opinions wanted

[MICKSNOWDOG]

ok my issues are.
local ph is up n down all over the place. always chasing it running tests all the time.
something is causing whitespot in my L's, even though nothing is cross contaminated.
temps range here from 0 in winter to 45+ in summer.
always having to do large wc cos i'm running under gravel filters and sponges and the filth accumulates too quickly, too much work for the preggas mrs.

so i wanna bugger off all the gravel and adjust ph with driftwood and coral, no chemicals.
i want to move them to another room where they will be temperature controlled.
i am considering running sump (after white spot is beaten) or buying 6 eheim canisters ($$$$) and putting one on each. and internal filter in each.
sump is gonna be harder to setup but more cost effective and easier to wc and treat etc, but is going to contaminate everything if one gets sick.
canisters are gonna cost more, be more long term work, and more to run long term also.

has anyone got any ideas, my head hurts.

 

[macvsog23]

Just looking at your range of fish and the conditions ie temp your subjected to i think a new start with new filters and rearranging things may be the way to go
make a plan of the tanks layout and the species your going to house in each tank.
Now as for the water
I would go for a filter on each tank and a R/O + HMA mix of water .
I would have minimum substrate and use bug wood along with almond leaves to soften the water the HMA would give you a stable Kh thus a chance to have a stable PH tanks could be insulated and the room heat controlled.

use Eheim filters they draw less load power wise

 

[D-MAC]

If your problem is tap water I would suggest using an R/O hma filter that way you have total control over what you are adding to the aquarium.

 

[bigbird]

ok get rid of the undergravels. Get external filters . A large sump will possibly cause infection to all fish if you have this in the system. Temp changes will occur during our winters in Australia so maybe just up the thermo a few degrees. I find at night temp goes down to 26 and during day the tank at 28-29. Might also be a cause. We only have 2 months to go of winter, so these are my thoughts. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[MICKSNOWDOG]

Sorry peoples but what is hma? bug wood?
thanks for your input, much appreciated

 

[D-MAC]

This may answer some of your questions
http://www.devotedly-discus.co.uk/acatalog/DD_HMA_80.html
http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8754

 

[bigal66]

imo you would be better off running more than one sump, it would be more cost effective in the long run.
if you know how to set-up the sumps it will work more efficiently than any cannister filter.
good luck alan.

 

[L777]

Hi,
Conversely I would run separate filtration systems on each tank. You will have more control over each tanks individual parameters, with a sump all your eggs are in one basket.

Change to RO water and master using chemicals or HMA water to remineralise it.

I tend to view whitespot as more of a symptom of another problem rather than the cause. You need to isolate what that cause is and remedy it before trying to treat the whitespot as it'll just return.

Chris.

 

[macvsog23]

Just looking at your range of fish and the conditions ie temp your subjected to i think a new start with new filters and rearranging things may be the way to go
make a plan of the tanks layout and the species your going to house in each tank.
Now as for the water
I would go for a filter on each tank and a R/O + HMA mix of water .
I would have minimum substrate and use bug wood along with almond leaves to soften the water the HMA would give you a stable Kh thus a chance to have a stable PH tanks could be insulated and the room heat controlled.

use Eheim filters they draw less load power wise

Or Bog wood?

 

[jessonthenet]

As far as I am aware whitespot is brought about due to low immune system sometimes brought on by stress. Read up that white spot is always present but if the fish are not stressed and in good health they will be resistant. Whitespot is a secondary disease.

Bogwood has tannins in it which lower ph.

This is HMA(heavy metal axe) quote taken from a conversation with a member from elsewhere:

"A HMA filter is a special form of carbon filter designed for removing heavy metals. RO water is free of heavy metals, but also low in GH/KH, nitrate, phosphate, and anything else that may be in the tap-water. "

 

[bigbird]

The winters in Australia are harsch, as we do not have insulation like in europe. I find the main cause for any issue of white spot
1. Stress, caused by
a. lower water temps due winter cold
b. you mentioned you do a lot of water changes, this also dramatically changes the water temp. I recently did a change of 40% water and temp went down from 28 to 22 and that even for me was shocking. So in winter now I change my tactic and do a daily water change of only 40liters, thus temp change is not dramatic.
c. Would again suggest individual filter per tank, easy to manage. With sump you can infect the whole set up
cheers jk :thumbup: