I need help...too many decisions!!

[Crabs McJones]

Did you find it difficult to drill? Was your tank empty?

The tank was empty, I was able to take the tank outside and drill it using a garden hose for cooling the drill but. Drilling a tank, while it looks extremely intimidating, is actually very easy. Before you make the decision though you should determine if your tank is tempered glass or not.

 

[Deiblerj]

So the first one happened right after I added fish. Had a green clown goby that was my first fish. A couple weeks later I added 2 clowns from a LFS. They showed signs of ich after a few days so I got my friends old nano cube up and running and put them in. Used some all natural stuff that didn’t work and ended up losing both clowns. A couple more weeks goes by. goby is fine chillin. Got a royal gramma and two new clowns. This right in the QT for a little over two weeks and treated with copper. Then in the DT. Been in there for about a month and no issues until I just introduced a HOB skimmer and a bubble tipped anemone. Came out this morning and royal gramma had ich on him. Thought maybe it could be sand so left for work came home and it seems to just be a few specks on his tail. Looked at my goby and he’s got specks on him too! Clowns are fine and watchman is fine....for now.

And here we are now wondering what the heck to do

 

[Deiblerj]

Firstly! If you are planning to drill, Where are you planning to drill the tank back or bottom? If bottom just be sure it’s NOT tempered glass. Drilling seems scary but it not that bad. Just get your correct measurements, lay them out at your desired location and be sure the bulkheads will fit inside the overflow. Get the right size diamond hole saw, plumbers putty, water. Make a water trough with the putty, add water.Start slowly at an angle and as you start feeling a groove bring drill straight and just take it slowly

Was going to drill back of tank

 

[hwntunda]

Was going to drill back of tank

You’ll be fine, just go slow and you’ll be fine. I’m sure there’s video of drilling tanks out there.

 

[HotRocks]

So the first one happened right after I added fish. Had a green clown goby that was my first fish. A couple weeks later I added 2 clowns from a LFS. They showed signs of ich after a few days so I got my friends old nano cube up and running and put them in. Used some all natural stuff that didn’t work and ended up losing both clowns. A couple more weeks goes by. goby is fine chillin. Got a royal gramma and two new clowns. This right in the QT for a little over two weeks and treated with copper. Then in the DT. Been in there for about a month and no issues until I just introduced a HOB skimmer and a bubble tipped anemone. Came out this morning and royal gramma had ich on him. Thought maybe it could be sand so left for work came home and it seems to just be a few specks on his tail. Looked at my goby and he’s got specks on him too! Clowns are fine and watchman is fine....for now.

And here we are now wondering what the heck to do

Goby likely carried it without symptoms or you introduced free swimmers with the new nem. That's my hypothesis.

Can you post pics of the fish?

Hoping for your sake this is just ich and not velvet.

 

[lion king]

I'm always the odd man out in these kind of decisions, but this is what happened to me one time. I had a mature reef, encrusting corals and I really liked the reef. I had 5 fish and no up and running qt. I did not want to destroy my reef, and from seeing other people kill their fish by putting them in a quick start qt, i decided to let it run it's course. My blue assessor never had any spots, every one else died.

I left the tank with the just the blue assessor for a few months after the last fish died. I then restocked that tank and it was ich free for the next 2 years, when I re=homed the fish and moved the reef. I transferred that reef to my current lion's reef, up and running ich free for the over 5 years now. My 1st thing is, if you do not have a viable biologically filtered tank adequate tank to support all your fish, your survival rate either way will likely be the same. The question is, can the ich life cycle actually die off on its on, with healthy unaffected fish still in the tank. Is your reef thriving and are you happy with it, tearing it up to catch all the fish can also be a lasting negative consequence.

