Finish or sell my ADA setup? I don't know what to do.

[Jaguar]

I appreciate the tips on saving money. I have done really well on it so far or I wouldn't still be here, thankfully. Don't have cable, don't even have a cell phone, and our internet bill is $25 a month (cheap cheap for here). I can't remember the last time I've seen a movie! One of my cats is diabetic, so a lot of my monthly expenses go towards him - insulin, testing supplies, syringes, food, etc. I don't like to complain about that because I love the guy to death and would rather starve before withhold him from essential medication, but sometimes it makes things tough. I've got a charity that helps out with some of it which is a blessing - they offered to pay half of his dental costs if I matched the other half so hopefully I can free up some more room on my credit card soon.

I could probably work my LED lights into low tech, but I don't know if I'd get enough money for my regulator to make it worth selling. I kinda ended up overpaying for it (shipping miscalc/tax/duty).

I guess if I go low tech all I need to worry about *right now* is getting my HC out of there (HOW do you go about pulling out HC with roots 2" into the substrate?) and restocking it with low light friendly plants. Sadly everything in that tank is literally all I have left. I lost a lot of plants including my beloved downoi... The only thing that really survived were my nana petite and java ferns (though I plan to use the needle leaf extensively in the scape so that's good because it was a huge PITA to find)

And also this. I swear I see cyano in my nightmares. I think it's my tap water, I haven't found another answer...

[concepts88]

I have a new diffuser which is just sitting on my desk. If you need it. Pm me.

[Jaguar]

I appreciate the offer but shipping it up here would probably kill ya.

I pulled out the HC and stuck it in a glass dish. I have a desk lamp that should keep it alive until I figure out what to do with it.

In other news, my Spec almost got blown up. Apparently when the water level gets low, the water in the compartment where the filter return hose is gets drained to the bottom. I had a heater in there and that happened... my boyfriend called me saying "there's a weird noise coming from the betta's tank".... the heater was making this creaking/ticking kind of noise... scared the crap out of me!! I filled it back up with water and it seems OK now, keeping an eye on it though, and I won't let the water level get that low again... (it wasn't even that low!)

[TexasCichlid]

Let us know how it goes. The hardest thing about this hobby is having to change gears of a tank. It's also one of the most rewarding.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[synaethetic]

Did you really yank all that HC out? Yikes.

With the lighting you have, regardless of c02 injection, that HC would of grown. Ive seen it carpet in non-c02 tanks before.

Dose some H202 and use an airline tubing to suck out as much cyno as you can.

[Algae Beater]

dude, you're in my province!

if you make it down to vancouver, I will be happy to supply you with plants, a cheap 5lb cylynder, diffuser, rocks / wood, hell i will even offer you some fish!

[Jaguar]

I posted that I pulled it out, but I didn't... I thought I was going to 100% for sure, but I got half way through lifting it up and decided to leave it and see what happens. So the HC is still in for now. The cyano is spreading pretty fast but it's only really on the HC so far. I vacced some of it out tonight.

I'd love to make a trip to Van but I don't have a car. Otherwise I might have taken you up on that cylinder offer. I can't find any locally.

[TexasCichlid]

I would hit the tank with some Maracyn before the BGA gets out of hand and chokes the HC out if you are going to keep it.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Jaguar]

I am thinking about kicking this cyano with antibiotics while the tank is empty and uncycled as well. It's spreading really fast unfortunately. I have had a problem with cyano in every single tank I've had so far and it sucks. I don't know if it's my tap water or what. It was a huge issue in my low tech 33 gallon. I tried adding a powerhead for more flow, dosing KNO3 because I had no nitrates, Excel, DIY CO2... I had very low light as it was and nothing made it go away. I scrapped the tank because of it. I hope this doesn't happen here.

[TexasCichlid]

BGA is low flow and/or no nitrates. Once it is established, even if you fix the causes, it is a pain to get rid of. A proper dose of maracyn will deal with it. Follow the directions on the forums. You don't want to end up with an antibiotic resistant strain.