My sad little tank
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ying yang
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Hello and hope all is well ^_^
Tank and rocks look good.
Maybe make a fish list of what fishes you want and research about them and decide a stocking order of what fish go in tank first,like get the most peacefull fish in first and let them make their terrotories then add more agressive fish after and decide how many fish you can have also.
Blennies are good algae eaters and mainly peacefull and one recommended first fish i read but im new also so im still on tje watching lots videos and doing lots research stage ( maybe never ending as we always keep learning in anything we do in life right )
If algae starting to get out hand,try get to a lfs or order online when you back home and beef up your clean up crew
Good luck and all looking good so far and you got personal friend with lots experience sounds like so get what info out of them what you can and when you can
Tank and rocks look good.
Maybe make a fish list of what fishes you want and research about them and decide a stocking order of what fish go in tank first,like get the most peacefull fish in first and let them make their terrotories then add more agressive fish after and decide how many fish you can have also.
Blennies are good algae eaters and mainly peacefull and one recommended first fish i read but im new also so im still on tje watching lots videos and doing lots research stage ( maybe never ending as we always keep learning in anything we do in life right )
If algae starting to get out hand,try get to a lfs or order online when you back home and beef up your clean up crew
Good luck and all looking good so far and you got personal friend with lots experience sounds like so get what info out of them what you can and when you can
Freenow54
Valuable Member
I am sorry to hear about your seizure, I hope you get that under control. A clown is an excellent choice. They are not as expensive as a lot of other fish. The main attraction is they are extremely hardy in my experience. I have one big one in one tank that survived a chemical spill that instantly killed four other fish in seconds. I also have 2 in my new tank. Stay well.
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AlliRose907
Community Member
I added a couple anenome one Haitian and not sure what the bigger one is, but he's handsome. Also a toadstool, two damsels and two tiny clowns all similar in size.
My dream fish is a mandarin dragonet. That is why I decided to get a saltwater tank. Everything else has to get along with my must haves. The grandbabies insisted on a "nemo" and a "dory" so those are musts along with the mandarin.... I like bright flashy fish with lots of color, just like the corals. I'm not into plain flesh colored corals or just plain silver or brownish fish.. I want people to walk in and say WOW that is stunning. If any of that makes sense?
As far as the seizure, I'm good, thank you for the concern. It happens every so often (usually years between them) and I'm going thru all the tests to see what is going on. Hopefully they figure it out this time and I can get back to normal life again. I'm sick of not being able to drive already! I'm gonna fight hard for them to not give up until I get an actual diagnosis because the up in the air stuff until it happens again and we start from scratch yet again I'm just over it. I need answers!!!
Thank you fish family for all your help with my fishes and concern for my well-being. ❤❤
My dream fish is a mandarin dragonet. That is why I decided to get a saltwater tank. Everything else has to get along with my must haves. The grandbabies insisted on a "nemo" and a "dory" so those are musts along with the mandarin.... I like bright flashy fish with lots of color, just like the corals. I'm not into plain flesh colored corals or just plain silver or brownish fish.. I want people to walk in and say WOW that is stunning. If any of that makes sense?
As far as the seizure, I'm good, thank you for the concern. It happens every so often (usually years between them) and I'm going thru all the tests to see what is going on. Hopefully they figure it out this time and I can get back to normal life again. I'm sick of not being able to drive already! I'm gonna fight hard for them to not give up until I get an actual diagnosis because the up in the air stuff until it happens again and we start from scratch yet again I'm just over it. I need answers!!!
Thank you fish family for all your help with my fishes and concern for my well-being. ❤❤
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AlliRose907
Community Member
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AlliRose907
Community Member
Soooo, I know its been months, but I am still no better off than when I started. Unfortunately my friend moved away and I don't have help with this tank. I am confused by most of the things I am told. My friend gives me grief for watching youtube videos to try to learn this stuff, so I feel like I am constantly wrong when talking to him about things I have learned, so I feel like I can't do right and can't figure this stuff out, besides everyone says something different, so how do you know what is right and wrong? I bought the tank with the promise that I would be helped along the way to learn this stuff but kinda feel a little like I am left out on a limb with this thing.
