Green Hair Algae Clean up Crew Experiment (Comparison of Snails) : ALGAE HUNGER GAMES
- Thread starter Wally.B
- Start date
JMorris271
New member
Bravo for this well done educational documentary.
Wally.B
Active member
Thanks everyone. Appreciate the additional feedback. Will keep plugging at Movie. Another scene was rendered after my Son's Fantastic Special Effect upgrade (he is getting good at Laser beams).
However I will get a bit off topic. BONDING/GLUING
I love adhesives, since I use them a lot with my family always breaking things. 2nd favorite to quick Duct taping which I go through rolls of Gorilla Brand Tape.
So for Coral/Rock Adhesives. I have 3 favorites.
1) CorAffix Gel (Two Little Fishies), it my fav. for SPS mounting on Plugs or rocks (However it takes a little time to set, and piece must contact good and stay still. It can set under water, and actually needs salt water to get setting faster)
2) Two Part Epoxy Putty (Great for Larger Pieces and will set under water), but I hate working with it, since it take real long time to set, and sometime the putty mount standout for a while till Coraline covers it. Also large amount of this stuff can make your skimmer go nuts.
3) I have played with Crazy Glue, but sometime it doesn't hold. Not good for wet contacts.
So the reason for this post, is I've been searching for a better mounting method. Something really quick, and/or something I could use underwater, so rocks don't have to be taken out.
Today I was at Lowes, trying to spend my $25 Gift card which expires soon.
I came across this NO GLUE, called BONDIC ($19). http://www.notaglue.com
It's similar technology your dentist uses to do fillings. You set the liquid plastic, and can do in layers, then you expose it to the UV light pen which is included, and it sets in 4 seconds.
I will email the company to see if it's aquarium safe, but it's 100% waterproof. Says it can be used under water, and non solvent, so non toxic.
I'm going to give it a try in my Experiment tank, which is still full of left over Salt water, and plenty of pruned SPS pieces.
Anyone try this BONDIC stuff in your fish tank?
However I will get a bit off topic. BONDING/GLUING
I love adhesives, since I use them a lot with my family always breaking things. 2nd favorite to quick Duct taping which I go through rolls of Gorilla Brand Tape.
So for Coral/Rock Adhesives. I have 3 favorites.
1) CorAffix Gel (Two Little Fishies), it my fav. for SPS mounting on Plugs or rocks (However it takes a little time to set, and piece must contact good and stay still. It can set under water, and actually needs salt water to get setting faster)
2) Two Part Epoxy Putty (Great for Larger Pieces and will set under water), but I hate working with it, since it take real long time to set, and sometime the putty mount standout for a while till Coraline covers it. Also large amount of this stuff can make your skimmer go nuts.
3) I have played with Crazy Glue, but sometime it doesn't hold. Not good for wet contacts.
So the reason for this post, is I've been searching for a better mounting method. Something really quick, and/or something I could use underwater, so rocks don't have to be taken out.
Today I was at Lowes, trying to spend my $25 Gift card which expires soon.
I came across this NO GLUE, called BONDIC ($19). http://www.notaglue.com
It's similar technology your dentist uses to do fillings. You set the liquid plastic, and can do in layers, then you expose it to the UV light pen which is included, and it sets in 4 seconds.
I will email the company to see if it's aquarium safe, but it's 100% waterproof. Says it can be used under water, and non solvent, so non toxic.
I'm going to give it a try in my Experiment tank, which is still full of left over Salt water, and plenty of pruned SPS pieces.
Anyone try this BONDIC stuff in your fish tank?
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CStrickland
New member
All in good faith and humour.
Lololol! That joke was my fave part of the new one!
It's cute too how you're doing it with your kid. I saw the first batch with my dad when I was real little, had the soundtrack on vinyl and some dope return of the Jedi bedsheets too. We had a lot of fun with the new one, hadn't bothered with the prequels and it was totes worth the wait.
The bondic looks promising. The chem forum might be able to help you out if you can get ur hands on an msds sheet for it. I've had good luck with the "sandwich method." Cyanoacrylate glue is the bread, and epoxy putty is the meat. You scrub the rocks with a kids toothbrush first, then work up a blob of jb waterweld epoxy, then lay a bead of superglue gel along the frag, get the putty on the glue and lay another bead along the rock contact area of the putty. Press well into the rock and presto. I've only had issues when I left too much slime on the rock and the glue stick that instead. But generally with putty you have to really moosh it in, it's not sticky, it just grabs and sets.
Does the light pen work under water? My issues are usually rock, not frag.
PS I noted the recycling phos first. Just sayin
Wally.B
Active member
Thanks for this two part Layer Tip. I never thought of doing it that way.
My issue is attaching a plug top with Frag, to a rock under water. Never really worked well for me, to look good. Sometimes took a few tries, with messy results.
So you are saying. (1) Scrub Rock (2) Attach a Epoxy foundation to Rock (3) prepare 2nd Putty with Glue attached Frag (4) attach Fresh putty with Frag, to Putty on rock?
That may work very well for my needs. It's exactly what I was looking for!! Thanks.
I still want something similar when I am not using a plug, but pure Coral/Frag, onto a rock under water. This method could work for that too. (minimal amount of Putty).
However if this Bondic is good, it appears clear, and would be better. Looking into it. Company is here is Canada, and not far away from me.
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I do the same, but it depends on the mounting. If it's an SPS/LPS coral frag alone, I usually try to just do CorAffix gel directly to the rock. If it's on a plug, or in a hard to position place (i.e. the ledge of a rock, side of a rock, or there isn't a flat surface area on the coral and rock to cement the two together) I use the sandwich method as well. I usually roll the epoxy (I use the stick variety and hand roll it) until it's past it's softest stage and starting to harden, then apply glue to coral side, stick coral, then apply glue to rock side, then submerge and mount.
Having a nano with tons of fragile corals in it have made me a master/the angriest man in the hobby with regards to mounting corals...
I've also been using the TLF cyanoacrylite gel (CorAffix Gel) with great results recently as well. I used to use the loc-tite brand cyanoacrylite gel glue (blue tube with plastic body) on my old tank, but this is cheaper. I think the old gel glue used to be thicker though so it would be easier to make a ball of the glue on a coral frag to glue down.
CStrickland
New member
^ like that. It's a blob of epoxy with glue on either side. The glue is very sticky, but only to what it is in contact with, the epoxy forms a good surface but isn't very sticky. The sandwich gives you lots of area for the glue to grab. I haven't had trouble doing it underwater, I think the water actually helps the cyanoacrylate cure.
Wally.B
Active member
While you are waiting for the Algae Wars Movie release (Some other Past Projects/Threads):
Since the movie is a little while away, thought I'd share some of my other projects similar to this CUC Experiment (RC threads).
I'm no expert, but I love to share information for others to take what is needed.
In case you need something to read, to pass the time...
1) Kitchen Tank Lighting Overhaul (MH -> T5/LED)
2) Mangrove Plant Growth Experiment
4) Copepod Farm for my Mandarin Fish ** Still happening, and known as Planet Copepodius in THE MOVIE **
5) Zoa Growing Problem/Resolution in my Kitchen Tank (Lighting and Destructive Critters)
6) Custom Built Gyre Pump (Mode Cycle Controller - Arduino Project)
7) LED Strip Lighting SMD Projects for Tank and Home
8) Script for Parsing Apex Output States
9) Bringing up Tank Salinity Slowly/Accurately via Water Top ups ** Love that calculator RC Member provided in POST #9 (Use it till this day)
10) Couple of Tank Disasters from the Past * Biggest was the Copper Overdose using a KENT Carbon Recall that you may have heard about * (Killed everything my tank overnight, except fish)
Enjoy.
WallyB
Since the movie is a little while away, thought I'd share some of my other projects similar to this CUC Experiment (RC threads).
I'm no expert, but I love to share information for others to take what is needed.
In case you need something to read, to pass the time...
