[admin]

Question: I started to use Microbe-Lift Artemiss, I keep a bag of crushed coral in an outside Aqua Clear 5 filter to help keep the ph up (I have a heavy hand when it comes to feeding) or else it goes acid fast. I removed this along with the Elite ChemiPure and turned off the uv sterilizer (36w Turbo Twist). I am running 2 Eheim canister filters, for mechanical & biological, returning into 6 bio wheels and have another power filter a Whisper 5. My question is can the crushed coral and or the uv be used with the medication. I started dosing figuring there was about 120 gals, but over the years with the adding and subtracting of gravel, driftwood and filters I dont know what the true number of gals would be. I started to dose with 25 ml. The tank has been up and running since 1996, with different types of fish, filters etc. only fresh water.


Answer: The crushed coral will be okay to use, the UV however does need to be turned off during the 10 day treatment with the Artemiss..
Have you checked you KH level in the aquarium?
KH (carbonate alkalinity) acts as a chemical buffering agent, helping to stabilize the pH. Overtime, as the carbonate ions are used up, the buffering capacity will drop and larger pH changes will be noted.

If over feeding is a problem as well you might want to start using Microbe-Lift/Special Blend:

MICROBE-LIFT/Special Blend is special in many ways. First it is a fully active culture consortium (blend) and the moment it comes out of the bottle (there is no time delay) it goes to work the second it is added to the aquarium
to consume waste organic matter that is released from aquarium life, waste food, and plant waste, there-by establishing the necessary waste degraders to control water quality. In addition, this select culture group seeds
the entire aquarium with necessary microbes, to filters, substrate and bulk water.

It also has the ability to degrade protein.

MICROBE-LIFT/Special Blend will not only enhance water quality, improve filter performance, it will remove nitrate via a process
called denitrification and it will do it fast.