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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
let me try getting a picture of it again from my videocam....
be right back..
be right back..
5 Gallon FW Build/Journey Thread
- Thread starter daileene
- Start date
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
oh I could do that...was just wondering what kind of an algae it is, if it is really one...
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
Here are the close up, just for the record:
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
oh okay...I will try brushing them tomorrow. was worried it would creep into the vals...will update tomorrow..thanks...
OhNeil1969
Aquarium Advice Addict
oh okay...I will try brushing them tomorrow. was worried it would creep into the vals...will update tomorrow..thanks...
Just looked at the pictures. I was wondering if they have a more brownish color than we see on our computer? If so, I suspect they may be diatoms, something that is common with new tanks (from my research). I had a small outbreak in my 60 gallon tank while it was cycling. I simply vacuumed them up when I performed my water changes. They will eventually go away on their own as your tank ages. And other than being unattractive, they pose no real threat to your tank (again, based on my research).
I thought diatoms too... But they are very grey in the photos. Looks almost like dust. I suspect it is from the substrate and will go away after a few cleanings and pwcs to export (along with cleaning the filter media).
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
No, it is really grey in person. It is not hindering the growth of the fern though. I see new leaves coming out from it and some in the leaves. I was gonna clean it today but I was out the whole day. I would do brush it off tomorrow and clean the filter media with the old water and see if that helps.
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
Yes, it does look like dust in person. I will do a PWC tomorrow after cleaning that dusty looking thing...so far the vals are safe still.
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
UPDATES:
22 days of cycling:
Around 4:32PM.....
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
22 days of cycling:
Around 4:32PM.....
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
Hello all...I changed the water yesterday for this tank to clean out those icky greyish fluffy thing in my java fern.
I checked parameters 3-4-2011 (I did not yesterday though after PWC) and I am happy with the results. So far, I can see a decrease in the Ammonia and normal spike in Nitrites.
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: 5ppm
So I hope I am getting there...both vals are showing new shoots (1-2 leaves per bunch) and a lot of baby java ferns..so I am excited right now. I am just praying that there will be no snail problem here like what happened to my 4.4G. I have a java moss here that came from the same place as the one in that tank that I have a common snail outbreak....arrghhhh!
I checked parameters 3-4-2011 (I did not yesterday though after PWC) and I am happy with the results. So far, I can see a decrease in the Ammonia and normal spike in Nitrites.
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: 5ppm
So I hope I am getting there...both vals are showing new shoots (1-2 leaves per bunch) and a lot of baby java ferns..so I am excited right now. I am just praying that there will be no snail problem here like what happened to my 4.4G. I have a java moss here that came from the same place as the one in that tank that I have a common snail outbreak....arrghhhh!
Coleallensmom
Planted Tank Enthusiast
Still following...
Be careful not to overfeed the tank..that goes a long way into keeping the snails to a minimum.
Be careful not to overfeed the tank..that goes a long way into keeping the snails to a minimum.
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
Thank you Alisha....
I was checking levels today....and guess what???? My fear was true...I saw 1 snail and 2 eggs and got them out but I hope there is not more than that. I placed one lettuce tonight so hopefully that will work. Praying....:-(
Levels:
Ammonia: 2ppm (I don't know why it risen-is this coz of the snails?)
Nitrites: 5ppm
Checked Nitrates too and it looks like 10ppm or 20ppm..wasn't sure of the color in the chart. They almost look alike.
I was checking levels today....and guess what???? My fear was true...I saw 1 snail and 2 eggs and got them out but I hope there is not more than that. I placed one lettuce tonight so hopefully that will work. Praying....:-(
Levels:
Ammonia: 2ppm (I don't know why it risen-is this coz of the snails?)
Nitrites: 5ppm
Checked Nitrates too and it looks like 10ppm or 20ppm..wasn't sure of the color in the chart. They almost look alike.
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
And oh, I wasn't putting any flakes so far...so I hope the snails went starving...I wish.
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
UPDATES:
27th day of cycling:
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: Looks like 2ppm-5ppm (color almost the same)
I am looking for an assassin snail now since I am afraid that there might be more snails here than I know off. I am not looking forward to these.
27th day of cycling:
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: Looks like 2ppm-5ppm (color almost the same)
I am looking for an assassin snail now since I am afraid that there might be more snails here than I know off. I am not looking forward to these.
Coleallensmom
Planted Tank Enthusiast
How is it going with the snails? Honestly, I would just wait them out and see what happens...just make sure to pull any out that you see crawling around.
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
Hi, they are still around. But just like you've said, once I see them, I took them out. I haven't seen too much on this one so far lately. The only thing I was worrying about is the parameters. It is getting weirder each time I check them since I found out I have snails.
Today here are the levels:
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 0.50ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Why is my ammonia high again? I have not been putting flakes here coz I was waiting for it to go all the way down to 1ppm to put little flakes to feed off the bacteria. But it never really stayed at 1ppm. So I didn't put any flakes in..but today it went high...For the past 4 checking, the ammonia was going 1 then 2 then 1 then 2 then now, 4ppm. Very confusing...although the nitrites are going down now. Should I do a PWC?
And oh yeah, this is my 29th day of cycling.....did I ruin the cycling somehow? Or the presence of the snails made the ammonia spiked?
Today here are the levels:
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 0.50ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Why is my ammonia high again? I have not been putting flakes here coz I was waiting for it to go all the way down to 1ppm to put little flakes to feed off the bacteria. But it never really stayed at 1ppm. So I didn't put any flakes in..but today it went high...For the past 4 checking, the ammonia was going 1 then 2 then 1 then 2 then now, 4ppm. Very confusing...although the nitrites are going down now. Should I do a PWC?
And oh yeah, this is my 29th day of cycling.....did I ruin the cycling somehow? Or the presence of the snails made the ammonia spiked?
OP
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daileene
Planted Tank Addict
Okay 30th day of fishless cycling (with invisible pond snails :-(), and the levels are:
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
The Nitrite is on it's way down but the ammonia is staying. So I guess I will do a 75% PWC later.
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
The Nitrite is on it's way down but the ammonia is staying. So I guess I will do a 75% PWC later.
BigJim
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hold off on the PWC. There's nothing in the tank to really hurt yet. I also have a feeling the nitrites are giving you a false positive on your nitrate test.
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