They'll be glad to design a system that will sustain your system!
BG
----- Original Message -----
From: William Allen jr. <billandbonnie_at_peoplepc.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 7:52 PM
Subject: NANFA-- large tank problem
> Members - WARNING - this may be a rather long message
>
> I'm going to tell y'all what my problem is, give you my diagnosis, my
> possible solutions, and then ask if y'all have any better ideas.
>
> I take care (on a volunteer basis) of a 600 gallon native tank at the
> Sci-port discovery center, a childrens science/exhibit center. The tank is
> stocked with about a dozen or so bluegills up to about 8", maybe 4 white
> perch of the same size, a few shad about the same size, and maybe 6 or so
> young channel cats about 6", and some green sailfin mollies. we have a few
> live plants - some hydrilla, hornwort, and a lilly. Not having a great
deal
> of luck with plants, probably not enough light.Filtration consists of an
> overflow and a large sump with Bioballs, driven by a (very big) Jacuzzi
> pump. Sorry i can't be more specific - a local aquarium service installed
> everything and was subsequently fired when Sci-port couldn't convince them
> that we wanted native AMERICAN fish, raqther than african cichlids, which
is
> what the aquarium service puts in EVERY tank that they do.
> Evidently filtration is doing its job, there is no detectable ammonia,
> nitrite, or nitrate. i do a 20% water change every week. The fish are not
> overfed - in fact the o[pposite may be true because the woman in charge is
> more into herps and still kinda thinks that fish should be fed every two
or
> three days like a snake! The fish are fed shrimp pellets, flake food, and
> sometimes I catch some Gambusia.
> PROBLEM - although the water tests OK, there is a lot of suspended matter
in
> it and a lot of "crud" on the bottom. It is difficult to do a good "gravel
> vacuum" because there are several braces across the tank that make working
> in it difficult - plus the fact that it's about 4 feet deep and another 4
> feet off of the floor!
> ALSO, we're getting sick fish - patches of cottony looking fungus.
> I THINK that although the water tests OK, that the accumulated crud on the
> bottom is harboring bacteria.
> SO- can anyone suggest-----
> 1) a good thorough way to clean the bottom
> 2) a filter that we can add for mechanical filtration (remember, there is
no
> usable "rim" to hang a filter on).
> 3) any meds that will KO the "Fungus" (yes, i know it's bacteria) without
> KOing the bacteria bed?
>
> anxiously awaiting your replies,
>
> Bill Allen
>
>
>
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/----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org