Nano Tank Diary...

[parker313]

Alright, here's a bump up

Everything is just running smoothly in the tank I still have more hair algae than I want, but it's just an eyesore, not endangering my fish so I've been lazy about doing anything about it.

Tomorrow comes the PhosBan. I can probably get it from liveaquaria cheaper than from the lfs so I'll probably do that...and I may throw in a new heater as this one's pretty much crapped out. Luckily it's warm enough here that room temp is pretty much good enough for both my FW and SW tanks.

One fun update is that my green clown goby has been out and about more often. He's been pretty shy, but lately I've been catching him out on the rocks more and more during the day.

I have at least 4 hermit crabs - I saw them all at the same time today so I was able to get a quick count. There may have been more hiding, but I've got at least 4

Ok, now I need to get to bed and get my feet up. Pregnancy swelling's no fun but it's not too bad! Sitting in this chair most of the day probably isn't helping

 

[parker313]

Oh, I got the PhosZorb yesterday. Hopefully we'll see some good results soon

 

[Salt Freak]

On my tank with my lights and everything but know heater it stays at 83 cant bring it down

 

[canyoubelieveit]

Buy a new heater

 

[parker313]

Well crud. The PhosZorb isn't making a dent in the hair algae. If anything, I've got MORE of it now than before my last water change and adding the PhosZorb.

On top of that, I think its killed my toadstool leather mushroom It's pulled all its polyps in (which its done before) but this time it's getting covered in little white spots on the top and its stalk is seeming to bend a little bit... Gonna have to keep a close eye on this sucker...

 

[Salt Freak]

Have you thought about using Vodka.

 

[parker313]

I saw that mentioned on another thread... The problem is with the dosing amounts. It would be WAY easy to overdose my little tank. My lfs has something they have concocted themselves that they say is super powerful at getting rid of the hair algae, so if this PhosZorb doesn't work then I'll try that....

 

[ess17]

I have a question...(I am a newbie, so take it for what it is worth)
What is the assumption behind getting large amounts of hair algea? Is it high phosphates or something since you are treating it with PhosBan?
Do you use a lot of frozen foods? I think I heard my LFS guy saying that frozen foods are packed with phosphates so you should thaw your frozen foods and drain them first to reduce phosphates.

Anyway, sorry if this doesn't make sense or doesn't apply to you, but I thought I would pass it along.

 

[parker313]

High Phosphates, high nitrates, etc...

The problem is, a phosphate test can be deceptive b/c it can register low numbers when you have a lot of algae b/c the algae is consuming the phosphates as soon as it's being produced.

They don't get frozen food often at all...... In fact, I only feed that tank every other day.

I'm stepping up my water change to see if that helps as well.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi Parker....sorry to hear about the hair algae. As you know from my thread, I had a small area of bubble algae which was a hitchhiker. I'm having a second wave of diatoms. Sounds like you are doing all that you can to get rid of the hair algae. What about converting one of your AC's into a fuge and adding macroalgae? I know you had added some to the main tank before..is the macro still there? Nutrient export!!!!

I'd still test for phosphate periodically....0 levels are still better than 10.

The best way of course, is to export nutrients....feed less and more water changes.

Haven't seen my goby.......it must be over a week. SH

 

[parker313]

Well, I'm about to take the toadstool leather mushroom out, it's past recovery Bummer. It was really nice. Everything else is doing just fine, including the stupid hair algae. I am off to the lfs this afternoon for more water.

We're heading out of town tomorrow for a week (Orlando, here we come, baby!) so anything else like a fuge or additional meds will just have to wait til we come back.

No, we're not doing Disney (definitely not at 8mos pregnant!) but we are taking Brodie to Sea World on Saturday - he's gonna LOVE it

Frank - Any sign of the goby For a while the only time I saw mine was at feeding time. Cyclopeeze he'll practically eat right out of the syringe!

 

[steelhealr]

HI Parker...no....no sign of her. When I put her in after acclimating, she darted for the reef and that's the last I saw of her. Unless they eat algae, I'm not sure how it can be alive after over a week..but....I'll keep my fingers crossed. Nothing has floated up and there's been no ammonia spike.

Also...I've been doing more reading for you and there isn't too much more you can do for the hair algae except for continually pulling it out, trimming it and stepping up the water changes. Too bad someone won't lend you a tang for awhile. SH

 

[parker313]

Ooooh!! A Dory!!!

 

[Malawiandude]

yea i'd have to say Fuge is best option, you'll have to check out my DIY fuge thread once i get the cheato next week will shoot more pics for everyone, can't wait to see the effects on the tank with it on...

 

[parker313]

Yay, we're home from our trip and everything in my tank is happy and fine! Unfortunately, that means the hair algae too, but at least my fish, corals and inverts are all alive. I will work on stepping up the water changes and see what else I can do to get the hair algae to go bye bye.

We're also prepping for the arrival of our new baby (delivery date set for June 8 ) so time is running short for tanks to be my main priority (other than my 2yr old of course!) B)