I have killed or lost(?) so many fish already. Then a sudden red algae(?) bloom happened. I turned my lights all down to 25% as was instructed and the T5s off. They have been this way for a few months now, and although the algae has gotten a bit better, its still there. Then the aptasia broke out and I have been fighting them off with Aptasia x. I have lost two clusters of Zoas and my the other three are iffy. Two have enough heads I think they will be ok, but my orange ones are pretty much dead too I think. All the shrimp I had are gone and just bought two new ones to start eating the aptasia (as suggested by the good fish store in Columbia). Pretty much all the coral are looking rough. The coco worm that was beautiful when I got her but now only has a couple swirls to her where as before she had several. I feed her but she immediately hids so I dunno if she is actually getting the food (even trying to put some into her tube when she is hiding). The acropora that came on the rock is now pretty much gone. Thinking the foxface ate it? But that seems to be the only one it bothers. Sad cause it started out as a tiny spot the size of a pencil eraser and had gotten about 2-3 inches across but hadn't started growing upward yet. My fancy mushroom had a baby. Another completely disapeared, I dunno if he moved himself or if he died off. He was bright blazing orange and beautiful. I have two watermelons one is huge, the other a third the size and move itself lower under a rock. The space invader (?) one is the one that had a baby and another one popped up like it was on the underside of the rock, not to sure where it came from. The baby is living beside, or slightly underneath the momma one. The big anenome that doesn't have a name (that I know of - it was the mystery anenome I bought) is HUGE and the clown that is hosting it won't let any of the other clowns near it. The haitian anenome died off somehow. The haitian was a purply color and the big one is a teal color (which is why I chose them) the big one has done a little tiny bit of wandering but only inches from where he started out. If he starts to wander the tank I will take him out and give him to someone else so he doesnt kill off my other corals or whats left of them.
I have all the nutrients (?) or stuff you add to the tank to help the corals, but have no idea how much to add or what the levels should be in the tank to help them grow. I really feel like I am no where better off than when I started and ready to sell it all off. It feels like a water filled death tank at this point. With no guidance or idea what to do with it. I have watched so many videos that said I need to do water changes regularly, but when I asked my friend if I should be doing water changes he told me NO! In no uncertain terms. So it has yet to have a water change since it has been set up.
Guys, if I don't figure this out soon, I am gonna have to sell it off and just focus on freshwater. I can't keep spending money on fish and such to have them die off or disapear after a few months. Its cruel to the animals and its hard on me because I just feel like I am a failure at this. Why is it so dang difficult?!
I have killed or lost(?) so many fish already. Then a sudden red algae(?) bloom happened. I turned my lights all down to 25% as was instructed and the T5s off. They have been this way for a few months now, and although the algae has gotten a bit better, its still there. Then the aptasia broke out and I have been fighting them off with Aptasia x. I have lost two clusters of Zoas and my the other three are iffy. Two have enough heads I think they will be ok, but my orange ones are pretty much dead too I think. All the shrimp I had are gone and just bought two new ones to start eating the aptasia (as suggested by the good fish store in Columbia). Pretty much all the coral are looking rough. The coco worm that was beautiful when I got her but now only has a couple swirls to her where as before she had several. I feed her but she immediately hids so I dunno if she is actually getting the food (even trying to put some into her tube when she is hiding). The acropora that came on the rock is now pretty much gone. Thinking the foxface ate it? But that seems to be the only one it bothers. Sad cause it started out as a tiny spot the size of a pencil eraser and had gotten about 2-3 inches across but hadn't started growing upward yet. My fancy mushroom had a baby. Another completely disapeared, I dunno if he moved himself or if he died off. He was bright blazing orange and beautiful. I have two watermelons one is huge, the other a third the size and move itself lower under a rock. The space invader (?) one is the one that had a baby and another one popped up like it was on the underside of the rock, not to sure where it came from. The baby is living beside, or slightly underneath the momma one. The big anenome that doesn't have a name (that I know of - it was the mystery anenome I bought) is HUGE and the clown that is hosting it won't let any of the other clowns near it. The haitian anenome died off somehow. The haitian was a purply color and the big one is a teal color (which is why I chose them) the big one has done a little tiny bit of wandering but only inches from where he started out. If he starts to wander the tank I will take him out and give him to someone else so he doesnt kill off my other corals or whats left of them.
I have all the nutrients (?) or stuff you add to the tank to help the corals, but have no idea how much to add or what the levels should be in the tank to help them grow. I really feel like I am no where better off than when I started and ready to sell it all off. It feels like a water filled death tank at this point. With no guidance or idea what to do with it. I have watched so many videos that said I need to do water changes regularly, but when I asked my friend if I should be doing water changes he told me NO! In no uncertain terms. So it has yet to have a water change since it has been set up.
Guys, if I don't figure this out soon, I am gonna have to sell it off and just focus on freshwater. I can't keep spending money on fish and such to have them die off or disapear after a few months. Its cruel to the animals and its hard on me because I just feel like I am a failure at this. Why is it so dang difficult?!