1) Kitchen Tank Lighting Overhaul (MH -> T5/LED)
2) Mangrove Plant Growth Experiment
4) Copepod Farm for my Mandarin Fish ** Still happening, and known as Planet Copepodius in THE MOVIE **
5) Zoa Growing Problem/Resolution in my Kitchen Tank (Lighting and Destructive Critters)
6) Custom Built Gyre Pump (Mode Cycle Controller - Arduino Project)
7) LED Strip Lighting SMD Projects for Tank and Home
8) Script for Parsing Apex Output States
9) Bringing up Tank Salinity Slowly/Accurately via Water Top ups ** Love that calculator RC Member provided in POST #9 (Use it till this day)
10) Couple of Tank Disasters from the Past * Biggest was the Copper Overdose using a KENT Carbon Recall that you may have heard about * (Killed everything my tank overnight, except fish)
Enjoy.
WallyB
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Wally.B
Active member
BONDIC Plastic Welder (Support answer)
So Bondic replied to my inquiry. Here is their answer.
Hello Wally,
Thank you for reaching out to the Bondic team!
We appreciate your interest in our product and are happy to assist you
Yes, that is correct, Bondic once it has been fully cured is 100% non toxic
You can in fact apply our product in water, so long as you place a sealed bag around the UV light to prevent any electrical damage. Bondic is 100% water proof and will have no affect on the curing process if applied under water.
Some of our clients have used our product to repair a rip in their pool liner!
However for your sake, it may be easier for you to apply in a dry state if possible.
I have attached a link to direct you towards our MSDS page: http://notaglue.com/pages/material-safety-data-sheet
I hope this answers your questions Wally.
Should you have any others or feel you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
The Bondic Team
So Bondic replied to my inquiry. Here is their answer.
Hello Wally,
Thank you for reaching out to the Bondic team!
We appreciate your interest in our product and are happy to assist you
Yes, that is correct, Bondic once it has been fully cured is 100% non toxic
You can in fact apply our product in water, so long as you place a sealed bag around the UV light to prevent any electrical damage. Bondic is 100% water proof and will have no affect on the curing process if applied under water.
Some of our clients have used our product to repair a rip in their pool liner!
However for your sake, it may be easier for you to apply in a dry state if possible.
I have attached a link to direct you towards our MSDS page: http://notaglue.com/pages/material-safety-data-sheet
I hope this answers your questions Wally.
Should you have any others or feel you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
The Bondic Team
Wally.B
Active member
I think I may have found the Cause of my Green Hair Algae Outbreaks.
It all goes back a while ago. When someone mentioned after a year+ of having this SPS tank running that my Rocks and Pumps had very little Coralline on them. Person recommended increasing Potassium.
However without a test kit for K, I really didn't want to start. So I got lazy and bought ZeoVit Potassium Iodide AutoElements, which is a automatic Tablet like product, which doses small amounts of both Trace Elements automatically.
But around the time before this last crazy Alage Bloom, I started doing more frequent Water Changes with Topic Marine PRO Salt. Went from Monthly water changes to weekly.
I think the water changes brought up my Pottassium to good levels, but the dosing was still happening. And what I just read is TOO MUCH POTASSIUM will lead to Alage bloom.
There is a clue, that support this theory. Remember my rocks for over a year didn't get much coralline (I wondered why). But after this last GHA outbreak I finally broke down and scrubbed the rocks. Under the GHA the rocks were dramatically covered in Purple and Red Coralline like never before.
Thus it could be that the Elevated levels of Potassium gave me GHA and Coralline. (I only wanted one )
Proof is that my PO4 was low (0.02) and same with Nitrate (1-5ppm), and I thought that was due to Algae absorbing it. (true, but Potassium could have been fueling the bloom).
SO I REALLY NEED A Potassium Kit. I head Elos is hard to read, Salifert is delayed with production come back. Other are insane to do.
It all goes back a while ago. When someone mentioned after a year+ of having this SPS tank running that my Rocks and Pumps had very little Coralline on them. Person recommended increasing Potassium.
