I just can't win with Nitrates

[kissman]

That is just crazy i never know aipstasia was like a weed/seed/algae and stays dormant, I've always thought they needed to stay alive.

OMG that is only a little bit on that rock, I have some spots the crap is covering. It got worse as I blasted the rocks in the tank. I am hoping that by cleaning up a lot of the detritus, adding the file fish and eventually peppermint shrimps they will die off.

 

[brad65ford]

OMG that is only a little bit on that rock, I have some spots the crap is covering. It got worse as I blasted the rocks in the tank. I am hoping that by cleaning up a lot of the detritus, adding the file fish and eventually peppermint shrimps they will die off.

Jesus dude, have you tried what I've suggested to you before. Its not much work and can be done by yourself or with another set of hands.

 

[mindi]

I dont know that Aiptasia goes dormant, it's main evil is that it can grow from single small pieces so physically touching it is usually a step backwards. The best solution I have found is RedSea AiptaisX which is like squirting a white resin into the anemone and it always kills it. Everything else like acid/lemon juice.boiling water all stun it but it recovers. No reason to think Joes Juice and others dont work..just havent tried them, but have never had a recovery from AiptaisX

Dont squirt it, dont touch it, dont cut it.... unless you are trying to propagate it. It comes with live rock.....suck it up basically.

 

[brad65ford]

I dont know that Aiptasia goes dormant, it's main evil is that it can grow from single small pieces so physically touching it is usually a step backwards. The best solution I have found is RedSea AiptaisX which is like squirting a white resin into the anemone and it always kills it. Everything else like acid/lemon juice.boiling water all stun it but it recovers. No reason to think Joes Juice and others dont work..just havent tried them, but have never had a recovery from AiptaisX

+1 I didn't think so either just doesn't make sense. When i see one i act on it right away before it takes off.

TORCH them and move on people. Pull rock up (doesn't have to be all the way, just out of water) and torch the f'er's. Simple and effective.

 

[kissman]

I dont know that Aiptasia goes dormant, it's main evil is that it can grow from single small pieces so physically touching it is usually a step backwards. The best solution I have found is RedSea AiptaisX which is like squirting a white resin into the anemone and it always kills it. Everything else like acid/lemon juice.boiling water all stun it but it recovers. No reason to think Joes Juice and others dont work..just havent tried them, but have never had a recovery from AiptaisX

Dont squirt it, dont touch it, dont cut it.... unless you are trying to propagate it. It comes with live rock.....suck it up basically.

I started with a few used Aiptasia X and for every one I killed 5 came back

 

[mindi]

jesus dude, have you tried what i've suggested to you before. Its not much work and can be done by yourself or with another set of hands.

lol

 

[kissman]

+1 I didn't think so either just doesn't make sense. When i see one i act on it right away before it takes off.

TORCH them and move on people. Pull rock up (doesn't have to be all the way, just out of water) and torch the f'er's. Simple and effective.

Not so simple since my rock is attached to each other.

 

[kissman]

I have beat it before

 

[mindi]

just choose your treatment...X or Joes..whatever...and persist without touching them. An outbreak now could be from previously squirting or disturbing it... just keep killing them off one at a time and all will be good. They dont actually do any harm, they just need to be controlled rather than a tank full of crappy aiptasia..so if there are a few you cant see them you will probably not get to zero but it will not be a big deal.

 

[JPMagyar]

So looking at the pictures you posted and seeing the algae on the rocks leads me to one added thought. Anytime I have a problem with macro algae like yours I use overwhelming force to get rid of it, and that always includes upping my cleanup crew. Years ago I had the pleasure of visiting the famous Steven Weast, owner of the Oregon Reef, and he was the one who told me he never uses snails in his tank because "they always turn into little bits of hidden decay." He preferred urchins as his primary in tank cleaner. Since then I have relied heavily on urchins. The trouble is the cheap pin cushion urchins that do a fantastic job of keeping a tank pristine clean also have a tendency to knock stuff over and/or grab frags and carry them around so realistically they are only good if everything in your tank is safely attached to the rocks.

Long story short . . . I would consider upping your cleanup crew, and usually that means way more critters than you think. I have found Reeftopia to be a cheap and reliable supplier. My first choice would be 3 pin cushion urchins, and my second choice would be a "classic" cleanup crew of turbo snails, blue legs, and emeralds.

That doesn't mean you can stop pulling out the macro algae by hand. It's still critical to bring the nuisance algae down to levels where the cleaners have a chance to keep any new growth from starting while you slowly chip away at the large stuff. It takes a team effort to eradicate a tank of macro nuisance algae, but once the rocks are clean your crew should be able to keep it that way with no trouble. The fact that you are getting to the point where macro algae is appearing is proof enough that your cleanup crew is not up to the task.




These are the 'lil buggers I use . . .

And here's a picture of the famous Oregon Reef circa 2002 I think . . .

 

[kissman]

great info once again JP thanks. I will look into the Urchins.

 

[kissman]

been working 12 hour shifts haven't had the chance to run tests but will run them tomorrow when I get home. Done with 12 hour shifts for a bit

 

[JPMagyar]

12 hour shifts? You have my utmost sympathy!! Take your time and please DON'T stop posting!!!

 

[Hockeynut120]

I think someone else said it but I would do a couple big water changes just to knock it back before you try to maintain. I would do 30 gallons a week for 2 to 3 weeks and see if you can get it to drop before you start dosing any carbon. If you want to help it along try to dose special blend or night out to help build a larger bacterial bed. I dose these two bacterial additives on maintenance doses and it really helps.
Good luck

 

[OoooDRAGONoooo]

Hey man, first, I think it's important to understand that you are introducing your Nitrates. Nitrates are the product of your biological filtration process and occur naturally in our systems. Only, you are not being able to turn those into the last byproduct of your nitrogen cycle. Why? Because the bacteria that does this livesin the anoxic (no oxygen)areas of your aquarium. These areas include in the inner chambers of your rocks and in the deeper layers of a deep sand bed. If you don't have a lot of highly porous rock or a DSB (Deep Sand Bed) your system is ill equiped to perform this function. However, there are alternatives. In your case I would say more rock and/or a denitrator.
Chaeto will help but it can only do too much. Specially if it has to compete with a plant strain that has already taken hold in your tank.
The third and last thing I should say about Nitrates is that all food that doesn't get eaten will become Nitrates so a)do not overfeed, b)change your mechanical filter media often and c)make sure you don't have dead zones in the tank or at least vacuum them well at water changes.
If you do any or all of these, you will beat your trates in no time. A month in the life of a reef is a mere instant, so don't despair and keep at it.

 

[OoooDRAGONoooo]

Good thread,interesting and helpful.ty