Journal Frank's Dutch Attempt

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Burr740 said:
I dont think the slime is clado. You tried algae-fix right? Algae-fix kills clado with a quickness, two days later it'll all be white and dead. Really the only algae Ive ever seen it work on. Its useless for most algae but its freakin lethal to cladophora varieties
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Yep tried it multiple times and did nothing for the slime. Good to know it’s not cladophora.
 
Mr.Shenanagins said:
I’ve done this as well, my tank sits at 70 all year. Also, what size are the holes on your spray bar?
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You know I can't remember. But it wouldn't really matter as it all depends on the filter flow rate and size of the spray bars. I remember I drilled them out one size larger, then went another size larger a few weeks later.

I prefer a gentle flow and it did really help.
 
GreggZ said:
But it wouldn't really matter as it all depends on the filter flow rate and size of the spray bars. I remember I drilled them out one size larger, then went another size larger a few weeks later.
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I don't want to unnecessarily restrict the flow from my filter, and I agree that we want to have a steady flow (like a few cm/sec) in all of the tank rather than high velocity. Therefore I usually calculate the cross section of my filter tubing (pi*r2), and calculate the spray bar hole diameter that I drill so that the sum of the cross sections of all the holes adds up to about my filter tubing cross section. This in my experience is a nice compromise, and as @GreggZ says I would drill up holes a bit later if I want to.
 
Yugang said:
I don't want to unnecessarily restrict the flow from my filter, and I agree that we want to have a steady flow (like a few cm/sec) in all of the tank rather than high velocity. Therefore I usually calculate the cross section of my filter tubing (pi*r2), and calculate the spray bar hole diameter that I drill so that the sum of the cross sections of all the holes adds up to about my filter tubing cross section. This in my experience is a nice compromise, and as @GreggZ says I would drill up holes a bit later if I want to.
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Could you explain this a little more? Math is not my strong suite
 
Mr.Shenanagins said:
Could you explain this a little more? Math is not my strong suite
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Sure, but let's agree that we keep it really simple.

My FX4 tube diameter is 25 mm, so the radius r = 25/2 = 12.5mm. The cross section therefore is Pi * r *r = 3.14 * 12.5 * 12.5 = 490 mm2.
Let's say that in my 1 m long spray bar I drill 30 holes, and I want the cross section of all holes combined to be equal to the FX4 tube cross section. 1 hole should therefore be about 490 / 30 mm2 = 16.3 mm2. If small hole radius is s, then pi * s * s = 16.3 mm2. s therefore is about 2.3 mm. The drill would have a diameter of about 2*2.3 = 4.6 mm.

This is just a very rough estimation, but it helps to estimate so that we won't have too much restriction in flow from the filter as we don't reduce the cross section through which the water flows. Of course reality, fluid dynamics, is much more complicated than this.
 
IMG_3532.jpeg
I found one little spec of slime maybe 1/4 inch long just floating around. Think I got it beat

IMG_3529.jpeg
The anubias I murdered with glute a month ago are coming back to life. I really need to pull out the wall and clean the pieces off but the acara have been spawning non stop and they bite.
 
Kwyet said:
Very interesting and informative read. Thanks! Also, you have a beautiful tank.
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Mr.Shenanagins said:
Looking great Frank, glad it’s on the upswing.
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Thank you both!

Now to resist the urge to change stuff.

I really want to swap the new crypts and the staurogyne. I think it would greatly improve the contrast and look. Too many dark greens and rosette types on the left and too many light colors on the right.
 
IMG_3598.jpegHack and slash trimming this week.

The meta and stelata both hit the surface by Wednesday. The stelata started to twist up ugly in the tips that were in the surface and the slime grabbed them.

I am not sure what the twisting/stunting was all about, maybe from them being slightly exposed to the atmosphere so they started converting to emergent grow. Anyway I hacked them all back and left two tall ones to see if they repeat the twisting/stunting when they hit the surface.

The crypts are crypt-ing, meaning growing to slow for me because I really want to see how that side looks before uprooting them to swap with the Porto Velho.

So no slime anywhere but minor amounts on unhappy plants. I think once everything is healthy and I keep it that way for a sustained amount of time the slime will go away for go.
 
Slime is still showing up albeit in very small amounts. It starts as very fine threads sticking out of the spray bar holes. These threads become furry and then take off into slime.

So what next….

My plants are growing well with no deterioration so I’m not going to mess with the chemistry or CO2.

I think it’s filter related but I’m not exactly sure why. I did add a pre-filter sponge to the intake and it is catching debris, not nearly as much as I expected though which I guess is good as that means there isn’t much junk in the tank.

My thoughts are swap half the pot scrubber sponges with actual biomedia which might allow for better biofilm adhesion in the filter and keep the stuff in there rather than letting it back out into the spray bar. I really don’t think this will fix it immediately but it definitely won’t hurt, plus it makes me feel better because I’m doing something.

Once again, I’m pretty certain just being patient will fix this now that things are growing and not deteriorating.
 
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Long time since I updated my journal. Life got busy as it always does this time of year. Been fighting minor slime issues and now BBA in the front left only. Namely on old growth that is deteriorating so I’m not concerned. Wish I had more time to actually scape since the plants are looking nice. Well the salamous could be more pink but my laziness allowed it to get shadowed by the triflora. Hopefully it colors back up after
the hack and slash. IMG_3749.jpeg
Before trimming

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After trimming.
 
FrankZ said:
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Yeah it’s back. This tank is getting a restart. As soon as it starts looking nice and I begin slow down from almost daily maintenance the slime comes back.
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Trust me I get it, I spent an hour plus cleaning individual anubias leaves the other day. Had to remove a bunch that were dying or too algae ridden.
 
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