As far as the skimmer goes, any hob worth anything will likely be loud, due to the design of that up=pipe that draws air. Here's how I solved that, and it's pretty much dead silent. I took a pill bottle, drilled a hole to snugly slide over that pipe, and on the other end, a small air hole. So many of these small internal skimmers are just a waste of time and money, you would be better off replacing the skimmer with an algae reactor if thta't the route you are thinking.

 

[mcarroll]

So the first one happened right after I added fish. Had a green clown goby that was my first fish. A couple weeks later I added 2 clowns from a LFS. They showed signs of ich after a few days so I got my friends old nano cube up and running and put them in. Used some all natural stuff that didn’t work and ended up losing both clowns. A couple more weeks goes by. goby is fine chillin. Got a royal gramma and two new clowns. This right in the QT for a little over two weeks and treated with copper. Then in the DT. Been in there for about a month and no issues until I just introduced a HOB skimmer and a bubble tipped anemone. Came out this morning and royal gramma had ich on him. Thought maybe it could be sand so left for work came home and it seems to just be a few specks on his tail. Looked at my goby and he’s got specks on him too! Clowns are fine and watchman is fine....for now.

And here we are now wondering what the heck to do

So you were crushing the tank with new fish.

Remember: Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

Here's a better way to add those fish that results in a more stable system, less risk of outbreak and less damage when there is one:

Day 0: Green Clown Goby
Day 40: Clownfish x2
Day 80: Royal Gramma
Day 120: Watchman Goby

Note that this is still a rapid stocking plan because it excludes coral and CUC additions, but still appears to take about 4x longer than you took.

If you are adding coral, CUC and doing adequate monitoring in-between each fish (a good idea), then that schedule could easily extend to over a year.

The longer the better for all manner of reasons – not least of which: you'll be a more mature reefer as time goes on, the tank will be more mature and your fish population will be getting more mature....all adding up to better results as time goes on.

 

[Deiblerj]

So you were crushing the tank with new fish.

Remember: Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

Here's a better way to add those fish that results in a more stable system, less risk of outbreak and less damage when there is one:

Day 0: Green Clown Goby
Day 40: Clownfish x2
Day 80: Royal Gramma
Day 120: Watchman Goby

Note that this is still a rapid stocking plan because it excludes coral and CUC additions, but still appears to take about 4x longer than you took.

If you are adding coral, CUC and doing adequate monitoring in-between each fish (a good idea), then that schedule could easily extend to over a year.

The longer the better for all manner of reasons – not least of which: you'll be a more mature reefer as time goes on, the tank will be more mature and your fish population will be getting more mature....all adding up to better results as time goes on.

Ugh...yeah I probably rushed things a little bit.

 

[Deiblerj]

Goby likely carried it without symptoms or you introduced free swimmers with the new nem. That's my hypothesis.

Can you post pics of the fish?

Hoping for your sake this is just ich and not velvet.

Looks like ich to me. I’ll try tot get pictures. It’s a few white dots mostly on tails.

 

[glb]

I say 1 and 1a. I have a drilled 40g breeder and I’m so glad I drilled it. Check out my tank build thread in my signature. It has very, very detailed instructions about all the steps in drilling a tank and setting up a sump. Good luck!

 

[Deiblerj]

So if I choose to drill my tank I’m really concerned about crashing my tank and having to cycle it all over again. Was going to save my water and remove the rock. Probably keep the sand in the tank and cover everything with plastic taping the seam below the hole to catch and water/glass. Once done I’ll unpeel the tape and pull out the plastic. In theory this should work....what are your thoughts on this? Am I being too ambitious?

I’d have my fish in my 29 QT tank that will eventually become my sump. My inverts mushrooms and bubble tipped anemone in my 13g nano.

My other plan was to wait till I moved out of my apartment when I would have to drain the tank anyways...I’m not sure when that will be (could be a year, could be 3 years) and now seemed like a good time since I was going to take fish out anyways for treatment.

