cracker

good point Chim.... do you run ZEO steve?

At 10-12KH, I have no issues with maintaining calcium.... I think it will only be an issue maybe, regarding Reactor use. Calcium and Carbonates are only affected by incorrect Magnesium levels. Magnesium needs to be right in order to maintain the other two.

NSW parameters...maybe 6 - 8 then.

High KH keeps the PH system solidly stable. A KH of 6 to 7 is what most people keep their tanks at because thats what people have told them they should do. High KH does two things. 1: PH stays EXTREMELY stable. 2: The water column has LOADS of bicarbonate for rapid coral growth. (So long as calcium and MG are present at correct levels). You can safely run your KH at up to 14 if necessary, but stay away from a KH of around 18. This reading and higher can "Undisolve" or precipitate calcium out of the water column. in other words the calcium turns back into powder and becomes useless. Corals cannot use it whilst in this condition. If you run a KH of 14 to 16 continuously, the PH will stay so stable it will stick like poos to a blanket!! 12KH is a bit more realistic though I feel, still much more stable than 6 or 7.

This is funny.....! I shall prove it to you all....Hahahahahahaaaaaa!!!

There wont be enough in the water to make a noticeable difference. NSW is too dilute for that to occur. I will also protein skim the water change water for 2 hours prior to feeding the display.

Thats why Im leving my NSW for one month before water changes. All ICH will die and so will bacteria.

"Seachem reef dip". dip all LR and corals in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes and throw them in your tank directly afterwards. It is a coral disinfectant that will kill all parasitic diseases, plus others that may be attached to them. one bottle will last for years!

im suprised you PBT didnt get it...however the last comment I agree with! wont be doing that again.

it will work...just may take time, dedication and patience.....I can do that. picking up my freshly built hospital, QT, Dip tank today. i cant afford to have another wipe out in a 1400 litre tank. smaller tanks are easier to manage if hit by ICH.

raising you KH to 10 or 12 eliminates low ph readings. (adding bi-carb). sorry about that ZEO users!!! my tank sits on 8.2, 24 hours. carbonate sand by itself will do nothing for buffering.

not bad......

Im going to treat the tank two or three times over a year so as to help get rid of the original issue, with "stop parasite". QT every new fish for 6 weeks. (week one =0, week 2 and 3 = copper, following weeks = 0). "Reef dip" every rock, coral, shell, zoo or whatever before it goes in. then Im going to prove my point by adding a powder blue tang as my last fish and show it getting zero whitespot. once a reef is established, you want to leave it anyway....no need to keep adding things all the time.

im running a laguna 7 8000lph...great pumps.

basically along the lines mentioned above!! Cheers Wasp!

I reckon I can do it.

Had to put my large Female Tomato in hospital today...... Parasites had hit too hard. She let me catch her! See what happens...she's pretty tough. Im pretty sure Ive got ICH and MARINE VELVET.......great! Blue tang has only 5% of visable spots remaining. Yellow tangs are reducing also. Salifert is working so far. will keep posting........

agreed.... I think they are similar, but may have do a search on the net. just search for freshwater whitespot.

A closed loop is for current movement, so it is no different to a powerhead or stream...they all have zero head!

No worries Suphew.....Ive learnt more about the hobby in the past week than the rest of it! ...just trying to let people know how much of a bastard this disease is.

no, not a pistol.... should be all good.

just had it built, picking it up tomorrow..... Im doin' it!!

No, your tank will have had it anyway. The elevated heat by 1 or 2 degrees has probably stressed the fish slightly causing their immune system to reduce. This in turn has probably allowed ICH to take hold. Try and stabilise the temperature at 24 degrees to slow down the cycle. Try to get some Salifert "Stop Parasite" which is due to arrive in NZ shortly. Contact "Reef" to find out where and when it will be available. Once you are treating with "stop parasite", slowly raise temp to 26-27 degrees to speed the cycle to help the medication work quicker. Good luck.

quite confident now...... Ira, I think you are thinking of mantis shrimps. check out TOTM july 2005. 'he has lots of them.

A pic of one. (two actually). hope he doesnt get too big and eat my fish. (THE LEFT HAND SHRIMPS, RIGHT HAND PINCER IS THE ONE THAT SNAPS....BLOODY LOUD!!!). EXATLY THE SAME TO LOOK AT AS THE ONE I FOUND. COOL!!!