some random questions

[TheEdge]

I've had a 65 gallon FOWLR tank up for about 7 weeks. Im learning, but still have much to learn. Anyway a few questions:

I dont like using chemicals too much but is there any downside to using chemipure elite in my filter to help with excess phosphates? It seems to work pretty good.

I dont really like the way dirty gravel or gravel with algae growing on it. Is it okay to stir up the gravel once a week to clean it and turn it over a bit to keep it fresh looking?

I had one of my 4 fish with a very mild case of Ich which lasted a few days. No fish have showed signs for several weeks. Can I ever be sure the tank is Ich free so I can add new fish (I will QT the new fish) or will the tank have it unseen indefinately?

 

[kraze3]

Chemipure I cant help with you, never used it.

I would ditch the gravel and replace with sand. The gravel/cc will trap all kinds of crap and become a nitrate factory. With some sand sifting snails and maybe a sand sifting goby your sand will always look brand new. If you really want the gravel buy one of the vaccuum attatchments to use with your siphon hose.

IMO all of your fish need to be removed and treated with hypo for 6-8 weeks. Leaving the DT fishless for this time is the only way to know that there is NO ich in the tank anymore. Its possible that ich will return if you just leave the fish in there.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14684568#post14684568 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kraze3
IMO all of your fish need to be removed and treated with hypo for 6-8 weeks. Leaving the DT fishless for this time is the only way to know that there is NO ich in the tank anymore. Its possible that ich will return if you just leave the fish in there.

+1 on the ich

 

[Aquarist007]

what kind of filtration system do you have---do you have a sump and or protein skimmer.

In a 65 gallon you should have a slow rate of between 1300-2600 gph

The best thing to use is a turkey baster--lightly baste the substrate and reef rock once a week and get the settled stuff back up into the water column where it can be filtered off

 

[hamiltonguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14685863#post14685863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
what kind of filtration system do you have---do you have a sump and or protein skimmer.

In a 65 gallon you should have a slow rate of between 1300-2600 gph

The best thing to use is a turkey baster--lightly baste the substrate and reef rock once a week and get the settled stuff back up into the water column where it can be filtered off

+1 Best thing to do is get some good current in there and make sure there are no dead spots. Anything that gets blown into the water can be filtered out.

Don't mean to thread jack, but hey capn didn't you were from Hamilton too