BGA and GW...

Pooks73 · 05-22-2003, 04:08 AM

okay i'll have to find a phosphate test kit.

i found a place today that will rent me a diatom. all i have to pay is for the media. i'm going to pick it up on sunday, so that will hopefully help that problem.

i also got my hands on some maracyn today to treat the bga with. i'll start that routine tomorrow, hopefully it will work!

thanks for all the help and info!

Pancake · 05-22-2003, 06:48 PM

Be careful with that diatom filter media.It causes cancer and can damage your lungs if you inhale any of it.This is why diatom filters are not the best alternative and I'm surprised it's not mentioned more often because it should be.

Pancake

newplantguy · 05-26-2003, 05:51 AM

Actually, a diatom filter isn’t as super expensive as you might think. Last time I checked you can get a D1 at Petsmart online for about $69 + shipping. Still, not cheap but the best accessory investment I have ever made for my tanks.

Make SURE you vacuum your gravel well. I wasn’t doing much gravel vacuuming (because I was concerned about hurting my plants roots) and the extra nutrients caught up with me bigtime. Even after water polishing with my D1 the green came back in full force within a week. After some thorough gravel vacuums and water changes, all seems well.

I still use the D1 periodically for crystal clear clarity but I am pretty sure it would look acceptable without it. Just my $.02

Ryan

newplantguy · 05-26-2003, 05:53 AM

Diatom media causing cancer??? Where are you getting your information?

Rex Grigg · 05-26-2003, 02:40 PM

Well the media is small silica based. I suppose one could say that if you inhaled enough of it you would increase your chances of cancer. But so does sitting behind a car that's burning a lot of oil.

**Buck** · 05-26-2003, 03:12 PM

There are 2 kinds of DE sold...
*Food Grade
*Filter Grade

The only difference is the filter grade we buy is heat treated which increases the silica content... but that make's it far from a *dangerous substance....like Rex says...there are far worst things in life that are more harmful in everyday life. jeeeeeeez

Just dont snort the stuff ! :lol:

newplantguy · 05-26-2003, 06:49 PM

Thanks for the clarification guys.. that’s what I figured too.

madpiano · 08-14-2003, 12:23 AM

my favourite to get rid of green water is definitly Daphnia. But you need to get a lot.

My Method:

Buy 2 or 3 bags of Daphnia from the LFS and a small Fish Tank (a 2 gallon will do). Put this tank near a good light source and half-fill with green water from the tank. Add Daphnia and wait for about a week. Top up with green water as required (You will be amazed at how much those little critters can eat). Aftre a week or 2, you will have loads of Daphnia. Add all of them to your tank. They will get eaten by the fish, but fish can only eat so much and the rest will eat and breed. That should clear up your tank and keep your fish happy. You can keep a small colony of daphnia behind and repeat regulary.

05-26-2003, 03:12 PM	#21
Buck Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, CT Posts: 4,939	There are 2 kinds of DE sold... Food Grade Filter Grade The only difference is the filter grade we buy is heat treated which increases the silica content... but that make's it far from a *dangerous substance....like Rex says...there are far worst things in life that are more harmful in everyday life. jeeeeeeez Just dont snort the stuff ! :lol: __________________ Buckmanshome.Com

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05-22-2003, 04:08 AM	#16
Pooks73 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 102	okay i'll have to find a phosphate test kit. i found a place today that will rent me a diatom. all i have to pay is for the media. i'm going to pick it up on sunday, so that will hopefully help that problem. i also got my hands on some maracyn today to treat the bga with. i'll start that routine tomorrow, hopefully it will work! thanks for all the help and info!

05-22-2003, 06:48 PM	#17
Pancake Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 52	Be careful with that diatom filter media.It causes cancer and can damage your lungs if you inhale any of it.This is why diatom filters are not the best alternative and I'm surprised it's not mentioned more often because it should be. Pancake

05-26-2003, 05:51 AM	#18
newplantguy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Near Seattle Posts: 76	Actually, a diatom filter isn’t as super expensive as you might think. Last time I checked you can get a D1 at Petsmart online for about $69 + shipping. Still, not cheap but the best accessory investment I have ever made for my tanks. Make SURE you vacuum your gravel well. I wasn’t doing much gravel vacuuming (because I was concerned about hurting my plants roots) and the extra nutrients caught up with me bigtime. Even after water polishing with my D1 the green came back in full force within a week. After some thorough gravel vacuums and water changes, all seems well. I still use the D1 periodically for crystal clear clarity but I am pretty sure it would look acceptable without it. Just my $.02 Ryan

05-26-2003, 05:53 AM	#19
newplantguy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Near Seattle Posts: 76	Diatom media causing cancer??? Where are you getting your information?

05-26-2003, 02:40 PM	#20
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	Well the media is small silica based. I suppose one could say that if you inhaled enough of it you would increase your chances of cancer. But so does sitting behind a car that's burning a lot of oil.

05-26-2003, 06:49 PM	#22
newplantguy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Near Seattle Posts: 76	Thanks for the clarification guys.. that’s what I figured too.

08-14-2003, 12:23 AM	#23
madpiano Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London, UK Posts: 44	my favourite to get rid of green water is definitly Daphnia. But you need to get a lot. My Method: Buy 2 or 3 bags of Daphnia from the LFS and a small Fish Tank (a 2 gallon will do). Put this tank near a good light source and half-fill with green water from the tank. Add Daphnia and wait for about a week. Top up with green water as required (You will be amazed at how much those little critters can eat). Aftre a week or 2, you will have loads of Daphnia. Add all of them to your tank. They will get eaten by the fish, but fish can only eat so much and the rest will eat and breed. That should clear up your tank and keep your fish happy. You can keep a small colony of daphnia behind and repeat regulary.