need help-mad, mad mushrooms

kimba · Jan 13, 2016

I have a 12 gal nano, I did a 2 gal WC and noticed my purigen was getting dark. I looked up how to recharge it. It said to soak in 1:1 bleach and water for 24 hrs. (I did maybe 25) then rinse it well and soak in 2Tablespoons PRIME in 2 cups of water for 8 hrs (it might have soaked for 12). I rinsed really well.

This morning my musgrooms are all shrivled up and mad. My GSP are also mad. I don't know what to do
*take the purigen out?
*do another 2 gal WC?
* wait and watch?
Any advice would be great.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 13, 2016

Yes, I'd take it out, and possibly add some dechlorinator (like the Prime) to the tank if you think some bleach might have gotten in.

Did you do the Prime step?

kimba · Jan 13, 2016

Yes, I soaked it for about 12 hrs then rinsed real well. Or so I thought. My PRIME is about 3 yrs old, maybe it didn't work well?

kimba · Jan 13, 2016

Actually my PRIME could be older than that, because I moved 3 and a half years ago and I havn't used any Purigen since the move.

Does it expire? Should I do a WC and should I add some of the PRIME I have to my tank even though it is old? And how much should I add to a 12 gal? It says a capfull for 50 gal. It also says it can be used in a double dose safely.

Thank you so much for responding so fast.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 13, 2016

I'd add what you have at the recommended dose, then look to get new stuff for the future, but the effects of chlorine won't last long anyway, so in a day it will be gone anyway (unless it was super high somehow).

I'm not sure the effect even is chlorine, however.

When you get the Purigen out, rinse it some more before using it. Using a little salt in the rinse water may help.

kimba · Jan 13, 2016

Ok, thank you so much!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 13, 2016

You're welcome.

Good luck and let us know if things don't turn around.

kimba · Jan 13, 2016

They got madder. :mad:

kimba · Jan 13, 2016

Before I added the PRIME I tested my water.
PH 7.8
Amonia 0
Trites 0
Trates 0
temp 79
refractometer reads 1.026

so the directions said a cap for 50 gal so I eye balled a 1/4 cap.

They are curling in.

Not sure what to do. Maybe a 2 gal WC?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 13, 2016

Maybe there is something wrong with your Prime.

A water change is certainly not likely to hurt.

kimba · Jan 24, 2016

Update on my shrroms, they are happy again, and are my GSP. I really want to thank everyone for their quick responses. This site really is the best. I have been on others in the past and it might take a day kr 2 for responses, if they respond at all. Thanks again