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Post by tamara on Feb 1, 2013 21:08:19 GMT -5
Hi Bill,
Actually the tank is reasonably established. It had once been well-established, then fell into relative disuse with plants only, or so we thought. (Actually, unbeknownst to us, it still had 2 clown plecos living in it!) Then in I think early November Kevin began reviving it, and part of this revival involved adding substrate as well as new pants and new fish. We had some chemical spikes in the beginning with the increase in bio load, but not too much. Those settled out and for quite some time the nitrogen compounds have always been perfect or near-perfect.
I also am optimistic. After discussing it with Kevin, our next move will probably be to try the UV in the goldfish tank. It has had the same products added; however, it's only a 20-gallon, so perhaps it's easier to experiment on. And now that we know carbon works, it seems less risky. So we'll see.
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Post by Carl on Feb 6, 2013 21:11:45 GMT -5
Anything new to report Tamara?
Carl
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Post by tamara on Feb 17, 2013 17:20:18 GMT -5
Nothing until today! We've left everything alone as we've been a little busy the last couple of weeks.
Today, we are planning to run it in our 20 gallon goldfish tank. This time, I have taken all my water tests in advance, so we have the "before" readings. This is just after a water change.
Ammonia: 0.25 Nitrites: <0.25 Nitrates: 10 ppm PH: 7.8 GH: 27 drops = 483 ppm KH: 3 drops = 54 ppm
Even though this tank has gotten all the same products and the same water as the 72, it is at quite a different place with PH, GH and KH.
Right now, I've got the UV and the sponge filter/powerhead all connected up. The filter is running. However, I have not yet turned on the UV. I just want to establish beyond any doubt that the UV does not cause anything unpleasant when it is hooked up but not plugged in. So if a problem does occur we won't have to physically disconnect the UV.
I hate to predict the future, but I'm inclined to think nothing will happen with the UV turned on. Fingers crossed.
BTW Kevin asked the guys at our LFS about our experience, and they were totally baffled (which is what I would have expected). They also had no idea what could cause this. I will post a "before" photo as well.
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Post by tamara on Feb 17, 2013 17:22:51 GMT -5
Here are Fifi, Nellie and Fred happily swimming around with the UV hooked up but not turned on. Attachments:
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Post by Carl on Feb 17, 2013 18:06:48 GMT -5
OK How is the 75 gallon tank doing? Any new pics for this tank? Carl
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Post by tamara on Feb 17, 2013 19:33:28 GMT -5
Hi Carl,
The 72 is fine. Activated carbon removed the remaining greyness (or at least enough that it looks fine). The greyness hasn't come back in these 2 weeks. I'll be happy to take another pic if you want.
Today actually Kevin put in a new carbon/charcoal cartridge (whichever it is) for the HOB filter. We thought at first it might have been starting to turn a tiny bit grey from carbon dust. So Kevin has removed the carbon cartridge for the present.
I don't think that could have been the problem in the past because this cartridge is new, that one was old. However, Kevin is a little touchy about seeing greyness in that tank, as you might imagine! Anyway, if we have anything further to report we surely will. I presume that eventually that cartridge will go back on.
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Post by tamara on Feb 17, 2013 23:24:27 GMT -5
OK. We ran the sponge filter with the UV installed but not turned on for a couple hours. Nothing happened. We plugged in the UV. Nothing happened. So far, so good! I'll give it until morning and if still nothing happens, then we can safely say the UV is fine under the conditions in the 20 gallon.
Tomorrow I'll talk to Kevin about next steps for the 72, but I think the first thing to do is to put the cartridge back into the HOB and run it for awhile and see what happens. It's hard to imagine that could be a problem but we may as well rule it out.
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Post by tamara on Feb 18, 2013 13:59:16 GMT -5
The UV is fine in the 20 gallon. Also, the filter cartridge appears to be fine in the 72.
Our next move is to hook up the sponge filter w/ powerhead and UV in the 72, but to leave the UV unplugged at first. We're moving very slowly this time!
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Post by Carl on Feb 18, 2013 15:30:04 GMT -5
OK, thanks for the updates Carl
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