IHeartCapnHook
New member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2017
- Messages
- 24
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- Location
- Austin Texas
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- Marci
I live in an area with really bad water. Even at the LFS when testing the water he knew exactly where I live based on numbers and photos. (photo 4 is the line where the water level ends and the splash from the filter during cycling left horrible water scale deposits that are so stuck on that I feel like they will never come off)
Here is my story of a constant uphill battle (with lots of water types and numbers and photos)
Using the API Fresh Master and strips for Alkalinity and Hardness
Brita Filtered tap-
PH 6.0
Ammonia 2.0
AlK 0
Hardness 100
Fridge's Samsung Filtered-
PH 7.6
Ammonia 0
Alk 120
Hardness 100
Seachem Prime treated-
PH 7.6
Ammonia 1
Alk 120
Hardness 100
I cycled my tank. Got my lotls. All was good.
After a lot of weeks with proper water changes, filter cleaning, temps and testing things started to go astray.
First came the strange hairy slime that was floating around. More and more showed up over 48 hours . It started getting stuck in the lotls antlers (yes, I call them antlers, don't judge). Then it REALLY started getting stuck in their antlers,(see photo 1) terracotta was covered, tank walls were thick with it (see photo 2). Went to the LFS and talked to my guy (he is SUPER smart and knows a **** ton about lotls). My water numbers were good and he said the hairy slime was detritus. Since it was floating everywhere, stuck to everything and tangling in their gills it was time to do a wipe down (See photo 5 of paper towel) so it didn't harm to them and try to keep as much of the bio as possible.
After a week of hairy slime removal we got it mostly contained and just can't seem to get it out of the U bend for the HOB filter.
Water was clean and all was good for a couple weeks. Until...
Day before yesterday was filter cleaning day. Removed a bit of the left over hair slime and the Black worms that managed to get past my attempts at blocking. Now there is almost like a fog floating in the water (see photo 3 circled like a smoke coming out of their hide). I want to hope it is a tank cycle bloom?
Current stats:
PH 7.6
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 2.0
Nitrate 40.0
Here is my story of a constant uphill battle (with lots of water types and numbers and photos)
Using the API Fresh Master and strips for Alkalinity and Hardness
Brita Filtered tap-
PH 6.0
Ammonia 2.0
AlK 0
Hardness 100
Fridge's Samsung Filtered-
PH 7.6
Ammonia 0
Alk 120
Hardness 100
Seachem Prime treated-
PH 7.6
Ammonia 1
Alk 120
Hardness 100
I cycled my tank. Got my lotls. All was good.
After a lot of weeks with proper water changes, filter cleaning, temps and testing things started to go astray.
First came the strange hairy slime that was floating around. More and more showed up over 48 hours . It started getting stuck in the lotls antlers (yes, I call them antlers, don't judge). Then it REALLY started getting stuck in their antlers,(see photo 1) terracotta was covered, tank walls were thick with it (see photo 2). Went to the LFS and talked to my guy (he is SUPER smart and knows a **** ton about lotls). My water numbers were good and he said the hairy slime was detritus. Since it was floating everywhere, stuck to everything and tangling in their gills it was time to do a wipe down (See photo 5 of paper towel) so it didn't harm to them and try to keep as much of the bio as possible.
After a week of hairy slime removal we got it mostly contained and just can't seem to get it out of the U bend for the HOB filter.
Water was clean and all was good for a couple weeks. Until...
Day before yesterday was filter cleaning day. Removed a bit of the left over hair slime and the Black worms that managed to get past my attempts at blocking. Now there is almost like a fog floating in the water (see photo 3 circled like a smoke coming out of their hide). I want to hope it is a tank cycle bloom?
Current stats:
PH 7.6
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 2.0
Nitrate 40.0
