...

[SMSREEF]

Wow this is getting more confusing by the post ha ha.
Snails will not eat cyano...at least not to my knowledge... and if they eat dino they usually die.
Do you have snails fatalities?

Nope, no deaths. Maybe I have supersnails.

I’m gonna try to do the test tomorrow when I get home from work.

 

[SMSREEF]

To identify dinoflagellates you'll need to siphon some algae into a container preferably with a lid or cap. After filling up the container shake the water up vigorously to break up the algae. Then filter the water through a paper towel or filter sock, the water should be rather clear. Leave the water exposed to ambient light in this container for 30-120 minutes. In my experience dinoflagellate algae will be the only type that aggregates back together quickly in the container

Dinoflagellates will disperse in the container completely after being shaken and will pass through the filter almost completely with only detritus remaining in the filter. Once the filtered water has been left sitting in ambient light for about an hour they will organize back together into their typical slimy appearance. Dinos seem to be the most neutrally buoyant of the three.

Cyanobacteria will typically stay matted together even after shaking the capped container vigorously with lots of small bits resembling torn paper. Most of the algae will be caught in the filter with the detritus but the filtered water will still be discolored. The algae will not organize back into colonies after an hour. The water tends to stay brown but sometimes the cyano settles on the bottom of the container. Cyano seems to be close to neutrally buoyant most of the time.

Diatoms will disperse much more than cyano when shaken vigorously into a brownish tint but sometimes tiny bits stay together like the cyano. Much more of the diatoms will pass the filter compared to the cyano. The diatoms will not reorganize after the filter and they tend to be more negatively buoyant than the cyano or dinos so they settle on the bottom of the container faster.

I began the test.

I have this in indirect window light. I’ll see what happens over the next 1-2 hours.

I looked at a little of the water under microscope after filtering through paper towel. Kinda looks torn rather than whole cells. But not 100% sure.

I’ll post results of whether it forms again, settles to the bottom, or stays in the water column in a bit.

My guess based on what you’ve taught me so far is cyano. What do you think?

Thanks again!

 

[road_runner]

..

 

[SMSREEF]

Most the data point this direction...
Now we need to confirm what's your po4 and no3.
Also cyano can be fueled by silica. Check if you have anything that might leak silica like plastics or hoses that are submerged Iin the water.. any of this ring a bell?

No3 was o again today and I dosed k-no3
Po4 was lighter than lowest blue so dosed a drop of k-Po4
After dosing
No3 10 oops... this dosing thing may not be for me
Po4 still below 0.03


I use airline hose as tubing for alk, Ca and kalk barely in water. Tubing for air pump/stone in case power goes out. I have ceramic bio balls in filter (but I think those leach aluminum right?). I have jebao wavemaker powerhead, and tubing from return is black flexible tubing and rubber connectors? Any thoughts based on pic below?

I have about 8 gallon water due to rocks. I do about 2.5 gallon water change per week.

I was thinking it’s not growing as bad, but I came home and think it’s a little worse since dosing today, and worse than other days when light has been on a while. But, I did dislodge a lot of stuff into water column for the test too... pic below

I’m trying to go slow with not too many changes all at once. I think dosing no3 po4 is not the solution here.
What do you think?

 

[road_runner]

No3 was o again today and I dosed k-no3
Po4 was lighter than lowest blue so dosed a drop of k-Po4
After dosing
No3 10 oops... this dosing thing may not be for me
Po4 still below 0.03


I use airline hose as tubing for alk, Ca and kalk barely in water. Tubing for air pump/stone in case power goes out. I have ceramic bio balls in filter (but I think those leach aluminum right?). I have jebao wavemaker powerhead, and tubing from return is black flexible tubing and rubber connectors? Any thoughts based on pic below?

I have about 8 gallon water due to rocks. I do about 2.5 gallon water change per week.

I was thinking it’s not growing as bad, but I came home and think it’s a little worse since dosing today, and worse than other days when light has been on a while. But, I did dislodge a lot of stuff into water column for the test too... pic below

I’m trying to go slow with not too many changes all at once. I think dosing no3 po4 is not the solution here.
What do you think?

These balls might also leach silica..
Before I give you a recommendation I just need you to give me parameters that you confident in and its accuracy.
I need without doubt to know your po4 and no3...

 

[SMSREEF]

Do you have any test kits you want me to use? I’m using salifert.
And you are right, I’m not confident in the result because I don’t test this normally and results don’t make sense to me. Need some help with this...

Colors change whether under my ceiling lights, daylight, LED from tank, etc...
Also if we consider the 1 spoon of powder... 1 heaping spoon, 1 spoon leveled off... or am I supposed to do something else with salifert.
I’m kinda frustrated with tests...
So many variables it’s hard to be certain of any result.

Remember, this is coming from a place of trying to keep my tank at 420 to 450 CA to later find out test kits expired and Ca is above 500. Probably above 550


I’m new to NO3 and PO4 so please help me understand best test and how to do it reliably and accurately.
I really question NO3 because I added 1 ml kno3 when initially it was 0, and after dose the test showed less than 2. Added another 1 ml and later it showed 5. Ok, makes sense.

Today I had initial test clear =0 so I added 1ml and somehow, later, I am at 10 or above depending on light. Just doesn’t make sense to me.

