Hey, first post, but I've been reading for a few years on and off.
I have already setup everything and it has been operational for 9 months. Since this site is so informational I didn't even create a username until today as a last resort. So thanks for a great forum.
My tank seems healthy, but... I want to kill off the dominant form of life in it; Cyanobacteria. First I want to make sure my equipment is not part of the problem. This way after I do several blackouts(more on this later) I won't need to do it again.
Tank:
90 gal.
2 Emperor 400's with all of the slots used for media and flos-filters, and the flow all the way up.
2 40w flourscents (Phillips: Natural Sunshine, and Plant & Aquarium) 12 on 12 off
Compact flourscent (2x65w 50/50 from my salt water days) comes on for only the middle 8 hours of the day
I have pea gravel mixed with flourite and a small layer of river gravel on top to keep my African out of the plants
I have a few pieces of drift wood and a few large pieces limestone that haven't begun to brake down.
Any advice filter material, and blub selection would be appreciated.
As you can see from some of the things in the tank now, I didn't always check with AA before I put it in use.
Livestock:
5" Ocsar Well feed
3" African
3 broad leafed plants 2 x 5" diameter 1 x 3" diameter
2 thin/long leafed plants 10" long
I haven't checked nitrate or any thing else in the tank. This will happen tomorrow hopefully.
Up to now I have tried adding the compact flourscent, and then cutting back the timers on both 3 hours. I tried some phosphate absorbing crap that worked well on my salt tank. So far nothing. I gave up just to see if somehow it would just burn itself out. Now there is cyano covering everything. Its so thick on spots that O2 bubbles form under the surface and peal away the crust in ruptures. Flow dosen't seem to have any effect as there is cyano on everything, though the emperors don't put out a direct stream.
My biggest concern at this point in the development of things, is that the cyano is so developed that it forms the major part of my bio-filter, and that removing it will wreak havoc. Is this a valid concern? If so what do you recommend?
Thanks and all advice including the obligatory comments about how I dropped the ball are all welcomed.
Matt
I have already setup everything and it has been operational for 9 months. Since this site is so informational I didn't even create a username until today as a last resort. So thanks for a great forum.
My tank seems healthy, but... I want to kill off the dominant form of life in it; Cyanobacteria. First I want to make sure my equipment is not part of the problem. This way after I do several blackouts(more on this later) I won't need to do it again.
Tank:
90 gal.
2 Emperor 400's with all of the slots used for media and flos-filters, and the flow all the way up.
2 40w flourscents (Phillips: Natural Sunshine, and Plant & Aquarium) 12 on 12 off
Compact flourscent (2x65w 50/50 from my salt water days) comes on for only the middle 8 hours of the day
I have pea gravel mixed with flourite and a small layer of river gravel on top to keep my African out of the plants
I have a few pieces of drift wood and a few large pieces limestone that haven't begun to brake down.
Any advice filter material, and blub selection would be appreciated.
As you can see from some of the things in the tank now, I didn't always check with AA before I put it in use.
Livestock:
5" Ocsar Well feed
3" African
3 broad leafed plants 2 x 5" diameter 1 x 3" diameter
2 thin/long leafed plants 10" long
I haven't checked nitrate or any thing else in the tank. This will happen tomorrow hopefully.
Up to now I have tried adding the compact flourscent, and then cutting back the timers on both 3 hours. I tried some phosphate absorbing crap that worked well on my salt tank. So far nothing. I gave up just to see if somehow it would just burn itself out. Now there is cyano covering everything. Its so thick on spots that O2 bubbles form under the surface and peal away the crust in ruptures. Flow dosen't seem to have any effect as there is cyano on everything, though the emperors don't put out a direct stream.
My biggest concern at this point in the development of things, is that the cyano is so developed that it forms the major part of my bio-filter, and that removing it will wreak havoc. Is this a valid concern? If so what do you recommend?
Thanks and all advice including the obligatory comments about how I dropped the ball are all welcomed.
Matt