Why NTTH at times seems to be Ich Central...

Sk8r · 09/15/2017, 12:39 PM

The answer is sadly simple. NTTH folk too often concentrate on precision with the cycle chemistry, and then---don't know how very, very, very, very critical the next step is, which is to be absolutely certain A) the sandbed is somewhat matured beyond mere cycle (ie, can it handle even one fish safely yet?) and B) that the water will not be (for a fish) like a run-in with sandpaper.
SOLVING A: put a CUC in and even FEED them for a bit. Their job, understand, is not to 'clean up' the algae. It's to clean up fish that might die sometime in the history of the tank. Get them in there, let them do itty-bitty poo that will encourage the sandbed, and continue testing to be SURE that sandbed is handling the bioload.
SOLVING B: understand that fishes' slime coat is their protection against parasites and bacteria---ruining it is like sandpapering your skin and then going out to play in the dirt. It is stripped by some meds (copper, for one) and also by water that is low in alkalinity---below 7.9. SO---how do you help that slime coat? If you are doing any treatment, keep the fish in qt AFTER the med is gone and bring that water to 7.9-9.0 alkalinity for a week or so before you put them into your tank. And be sure your tank water is in that same range---constantly. Forever.
If you do these two things, you will have much better luck. That 7.9-9.0 rule for your qt and for your tank will serve you for all your career in this hobby.

tjm9331 · 09/15/2017, 01:05 PM

forgive my ignorance...NTTH?

Sk8r · 09/15/2017, 01:08 PM

New To The Hobby.

mcgyvr · 09/15/2017, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjm9331

forgive my ignorance...NTTH?

Ha ha.. What a NTTH you are...

(I didn't know either)

guess we need to teach sk8r how to introduce acronyms properly..

First usage of the acronym should be as follows..
"New to the hobby (NTTH) folks......"

Then the full words can be omitted..

tjm9331 · 09/15/2017, 01:22 PM

Sk8r · 09/15/2017, 01:23 PM

Well, it piqued your curiosity.

tjm9331 · 09/15/2017, 01:37 PM

sure did, I learned 2 things from this post...

1. NTTH means 'new to the hobby'

2. I had no idea alkalinity plays a part in fish slime coat production

I will be sure to keep an eye on my QT alkalinity numbers from now on

James404 · 09/15/2017, 01:37 PM

Interesting point about the alk, I had never heard about that until now.

mcgyvr · 09/15/2017, 02:01 PM

I learned one thing..
Using the enter key makes stuff easier to read..

Quote:

The answer is sadly simple. New to the hobby (NTTH) folk too often concentrate on precision with the cycle chemistry, and then---don't know how very, very, very, very critical the next step is, which is to be absolutely certain A) the sandbed is somewhat matured beyond mere cycle (ie, can it handle even one fish safely yet?) and B) that the water will not be (for a fish) like a run-in with sandpaper.

SOLVING A: put a CUC in and even FEED them for a bit. Their job, understand, is not to 'clean up' the algae. It's to clean up fish that might die sometime in the history of the tank. Get them in there, let them do itty-bitty poo that will encourage the sandbed, and continue testing to be SURE that sandbed is handling the bioload.

SOLVING B: understand that fishes' slime coat is their protection against parasites and bacteria---ruining it is like sandpapering your skin and then going out to play in the dirt. It is stripped by some meds (copper, for one) and also by water that is low in alkalinity---below 7.9. SO---how do you help that slime coat? If you are doing any treatment, keep the fish in qt AFTER the med is gone and bring that water to 7.9-9.0 alkalinity for a week or so before you put them into your tank. And be sure your tank water is in that same range---constantly. Forever.

If you do these two things, you will have much better luck. That 7.9-9.0 rule for your qt and for your tank will serve you for all your career in this hobby.

09/15/2017, 12:39 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Why NTTH at times seems to be Ich Central... The answer is sadly simple. NTTH folk too often concentrate on precision with the cycle chemistry, and then---don't know how very, very, very, very critical the next step is, which is to be absolutely certain A) the sandbed is somewhat matured beyond mere cycle (ie, can it handle even one fish safely yet?) and B) that the water will not be (for a fish) like a run-in with sandpaper. SOLVING A: put a CUC in and even FEED them for a bit. Their job, understand, is not to 'clean up' the algae. It's to clean up fish that might die sometime in the history of the tank. Get them in there, let them do itty-bitty poo that will encourage the sandbed, and continue testing to be SURE that sandbed is handling the bioload. SOLVING B: understand that fishes' slime coat is their protection against parasites and bacteria---ruining it is like sandpapering your skin and then going out to play in the dirt. It is stripped by some meds (copper, for one) and also by water that is low in alkalinity---below 7.9. SO---how do you help that slime coat? If you are doing any treatment, keep the fish in qt AFTER the med is gone and bring that water to 7.9-9.0 alkalinity for a week or so before you put them into your tank. And be sure your tank water is in that same range---constantly. Forever. If you do these two things, you will have much better luck. That 7.9-9.0 rule for your qt and for your tank will serve you for all your career in this hobby. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/15/2017, 01:08 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	New To The Hobby. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/15/2017, 01:23 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Well, it piqued your curiosity. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/15/2017, 01:37 PM	#8
James404 I <3 Acros Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,523	Interesting point about the alk, I had never heard about that until now. __________________ 80g Deep Blue Rimless - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2651295 225g Reef Savvy SPS Dominant - Retired http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945361

09/15/2017, 01:05 PM	#2
tjm9331 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 340	forgive my ignorance...NTTH?

09/15/2017, 01:22 PM	#5
tjm9331 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 340