blacking out a tank

[pascal32]

My "battle" with Dino's continues, though it seems to have gotten a little bit better. Problem is that it spread into the second frag tank and display. talking with Tom at TRS he suggested a 3-4 day complete blackout.

I did a 3 day in the basement which yielded excellent results, though not complete elimination. Tom believes that a COMPLETE blackout is needed (i.e - not having the basement lights on most of the time (washer dryer room).

Any thoughts on how I should do this? just blankets over the tanks?

thanks!

 

[spinoleo]

did the 3 day complete black out with green plastic bags around the sides and plastic over most of the top.I also raised the ph to 5.4 for the 3 days and then a 25% water change

 

[pascal32]

I'm worried about the plastic for condensation - are blankets alright?

 

[museumguy]

I did this on our 1700g tank for 3 days with sheets of black plastic, the same kind you use to cover dirt in your garden. Just over the front glass, I didn't put anything over the top, and left lights off 100% in the back room. Not so much as a flashlight behind the tank for 3 days. Took care of the dinos and they didn't come back.

 

[superkat]

NirvanaFan - don't you have that same sort of plastic around your nem tank?

 

[pascal32]

Looks like a trip to HD is in order on the way home today.

 

[magdelan]

I also raised the ph to 5.4 for the 3 days and then a 25% water change

You raised your PH to 5.4? Your PH should be 8.3

I did a 4 day dino blackout many years ago with tremendous success. I'd be VERY leary about covering your tanks. They NEED oxygen exchange. Trapped Co2 levels can really mess up your PH and can be detrimental to your tank in habitants.

 

[pascal32]

The 5.4 was likely a typo. My tank runs 7.9-8.2 roughly.

I hear you on the exchange- problem is that I can't black out the room. I need to cover with something during the day.

 

[magdelan]

When I did mine, my tank still recieved indirrect light. It was never in complete darkness. The fish were still able to watch Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef with me.

 

[pascal32]

Lol! Good to know! Tarps are I'm place, top of tank is open, though mostly blocked by lights which are off. Sump has tarp surrounding hanging from ceiling.

Cross your fingers those buggers are gone in three days!

 

[magdelan]

I have a good feeling about this. Make sure you skim like crazy too. You should have a lot of die off from the dinos.

 

[spinoleo]

The 5.4 was likely a typo. My tank runs 7.9-8.2 roughly.

I hear you on the exchange- problem is that I can't black out the room. I need to cover with something during the day.

Yes a typo I ment 8.4

 

[mr86mister]

Oh boy here we go Pascal!! Hope this works for you!!

 

[pascal32]

Oh boy here we go Pascal!! Hope this works for you!!

LOL - I'm worried about the corals. My bonsai was already short on light and was just starting to color back up. These critters need to go though, I swear they are affecting the Zoa's growth. since they showed up there has been hardly any growth. that or they are consuming the goodness in the water the zoas used to get!

 

[talon4x4]

Don't mean to hijack your thread but will a complete blackout work for most types of algae?? I've started to grow a ridiculous amount of hair algae in my basement sump and its starting to invade my little mangrove setup and its growing all over my chaeto.

Good luck to you Blurry!!

 

[pascal32]

Hair algae, no prob! Trade ya I can't answer your question, though if possible do you have a picture to confirm it is hair algae? Hair algae needs a light source- any ideas on how your basement sump is getting enough light - are you directly by a window?

 

[mr86mister]

Have you done another blackout? With any black outs do most people just pull the covers off and only run actinics for the following day? I would be just nervous about some light shock to corals. But man, sometimes corals are so hardy when the parameters are just right, they can handle almost anything.

 

[pascal32]

This is the first complete blackout. Before I turned off the basement tank lights, however the basement light fixtures get left on all the time.

I was planning atinic only for 2-3 days after.


Thoughts?

 

[pascal32]

3rd day is almost over! peeked inside. Things look alright - birdsnest looks like it has lost a lot of color. some polyps on the zoas look kinda rough, orange torch is pulled in.

the kicker is that the Dino's are still there. are they going to detach or should I be vacuuming them off?

 

[solRNY]

3rd day is almost over! peeked inside. Things look alright - birdsnest looks like it has lost a lot of color. some polyps on the zoas look kinda rough, orange torch is pulled in.

the kicker is that the Dino's are still there. are they going to detach or should I be vacuuming them off?

woohoo, almost over! hope ur orange torch pulls thru! i think you should vacuum anyhow