Goaway
10K Club member
This is sad to hear. When a tank is dialed in, everything is stable. You can skip many water changes. But, this also means you are running ICP tests to keep trace elements in check.
Water changes are a must other wise. Anyhow.
What are your water parameters?
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
Water changes are a must, make a schedule for it and try to stick with it. It will allow you to get your parameters somewhat stable. Then once you're testing parameters, you will see what needs to be added or removed.
For the apstatia, try some Berghia nudibranches, I've read countless posts about apstatia x creating more than it removes.
Don't remove your anemone, it will find a good spot, it doesn't want to die or kill other corals, but if it does start on the other corals you might be better off moving the other coral instead of the anemone.
Hope you find some help here. We all want to have success in our tanks and other reefers as well, which is why R2R is such a great place for help, support and motivation.
Hope to see how your tank is doing, posting pictures, posting test parameters are an easy way for all of us to help you the best way we can.
For the apstatia, try some Berghia nudibranches, I've read countless posts about apstatia x creating more than it removes.
Don't remove your anemone, it will find a good spot, it doesn't want to die or kill other corals, but if it does start on the other corals you might be better off moving the other coral instead of the anemone.
Hope you find some help here. We all want to have success in our tanks and other reefers as well, which is why R2R is such a great place for help, support and motivation.
Hope to see how your tank is doing, posting pictures, posting test parameters are an easy way for all of us to help you the best way we can.
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AlliRose907
Community Member
I just measured them to be sure. I'm terrible about not checking them weekly. But they don't tend to change to much, but today I have a little wake up call, ya'll will have to tell me what to do about it.
Parameters (I tested for everything I have tests for) are as follows:
Chlorine - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 50
pH - 8
kH - 7
Copper - 0
Calcium - 240
Phosphate - .25
The last time I checked this tank the readings were as follows:
(8/20/2021)
Chlorine - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 25
pH - 8
kH - 8
Copper - 0
Calcium - 300
Phosphate - .5
After I got sick I really didn't have the energy for my tanks and the readings never changed much so I let it be. Of course now I see some readings that need addressing. Ideas?
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
Looks like you need a water change, it should bring up the calcium, alk and lower the nitrate. What type of salt do you use?
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AlliRose907
Community Member
Good question! It was premixed water I got from my friend from massive vats he had in his store. I am not real sure what he used but I can ask. I would just go buy more water if I had too, though he gave me several 5 gallon buckets of water when we first got the tank. Dunno if its still good after sitting for so long, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to get get fresh saltwater from them. How much water do you suggest I drain? How do I go about changing the water on a saltwater tank? Shut everything off and then drain or just drain it and replace while everything is on? This is exactly what I mean by saying I have no earthly idea what I am doing here... I got a tank and was just kinda left to figure it all out on my own and I am so upside down on what is right and wrong and being told what I see on youtube is wrong don't listen to that, but then being told TO do research there. AHHHH!!! My head hurts!!
He just text back, he uses Instant ocean in the purple box or bucket... Does that help?
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
Do you have a vacuum for removing water and cleaning the substrate?
If so, I would about 25% of the saltwater from your friend and 5% of just RODI water for top up when the water evaporates.
I don't have a sump, I use a canister...this is what I do, it might be different for a sump.
Shut off everything inside the tank, vacuum the substrate and water into container's that are equal or a bit smaller than the containers the new saltwater came in.
Dump water into drain or tub, try not to pour any substrate that came with the vacuuming down the drain, just remove it after pouring the water out, into the garbage.
Refill tank with new saltwater. Turn on everything you shut off.
I think with a sump there might be a different way of doing this so you don't overflow your aquarium or sump.
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AlliRose907
Community Member
Pictures of the current situation:
Sorry for the glare on some of the photos, the skylights make it hard sometimes to get good pics during the day. I took them on my phone with an orange filter on it as the blue lights are on and it is hard to see in sometimes with the way the lights and reflections happen with the other furniture and what not.
This is what is left of myZoas. The pinks and blues seem to be ok, but if you look backa little you will see what is left of my little orange Zoas. I think there is only 2 heads left (if they come back out) and they used to me as many as the blue.
This is my little Coco worm. She is of course hiding. If you look at the older pictures of her when I first got her she had lots of swirls that came to a point. Now she just has two little swirls, but still two heads on her.
I think these are "Clovers" they have mint green stripes on them and and a soft orange colored center. They used to be about twice as many. Some broke off and moved to other parts of the tank, which is fine, if they survive. Under the clovers were two mushrooms that were black with orange spots. They have shriveled back to about half their original size.
