.
Enjoy!
Just went through this whole thread...
It's amazing
Thank you.
I am laying low right now, not posting much for 3 reasons. Im testing the concept of low(er) light, which to me is very ugly-looking light, but at least it is holding algae in check. I am also waiting on MTS (snails), since all my Nerites died due to very low pH, which should help with the residual algae. Thirdly, my wife stole the camera back, and I havent been able to take a post cool pictures.
I am going to take pics somehow when the MTS show up tomorrow or next day, so I'll be posting some new info.
Also, I checked and cleaned one of the canister filters, and water was pretty clean. I think I have finally gotten all the crud out of the water column and soil. But it took cleaning two canisters filters, one each week, for 4 weeks in a row to get it all gone. Crazy.