However without a test kit for K, I really didn't want to start. So I got lazy and bought ZeoVit Potassium Iodide AutoElements, which is a automatic Tablet like product, which doses small amounts of both Trace Elements automatically.
But around the time before this last crazy Alage Bloom, I started doing more frequent Water Changes with Topic Marine PRO Salt. Went from Monthly water changes to weekly.
I think the water changes brought up my Pottassium to good levels, but the dosing was still happening. And what I just read is TOO MUCH POTASSIUM will lead to Alage bloom.
There is a clue, that support this theory. Remember my rocks for over a year didn't get much coralline (I wondered why). But after this last GHA outbreak I finally broke down and scrubbed the rocks. Under the GHA the rocks were dramatically covered in Purple and Red Coralline like never before.
Thus it could be that the Elevated levels of Potassium gave me GHA and Coralline. (I only wanted one
)Proof is that my PO4 was low (0.02) and same with Nitrate (1-5ppm), and I thought that was due to Algae absorbing it. (true, but Potassium could have been fueling the bloom).
SO I REALLY NEED A Potassium Kit. I head Elos is hard to read, Salifert is delayed with production come back. Other are insane to do.
Wally.B
Active member
ALGAE WARS Movie Update: (Production Phase)
Things are moving along slowly with back to work. I have all the content, most of the plot, etc (Plot scene ordering is tough, and I really now have respect for people in the move industry when it comes to production time. But they have teams.
The production Cartoon Dialogue part is hard work. Manually Editing each photo to overlap the bubble talk.
Till now I've been using Microsoft Movie Maker with PhotoEditors. It's good but tedious and slow.
So I just downloaded a copy of Cyberlink Power Director, and going thru learning curve. So many buttons and gizmo's to learn.
Any graphics/video Guru's out there who know of any other Video Editing Software?
Something to overlap Cartoon bubble talk more easier. Like a Lego BrickWorks movie editor, that I see Movies on YouTube.
Thanks.
WallyB
Things are moving along slowly with back to work. I have all the content, most of the plot, etc (Plot scene ordering is tough, and I really now have respect for people in the move industry when it comes to production time. But they have teams.
The production Cartoon Dialogue part is hard work. Manually Editing each photo to overlap the bubble talk.
Till now I've been using Microsoft Movie Maker with PhotoEditors. It's good but tedious and slow.
So I just downloaded a copy of Cyberlink Power Director, and going thru learning curve. So many buttons and gizmo's to learn.
Any graphics/video Guru's out there who know of any other Video Editing Software?
Something to overlap Cartoon bubble talk more easier. Like a Lego BrickWorks movie editor, that I see Movies on YouTube.
Thanks.
WallyB
Wally.B
Active member
HUNGER WARS (Part II- The Algae Factory) Experiment REVERSE (Let it grow!!)
So I was about to drain and clean the Rock Scrubbing tank from the Hunger Wars Experiment, when I got an idea.
The tank is a GhostTown, with all the left over crap.
My cleaned up tank is starting to show a bit of GHA return. This may be part of a normal cycle.
However, I realized that the scrubbing tank may be an opportunity to see what makes Algae grow.
So I'm going to run it under the Worst Display Tank conditions, which normally are hard to simulate.
I have the following:
TANK with:
1) High Organic Content
2) High Nitrate Level
3) High PO4 Level
4) MH Light Bulb that are old
5) Crappy skimmer
6) Have some of my most feared Additives (Amino's)
I am going to run this tank and play with it, to see what really makes Algae grow.
FINALLY, something I'm really good at
Stay tuned..
So I was about to drain and clean the Rock Scrubbing tank from the Hunger Wars Experiment, when I got an idea.
The tank is a GhostTown, with all the left over crap.
My cleaned up tank is starting to show a bit of GHA return. This may be part of a normal cycle.
However, I realized that the scrubbing tank may be an opportunity to see what makes Algae grow.
So I'm going to run it under the Worst Display Tank conditions, which normally are hard to simulate.
