I would do some daily water changes to get your ph back up and get the nitrates lower - also get that protien skimmer working asap it will help immensly. What kind of skimmer did you get? What exactly is the problem your having with it? Maybe someone can help you figure it out if we know.
14 gallon update :(
- Thread starter 88 hatchback
- Start date
sound like the tank is still cycling.
this takes, time.
if at all possible, id take the fish back until the cycle is complete.
this takes, time.
if at all possible, id take the fish back until the cycle is complete.
ok... first:
not using tap water.... I go to the local " water depot " every two weeks and buy usually about 9gallons of water. I do my water changes with that.
second, the tank has been running for a while now 5months plus... I did have some algae bloom after I'd had the tank up and running.... then it was good.
now... about the protien skimmer..... I think it stopped working...
I bought this one for the oceanic biocube.... its supposed to fit the 14 and 29gallon tanks.
first.. I didn't fit in the tank.... even according to the directions! but I did manage to get it in there......
second, it DID work for a day or two..... then it was like the block of wood got clogged.... and it was barely flowing any air....
it was also messing with the temperature in the tank..... as well as flow of the filter.
So I took the skimmer out...... and then I got the algae bloom.....
wait.. is THAT what did it?????
I just had a "Duh" moment...... lol
not using tap water.... I go to the local " water depot " every two weeks and buy usually about 9gallons of water. I do my water changes with that.
second, the tank has been running for a while now 5months plus... I did have some algae bloom after I'd had the tank up and running.... then it was good.
now... about the protien skimmer..... I think it stopped working...
I bought this one for the oceanic biocube.... its supposed to fit the 14 and 29gallon tanks.
first.. I didn't fit in the tank.... even according to the directions! but I did manage to get it in there......
second, it DID work for a day or two..... then it was like the block of wood got clogged.... and it was barely flowing any air....
it was also messing with the temperature in the tank..... as well as flow of the filter.
So I took the skimmer out...... and then I got the algae bloom.....
wait.. is THAT what did it?????
I just had a "Duh" moment...... lol
I think you are getting plenty of advice, good luck with your problem.
What do you have as a clean up crew? I know they won't touch the red slime but they will take those extra bits of food and stuff out and help keep the nutrients down that all the algae needs, and the cyano.
How much LR do you have in your tank? With a 14g tank you would be looking at anywhere from 14 to 21 lbs of LR to really help with the filtration.
Anymore advice and your head will explode...lol...
What do you have as a clean up crew? I know they won't touch the red slime but they will take those extra bits of food and stuff out and help keep the nutrients down that all the algae needs, and the cyano.
How much LR do you have in your tank? With a 14g tank you would be looking at anywhere from 14 to 21 lbs of LR to really help with the filtration.
Anymore advice and your head will explode...lol...
I've got about 9lbs in the tank.... I could add more.. but there is space issues in the tank...
for cleanup crew I've got cleaner shrimp, 4 hermit crabs, and 3... er.. 1 astrea snails...
I say this cause 2 of the three don't really do anything.... so they MAY get flushed.... lol
and I am loving all the advice I'm getting... the more info I can get the more it helps!
for cleanup crew I've got cleaner shrimp, 4 hermit crabs, and 3... er.. 1 astrea snails...
I say this cause 2 of the three don't really do anything.... so they MAY get flushed.... lol
and I am loving all the advice I'm getting... the more info I can get the more it helps!
Do you have any other algae issues? Or just the red slime issue? If you have other algae then I would increase the CUC. I would at least get 3 or 4 nas snails, they go into your sand bed and get at some of the detrius.
I would add some LR if you can aquascape to make some room and have your tank to your liking of course. If you can try and get some LR with some macro growinf on it. The macro will compete with the nuisance algae and slime for the nutrients.
As other have said you need to lower your nitrates but don't be fooled by test results because they can show low levels because the red stuff is using it up.
I'm sure someone will step in if I'm giving bad advice. I'm fairly new at this myself but I'm passing on what has worked for me and what I have read here on these forums.
I would add some LR if you can aquascape to make some room and have your tank to your liking of course. If you can try and get some LR with some macro growinf on it. The macro will compete with the nuisance algae and slime for the nutrients.
As other have said you need to lower your nitrates but don't be fooled by test results because they can show low levels because the red stuff is using it up.
I'm sure someone will step in if I'm giving bad advice. I'm fairly new at this myself but I'm passing on what has worked for me and what I have read here on these forums.
Please don't flush the snails... I know they're "just snails" but they're still living creatures too. Just because they're not doing exactly what you want them to do doesn't mean they're worthless... I mean... if I wanted to dunk my co-worker's head in a toilet and flush, would that be the right thing to do? No... Funny perhaps, but I don't think it would be very fair. Besides, I might get a swift kick to the you-know-where (trying to keep it g-rated for the younger members) if I did such a thing.
:Perhaps you could post some recent pics to help us understand why you're having an issue with space? As others have suggested, you really should have some more live rock in there, as that is your main bio filter. Do you have a HOB filter on the tank, or just powerheads? If you have the HOB, perhaps you could add some LR rubble to that? Heck, maybe some LR rubble around the base of your current LR? I'm sure there are lots of options, even if it means adding small pieces at a time to slowly bring that total LR up to 15ish lbs. How often and what volume are your water changes?