Thanks so much for your insight!

 

[road_runner]

Do you have any test kits you want me to use? I’m using salifert.
And you are right, I’m not confident in the result because I don’t test this normally and results don’t make sense to me. Need some help with this...

Colors change whether under my ceiling lights, daylight, LED from tank, etc...
Also if we consider the 1 spoon of powder... 1 heaping spoon, 1 spoon leveled off... or am I supposed to do something else with salifert.
I’m kinda frustrated with tests...
So many variables it’s hard to be certain of any result.

Remember, this is coming from a place of trying to keep my tank at 420 to 450 CA to later find out test kits expired and Ca is above 500. Probably above 550


I’m new to NO3 and PO4 so please help me understand best test and how to do it reliably and accurately.
I really question NO3 because I added 1 ml kno3 when initially it was 0, and after dose the test showed less than 2. Added another 1 ml and later it showed 5. Ok, makes sense.

Today I had initial test clear =0 so I added 1ml and somehow, later, I am at 10 or above depending on light. Just doesn’t make sense to me.

Thanks so much for your insight!

No problem do not panic. Your situation is not epidemic.
I trust hannah ULS. Using it is easy as long ad you carefully clean the class so reading is accurate.
I also teust red sea, bit harder to use but solid kit.
Reason why I like hannah is because you open reagent that is measured already per test no more no less. Meaning you do not open a bottle of reagent that will keep degrading ad you use it.
I do not like asking people to spend unless needed so:
Do you have someone you can borrow hanna po4 ULS from?
Least cost would be to buy new salifert but I just think eventually reagent will degrade before your finish it so it's worth investing in a hanna po4 tester and either red sea or salifert no3. But new salifert...
Good thing about red sea you can get the combi po4 and no3, the kit is solid ad well just bit harder to use....

 

[road_runner]

..

 

[SMSREEF]

Stop dosing all these chemicals please..first we need to dial in nutrients and understand where we are.
I do not believe in all these remedies if raising nutrients using chemicals...

If your po4 is not zero, I will advice you to remove the bioballs 20% a week until they are out.
I will advice you to run rowaphos for a week while testing po4 every 3 days to make sure we do not bring it to zero.
I will advice you to add good activated carbon..

But I need to make sure your po4 is not zero first, which is what I am suspecting. I am suspecting you po4 or no3 are zero not both.
Or both are high...

Do not panic and let's take it slow..foundations first.

Perfect. No more Dosing of NO3 and PO4 for now. I’m glad I reached out to you. Thank you.

 

[road_runner]

Perfect. No more Dosing of NO3 and PO4 for now. I’m glad I reached out to you. Thank you.

I am by no mean an expert. I will try to help you with what I would have done on my system in your situation. No more no less..
Fair?

 

[SMSREEF]

That’s fair. I reached out to you based on your guidance given to others and the patience you have shown when giving it.

I ordered Hanna po4 and NO3.
Won’t be here till next week.

Until then I won’t make any changes.

Thanks again

 

[road_runner]

..

 

[SMSREEF]

Will do my best my friend.
By now you probably know: I am slow and data driven. I do not have magic bullets or standard remedies that apply to everyone...
I move with data only..
Do not worry we will work on this and hopefully beat it.

Yes, I like your data driven approach. It’s not a major problem at this point, only a nuisance so I’m in no hurry. It’s not affecting anything negatively at this point. Plus snails even eat it anywhere they can get to. I am really just curious and want to know what I’m dealing with before setting up larger tank. Plus wanted to know if it’s something that could get out of control without proper solutions when it’s easy.


Also I think I know my problem with NO3 test... when looking from top, you read the color. From the side it’s the number/10
So I guess I’m really at about 2.5 +/-. This makes sense with the amount I added yesterday. I just freaked out when I saw the color and should have read the directions again.

Colors are tricky though and I will be much more confident in Hanna and using salifert as back up...pic of no3 below

No more dosing no3 and po4 and Hanna checkers will be here Thursday next week.

 

[road_runner]

..

 

[SMSREEF]

I didn’t dump the beaker of filtrate to see if I could get something to grow. The result after 3 days is a slight film starting to grow on the bottom.

Under the microscope this is what I see

Now I’m kinda thinking diatoms because of the shape. This would make sense with my Trochus snails eating it without issue.
What do you think @Ohashimz ?

Seems to clean up really well and it’s not growing back very thick at all after cleaning it off. The couple of places that it grows are easily cleaned with a soft toothbrush.

I did a large water change today and everything looks happy.

 

[road_runner]

I do not understand exactly how did you do this test...
Did you leave water outside the tank for couple of days then you tested it?

 

[SMSREEF]

I do not understand exactly how did you do this test...
Did you leave water outside the tank for couple of days then you tested it?

Yes, I just kept the water left over from first test you had me do. I left it in a window sill so it got some light. All the pieces of diatom must have been able to reproduce.

 

[road_runner]

Yes, I just kept the water left over from first test you had me do. I left it in a window sill so it got some light. All the pieces of diatom must have been able to reproduce.

How long you kept water under light?

 

[SMSREEF]

How long you kept water under light?

3 days

 

[road_runner]

..