I have the following:
TANK with:
1) High Organic Content
2) High Nitrate Level
3) High PO4 Level
4) MH Light Bulb that are old
5) Crappy skimmer
6) Have some of my most feared Additives (Amino's)
I am going to run this tank and play with it, to see what really makes Algae grow.
FINALLY, something I'm really good at
Stay tuned..
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Wally.B
Active member
Yeah, it is kind of a Crazy Experiment, which I wouldn't just do. But why waste the PO4/NO3/Nutrient Loaded water down the drain.
Plus I've become gun-shy of additives with Amino Acids (Seachem Fuel, PolypBooster and AcroPower in particular), which I think has been my Algae trigger.
What I plan to do is a bit scientific observational.
- I'll run the Time Lapse camera at Regular intervals, and wait for Alage to start growing at a regular pace (with the water I have).
- If it doesn't grow I'll just throw some food in or whatever is needed.
- Then I'll add one additive at a time and see if there is any Algae growth Burst Activity on the Time Lapses.
It might be very visible.
- I might do some water tests, but they might not prove much since there won't be any Livestock to feed and produce waste.
THEN I WILL REVERSE the Experiment Again (To test Algae Killers, for sterilization of Equipment)
- Try some:
---> Vinegar
---> Hydrogen Peroxide
---> etc.
We'll see. It will be fun, and nothing could upset me, since this is not a Display Tank. And there will be nothing to hurt alive, except the Algae.
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Wally.B
Active member
(ALGAE TANK) 7 Days Later (Update)
So it's been a week. Not much has changed. Actually tank looks better (cleaner).
Time Lapse Photo's have nothing to show.
Time to kick things up a notch.
Going to add my most feared Additives. ( Seachem Fuel and PolyLabs Booster).
See you next week (or sooner if things change)
So it's been a week. Not much has changed. Actually tank looks better (cleaner).
Time Lapse Photo's have nothing to show.
Time to kick things up a notch.
Going to add my most feared Additives. ( Seachem Fuel and PolyLabs Booster).
See you next week (or sooner if things change)
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Wally.B
Active member
ALGAE WARS (Movie Update) . Sorry for the delay
I had hesitation to post this update (since I didn't want to make another Empty Promise of releasing the movie). However I thought this might give me the push I need to finish it.
So I have dabbled on the movie in spare time. Son is doing mid term finals this week, etc (excuses eh?).
So for my motivation, I've finalized the Character names, organized the clips/photos, and have the plot pretty well set in a workable order of scenes.
I have gone back to Microsoft MovieMaker after trying PhotoDirector, and few other editors since Movie Maker is best/simple, and does the job. Yes I do have some challenges with aspect ratios, but that will just be an acceptable compromise.
So I'm really going to try and spend some concrete time to put it all together and release the movie. It won't be as perfect as I want it, but that would take months.
So thanks for your patience so far. Feel free to bug me, since that will push me harder to work at it.
Wanted to confirm that Algae Wars Movie will be done. It's not a dead end, give up, or empty promise.
WallyB.
I had hesitation to post this update (since I didn't want to make another Empty Promise of releasing the movie). However I thought this might give me the push I need to finish it.
So I have dabbled on the movie in spare time. Son is doing mid term finals this week, etc (excuses eh?).
So for my motivation, I've finalized the Character names, organized the clips/photos, and have the plot pretty well set in a workable order of scenes.
I have gone back to Microsoft MovieMaker after trying PhotoDirector, and few other editors since Movie Maker is best/simple, and does the job. Yes I do have some challenges with aspect ratios, but that will just be an acceptable compromise.
So I'm really going to try and spend some concrete time to put it all together and release the movie. It won't be as perfect as I want it, but that would take months.
So thanks for your patience so far. Feel free to bug me, since that will push me harder to work at it.
Wanted to confirm that Algae Wars Movie will be done. It's not a dead end, give up, or empty promise.
WallyB.
Virtual Balboa
New member
I'm looking forward to it.
