Vibrant? Waste-Away? Chrysophytes

[BriansBrain]

I’m pretty sure I’m dealing with Chrysophytes from looking through other threads on here. Those folks have seemed to have success with Vibrant or the products like it. I bought Dr. Tim’s Waste-Away and Re-Fresh because I thought I was initially dealing with Dinos at first, because my nutrients are undetectable. My question is, do these Dr. Tim’s products work the same as Vibrant? I’m not a huge fan of adding any of these cleaners, but this stuff has to go. My rock is scrubbed and ready!

 

[kevin_e]

Vibrant didn't work for me. Tried it for weeks. I took out all my rocks and scrubbed with h2o2. But what really stopped it for me was getting my nitrates up from 0 to 3-4 ppm. Now I have little outbreaks of cyano and diatoms, but that will cycle out. Golden alage thrives in low nutrient environments. I used potassium nitrate off of Amazon.

 

[BriansBrain]

Potassium nitrate... as in stump remover?

 

[kevin_e]

Potassium nitrate... as in stump remover?

Yes. But I used food grade.

 

[waleedreef]

have you tried sea hare?

 

[Michael Gray]

I'm a noob. What is Chrysophytes

 

[BriansBrain]

have you tried sea hare?

I have not. The snails and Kole tang are not interested though

 

[kevin_e]

I'm a noob. What is Chrysophytes

Golden algae. Thrives in nutrient poor environments.

 

[kevin_e]

I have not. The snails and Kole tang are not interested though

I would try bumping up your nitrates. Seems to work for everyone, from what I have read. 3-5 ppm should be effective.

 

[BriansBrain]

I would try bumping up your nitrates. Seems to work for everyone, from what I have read. 3-5 ppm should be effective.

I know you have suggested potassium nitrate, but what do you think about Brightwell’s NeoNitro? I would assume the same result of upping nitrates?

 

[kevin_e]

I know you have suggested potassium nitrate, but what do you think about Brightwell’s NeoNitro? I would assume the same result of upping nitrates?

I dont have any experience with it personally. The reason I decided on the potassium nitrate is because I knew exactly what the product was and how many milliliters of made solution would raise my nitrate levels in my system. I feel it gave me more control.

 

[kevin_e]

How many gallons is your system? I found the directions:

"1 ml NEONITRO will increase the nitrate concentration in 1 US-gallon (~3.8 L) by ~5 ppm;"

Seems like it may do what you need it to, just may require a healthy dose of liquid since you essentially want to do between 3/4 and 1 ml per gallon for your tank, since you are at 0.

 

[BriansBrain]

I dont have any experience with it personally. The reason I decided on the potassium nitrate is because I knew exactly what the product was and how many milliliters of made solution would raise my nitrate levels in my system. I feel it gave me more control.

Thanks for your help so far. How did you find your dosage amount to raise a specific amount of nitrates?

 

[kevin_e]

Thanks for your help so far. How did you find your dosage amount to raise a specific amount of nitrates?

I used this calculator. I found it suggested in a thready by Randy.

James' Planted Tank - Dosing Calculator

 

[Huskymaniac]

I had chrysophytes and they were being caused by high phosphates. What are your numbers? Did you confirm what they were under a scope?

 

[waleedreef]

I know you have suggested potassium nitrate, but what do you think about Brightwell’s NeoNitro? I would assume the same result of upping nitrates?

i finished 1 bottle and didn't increase my nitrate only 2 ppm.

 

[Huskymaniac]

I had chrysophytes and they were being caused by high phosphates. What are your numbers? Did you confirm what they were under a scope?

This is what they look like.

 

[kevin_e]

I had chrysophytes and they were being caused by high phosphates. What are your numbers? Did you confirm what they were under a scope?

What were your nitrates? My phosphate was 0 and is 0 with and without them. If you were reading high phosphates during your outbreak, I'm guessing that wasn't the issue.

 

[Huskymaniac]

What were your nitrates? My phosphate was 0 and is 0 with and without them. If you were reading high phosphates during your outbreak, I'm guessing that wasn't the issue.

20 on nitrates a .1 on phosphates. Brought phosphates down to .02 and nitrates to 5 and they went away. I have a feeling they are not chrysophytes.

 

[Pdash]

Vibrant didn't work for me. Tried it for weeks. I took out all my rocks and scrubbed with h2o2. But what really stopped it for me was getting my nitrates up from 0 to 3-4 ppm. Now I have little outbreaks of cyano and diatoms, but that will cycle out. Golden alage thrives in low nutrient environments. I used potassium nitrate off of Amazon.

This, I think low nitrates is a huge part of the equation here in this particular algae out competing everything.