The Nursery

[Autumnsky]

Check about the Cuprisorb, I think it mentioned binding some other heavy metals too. It isn't too expensive.

If you know the kind of fert tab /cap you can check on its contents and see if any of the ingredients would be harmful if too much, and if it is on the list Cuprisorb works on.

 

[TMaier]

I use the homemade gel caps filled with osmocoat plus. I put about 9 of them in there when I decided to go with a deeper sand bed and plant it. I was also dosing with Flourish and Potassium since there weren’t any fish to feed the plants. But then the GSA popped up. So I added some phosphorus too.

I figure if I quit adding anything other than clean water weekly it will help. I’ll pick up some cuprisorb too. Can’t hurt.

 

[TMaier]

Honey Gourami have gotten used to the tanks. Out and about all of the time.

Added Cuprisorb to the canister last week when I did my PWC. Let’s see if the inverts improve.

https://youtu.be/eti7wxeirxQ

 

[shellyx]

Beautiful tank you have Tmaier

 

[TMaier]

Thank you! Can’t wait for the tank to stabilize.

 

[TMaier]

I added a ramshorn snail last weekend and within about 5 days he was starting to shows signs of distress. I’ve been doing a ton of surfing and reading and the only thing I can figure is based on the symptom is heavy metals. I suspect it is leaching from the Tahitian moon sand. All of the copper tests have been negative. I think the Prime is taking care of metals in the water changes it can’t keep up with whatever is causing the problem. I considered all kinds of expensive tests but it’s cheaper just to switch the substrate out to PFS or the Garnet. I will be peeking in the canister tomorrow and will be curious if the Cuprisorb has any color blue yet.

 

[Delapool]

Fingers crossed!!

 

[TMaier]

I took some sand out yesterday to dry. I tested with a magnet today. https://youtu.be/T2GJQAi-9TU

Wow.

 

[Fresh2o]

I took some sand out yesterday to dry. I tested with a magnet today. https://youtu.be/T2GJQAi-9TU

Wow.

Does not look good. Iron at the minimum, correct? Wonder what else. Yes, a swap out sounds imperative.

 

[TMaier]

We stuck the magnet directly in it and again WOW

https://youtu.be/tiU9qsxPhe4

Pulling it all out today and going to change out the sponges on the canister. Only 1/3 of the canister is sponge so I’m hoping the rest of the mature media will keep my tank cycled.

 

[nirbhao]

What does the CupriSorb look like? Mine turned almost black at one point.

 

[TMaier]

I haven’t had a chance to open the canister yet. My husband demands the I cook to feed him. Lol. Then I get to play in the tank.

 

[Delapool]

A little hairy on this but you may even be getting low levels of arsenic and / or sulphur plus something else leaching out (as magnetite slowly oxidises or just leaching out). I think from memory prime and others detoxify heavy metals but may be missing a few. Just a thought that might be other elements possible as well that cause issues.

 

[TMaier]

Got everything done! Tank is clearing. The Cuprisorb looked just like it did when I added it. But I guess it only turns blue for copper if I understand the instructions. Perhaps the snails grazing on the substrate and ingesting the metals is why it’s impacting them so much? The fish aren’t showing any symptoms. The 2 Amanos I added are fine, but they have been hanging out in the canister. I changed the intake to something smaller to keep them out of there from now on.

 

[TMaier]

Still a little hazy. If it doesn’t clear by tomorrow I’ll set up my HOB with some polishing cloth.

 

[nirbhao]

This tank has changed a lot over the past few months. It looks entirely different.

 

[TMaier]

This tank has changed a lot over the past few months. It looks entirely different.

Struggling to pinpoint the problem. I’ve tried everything. I really hope changing the substrate solves the mystery.

 

[Delapool]

Struggling to pinpoint the problem. I’ve tried everything. I really hope changing the substrate solves the mystery.

Maybe a bigger tank would help? No reason, whenever things are going off, I dream of a hassle-free bigger tank (then reality comes back).

 

[TMaier]

Maybe a bigger tank would help? No reason, whenever things are going off, I dream of a hassle-free bigger tank (then reality comes back).

Hahaha. My old subfloor...I don’t dare. I am fortunate out of my 5 tanks this is the only one throwing me curve balls.

Water has cleared and the fish really pop on the light sand.

These goobers really like playing in the weeds.

 

[Delapool]

Looking nice!