Sorry for the glare on some of the photos, the skylights make it hard sometimes to get good pics during the day. I took them on my phone with an orange filter on it as the blue lights are on and it is hard to see in sometimes with the way the lights and reflections happen with the other furniture and what not.
This is what is left of myZoas. The pinks and blues seem to be ok, but if you look backa little you will see what is left of my little orange Zoas. I think there is only 2 heads left (if they come back out) and they used to me as many as the blue.
This is my little Coco worm. She is of course hiding. If you look at the older pictures of her when I first got her she had lots of swirls that came to a point. Now she just has two little swirls, but still two heads on her.
I think these are "Clovers" they have mint green stripes on them and and a soft orange colored center. They used to be about twice as many. Some broke off and moved to other parts of the tank, which is fine, if they survive. Under the clovers were two mushrooms that were black with orange spots. They have shriveled back to about half their original size.
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AlliRose907
Community Member
I use a sump, and yes I have a gravel vac, but should probably have a different one for saltwater instead of trying to use one on both. I use RO water to put in the top off system my husband figured out how to set up while I was gone. We have a 6 stage RO filter as I breed shrimp and need access to it frequently.
Can I use the buckets or saltwater I currently have that have been sitting for months or should I just make new and use that?
Can I use the buckets or saltwater I currently have that have been sitting for months or should I just make new and use that?
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
Looks like you have cyano, try blowing it off the rocks and around the corals with a turkey basterPictures of the current situation:
Sorry for the glare on some of the photos, the skylights make it hard sometimes to get good pics during the day. I took them on my phone with an orange filter on it as the blue lights are on and it is hard to see in sometimes with the way the lights and reflections happen with the other furniture and what not.
This is what is left of myZoas. The pinks and blues seem to be ok, but if you look backa little you will see what is left of my little orange Zoas. I think there is only 2 heads left (if they come back out) and they used to me as many as the blue.
This is my little Coco worm. She is of course hiding. If you look at the older pictures of her when I first got her she had lots of swirls that came to a point. Now she just has two little swirls, but still two heads on her.
I think these are "Clovers" they have mint green stripes on them and and a soft orange colored center. They used to be about twice as many. Some broke off and moved to other parts of the tank, which is fine, if they survive. Under the clovers were two mushrooms that were black with orange spots. They have shriveled back to about half their original size.
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
If it's been sitting for months I would get or make new stuff
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AlliRose907
Community Member
The fish/inhabitants of the tank are nerite snails (though I don't see them very often) three clowns, a foxface, a barred zebra goby (I think that is what he is called), two bengai cardinals.
I had many more fish but with all the troubles I have lost so many. We have lost three clowns, two blue colored gobys, the other stripped goby, a couple damsels, a diamond goby, a social fairy wrasse, two peppermint shrimp, one cleaner shrimp, a harlequin shrimp, an engineer goby I think? (the ones that sift the sand but dont move it around, thats the best I can do, I liked him much better than the diamond goby cause he messed up the sand and piled it up EVERYWHERE), And of course many many clean up crew dnails and a hermit crab. I think thats all of them, not 100%. And that isn't any of the corals that died.
I had many more fish but with all the troubles I have lost so many. We have lost three clowns, two blue colored gobys, the other stripped goby, a couple damsels, a diamond goby, a social fairy wrasse, two peppermint shrimp, one cleaner shrimp, a harlequin shrimp, an engineer goby I think? (the ones that sift the sand but dont move it around, thats the best I can do, I liked him much better than the diamond goby cause he messed up the sand and piled it up EVERYWHERE), And of course many many clean up crew dnails and a hermit crab. I think thats all of them, not 100%. And that isn't any of the corals that died.
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AlliRose907
Community Member
I have tried blowing rubbing and scrubbing it off, the red stuff wont budge much. and after I get anything long or flowy off, it just grows right back.
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
Just got to keep on it, it's very persistent
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AlliRose907
Community Member
Really I wanted it so I could have a Mandarin or two. I love them and they are the prettiest fish. But I am not buying one of those just to kill it and waste an F ton of money. Really everything else needs to get along with a Mandarin and a zoa garden and a weeping willow coral. Those are my must haves that arent in the tank. How do I get to my dream?!
Is all this trouble normal? Should I have not put anything in the tank until all this red algae comes and goes? Are there other "phases" I should know about or be prepared for? Like where is the idiots guide to saltwater fish keeping? How does one actually learn all this??
Is all this trouble normal? Should I have not put anything in the tank until all this red algae comes and goes? Are there other "phases" I should know about or be prepared for? Like where is the idiots guide to saltwater fish keeping? How does one actually learn all this??