Essentially, I just don’t want to bite off more than I can chew. I’d be separating my inverts and fish for some time. Worried about everyone getting along together during transitions. Worried about killing my anemone. Worried about watchman goby not finding his pistol buddy. Pretty much just not sure if all this work is worth it at the moment. I would still need to build a stand (not too concerned with this as I’ve done contracting and home repairs for years growing up). And would have to cap off my DT overflow until my sump is built which would be holding my fish until the DT is drilled. I’d cap off the drilled holes until ready to hook sump plumbing up ;Dead

Yeah...a lot of moving pieces and things to go wrong. Lesson learned is I should have taken my time in the first place. Drilled my tank up front and gone from there. I rushed into this (went to petco after a few drinks) and went crazy and wanted to start immediately. Didn’t know what a sump was until after the fact and wish I would have done that in the first place. #sumpenvy #tiredofwiresandequipmentinDT

I need some thoughts on whether I should chill out and enjoy what I have or if now is the time to bear down and just upgrade the system to have a sump and new stand. With 8 weeks in QT that gives me plenty of time to build stand and get sump parts ordered.

 

[mcarroll]

Sounds to me like you have a lot on your plate just with getting your fish healthy. Most folks do underestimate what that takes.

I'd be trying hard to simplify everything else that you can. There'll be a time later (as you already put your finger on) when you can blow things up and do it differently/more complex/whatever. 2¢

Didn’t know what a sump was until after the fact and wish I would have done that in the first place. #sumpenvy #tiredofwiresandequipmentinDT

Having a sump is not a key to reefing - I wouldn't even say it's better than "sumpless" becuase that implies and assumes too much. It's just "nice". An all in one can also be "nice".

I need some thoughts on whether I should chill out and enjoy what I have

This.

Nothing good happens fast – so just hunker down, stop doing the things that don't help, do more of the things that do help, and read as much as you can.

And by "read" I mean books mostly. If this is your first aquarium, you should go to the library and read every aquarium book they have – even freshwater – so you can get more of a clue "how things go" in general.

It's doubtful they'll have much, but take advantage of what they do offer!

After that you will need to make some new or used book purchases!! Let me know what if any you have a we can make some recommendations. (I have a book thread if you search for it....all goodies.)

 

[mcarroll]

Natural Reef Aquariums would be a great starter, but there are many others too.

Used copies are going for just over four dollars, but even the $37 new price is a steal....it's a hardcover and the info is excellent.

Getting this one is a no-brainer IMO.

 

[Deiblerj]

Natural Reef Aquariums would be a great starter, but there are many others too.

Used copies are going for just over four dollars, but even the $37 new price is a steal....it's a hardcover and the info is excellent.

Getting this one is a no-brainer IMO.

I currently dont have any books ;Facepalm

I’ll see if I can snag a copy of that one

 

[glb]

Just take your time. I wouldn’t drill a tank with water in it. If it cracks it would be a disaster. If things are overwhelming I’d take a big breath and address one issue at a time.
First is to QT your fish. Once they’re recuperating you can start to make plans. I’d also read this thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
It covers everything! And ask all of us questions. We’ve all been there, trust me.

 

[Deiblerj]

I appreciate everyones comments and suggestions! Think I’ll hold off on the sump for now as most of you have mentioned focus on one issue at a time before I end up quarantining myself!

I’ll pick up some books and check out the links provided.

*deep breath...deep breath*

 

[DLHDesign]

focus on one issue at a time

Throwing my vote into this bit of gold right here (reefing or otherwise, but especially reefing).

Specifically;
Read the link @HotRocks shared until it makes sense not only what is involved in both options (management vs. eradication), but also why. Understanding that will help to give you confidence to move forward (the difference between fear of the dark and confidence in the dark has a lot to do with knowing that the night isn't trying to get you). If there are points you don't understand - and I would be surprised if there aren't (no judgement on you at all - it took me months of questions to understand) - then feel free to ask; we're here to help!
Once you know why you are going to adopt the option you choose, we can move on to a practical way for you to implement each.