PM and GAC (mbbuna)

[saltygeek]

I have read some of the threads where you have had success and advise others to try GAC. You seem to think it might be from iron based phosphate removers or excess iron in the water allowing a particular parasite to increase in numbers. What do you think of using seachems cuprasorb? It says it removes heavy metals. On their site in the FAQ section on cuprisorb it says it will remove iron. Just a thought...

 

[mbbuna]

i dont really know much about the product other then what i just read on there site. if this is really whats going on, and it will remove iron then it should work. its kinda pricey though, for 1gal container it about $130, and you can get a 1gal of Black Diamond from Wal Mart for about $10

 

[saltygeek]

I don't think you need very much of it to work, thats why i was thinking of it because you were saying to use large amounts of carbon. plus it can be regenerated. Everyone keeps talking about getting the black diamond from walmart, for some reason drs foster and smith is cheaper than my walmart. Actually only like 50cents cheaper but everyone was saying it was like half the price

Edit: 60g of cuprisorb treats 60 gallons but also from reading on here, seachem doesnt recommend using it all the time in the tank so its not gonna get rid of the need for carbon but may help with PM.

 

[saltygeek]

one other thing. Do you know if the parasite that the lab found on the clams Barry sent to them is the same as the one that uses iron?

 

[mbbuna]

the protozoa that Barry N. found was listed as "unknown" ,there are 1000's and 1000's of different kinds, but the study that i found, linked Iron to a Perkinsus

 

[capefear]

hummmm, so i see, what about using a poly filter pad along with carbon ? i would also guess that the only tanks that run into this problem are not using RO water, like myself.

 

[mbbuna]

a poly filter wouldn't hurt any.

whats so confusing is some people get this, and dont add anything to there tanks.

this was posted by sherman after i asked if any trace elements or GFO's were used.

Nope. I'm one of those minimalist types. I do 14% water changes weekly and religiously, with IO. I use kalkwasser for 100% topoff. I dose Ca/buffer/mag, as needed, trying to maintain levels. I'm in the process of building a calcium reactor so I can stop the dosing. Nothing else ever makes it into the tank. (except fish food). Oh, and I use mechanical filtration in the powerfilter, before the carbon, to pick up the junk. I replace that weekly. It's basically just a filter sock, except I don't have a sump to place it in, so I use the powerfilter.

 

[saltygeek]

I assume he's using RO?