New To R2R and need some help

[Tanner Martin]

Hey Guys! I am new to the page and this is actually the first Form page I have ever signed up for. I started in the hobby about 6 months ago and have loved it ever since. I have a 10g nano cube that is well established by 2 Mocha Clowns and a Chocolate Chip Star. I have been wanting to get into coral but afraid due to a few things that are dying quick keeping my clean up crews live. The first fish to die was 2.5 inch lawn mower blenney. I have read that they have a hardtime adjusting to new water perimeters after growing in a different tank. I notice he was very shy and not wanting to eat. But it doesn’t end there. I have also had a 1.5 inch horseshoe crab die after a month being on the tank. I was told that they go dormant for a bit but then completely opposite here and there. I was never seeing him out. I could tell he was eating based off the small piece of shrimp I would put in the tank being destroyed. Most recently I had a small emraled crab just die yesterday. The Emraled Crab would stay in one spot and not move. I thought this was from molting but I was wrong. I found him upside down on the bottom of the tank.
To sum everything up. My Clowns and Star Fish are doing amazing ever since they got put in months ago. I did forget to mention that I got the Emraled Crab and Star Fish at the same time and the Star Fish is thriving.
Is there something I’m doing wrong? I do water changes every 2 weeks and keeping my levels at the right spot. The Clowns have paired and everything. I just seem to not be able to keep anything new alive besides the Star. Again all I have in the tank is Live Sand and Live Rock 2 Clowns and a Starfish.
Thanks for any feedback in advance.

 

[James M]

Welcome to reef2reef!!!
How old is your tank ?
How are you acclimating the inverts/fish to your tank ?
Your sea star will eat coral if you were to get any. Chocolate chips aren’t reef safe and sea starts and shouldn’t be in young tanks

 

[Tanner Martin]

The tank now is 5 months old and I drip accumulat

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

chocolate chip sea stars are carnivores but i’m not sure that is the issue. i would write off the horseshoe crab as they are hard to maintain long term regardless of conditions.

i would first take a look at your acclimation process. posting your parameters would help as well.

 

[Antics]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!
What r your tank parameters, did you QT your fish and if so what meds.

We got you covered, we will help u get this resolved.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R and the community @Tanner Martin

 

[James M]

The tank now is 5 months old and I drip accumulat

As mentioned parameters would help a lot

 

[Dsnakes]

Welcome to R2R can you post a picture of your tank so 1) we can enjoy it and 2) see what you’re working with and help!

Horseshoe crabs generally are not a good fit for our reef tanks.

 

[Clownfish2]

Hey Guys! I am new to the page and this is actually the first Form page I have ever signed up for. I started in the hobby about 6 months ago and have loved it ever since. I have a 10g nano cube that is well established by 2 Mocha Clowns and a Chocolate Chip Star. I have been wanting to get into coral but afraid due to a few things that are dying quick keeping my clean up crews live. The first fish to die was 2.5 inch lawn mower blenney. I have read that they have a hardtime adjusting to new water perimeters after growing in a different tank. I notice he was very shy and not wanting to eat. But it doesn’t end there. I have also had a 1.5 inch horseshoe crab die after a month being on the tank. I was told that they go dormant for a bit but then completely opposite here and there. I was never seeing him out. I could tell he was eating based off the small piece of shrimp I would put in the tank being destroyed. Most recently I had a small emraled crab just die yesterday. The Emraled Crab would stay in one spot and not move. I thought this was from molting but I was wrong. I found him upside down on the bottom of the tank.
To sum everything up. My Clowns and Star Fish are doing amazing ever since they got put in months ago. I did forget to mention that I got the Emraled Crab and Star Fish at the same time and the Star Fish is thriving.
Is there something I’m doing wrong? I do water changes every 2 weeks and keeping my levels at the right spot. The Clowns have paired and everything. I just seem to not be able to keep anything new alive besides the Star. Again all I have in the tank is Live Sand and Live Rock 2 Clowns and a Starfish.
Thanks for any feedback in advance.

Are you using RODI water to do your water changes and NOT tap water?

Are you testing your water parameters with a test kit?

You want to strive for:
Temperature range 75-82 but keep it stable on a number such as 78-79 or 80-81.

1.025-1.026 salinity
Alkalinity 8-9
Calcium 450
Magnesium 1325
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate detectable 1-5ppm

It’s only a guess, but maybe blenny had a parasite or there isn’t enough algae for it to graze on, unless it liked pellets. I once had a brown mud colored blenny in a quarantine tank for a week with no algae in the tank. I offered him algae pellets and wafers and he wouldn’t respond so I returned him to local fish store.

I would recommend taking a reading of salinity of your fish stores water and temperature. Match your tank to the fish store in terms of salinity, temperature, nitrates, etc.

 

[Tanner Martin]

I’m out of town now but I’ll post an updated photo on Saturday. But I looked up my tank and here the full tank specs and I’ll update the water on Saturday as well.
It’s IM Nuvo Nano All in one

• Dimensions: Length 12” Width: 15” Height: 13”
• Built-in Overflows
• 200 Micron Filter Sock (I added a three level filtration rack)

 

[Tanner Martin]

Are you using RODI water to do your water changes and NOT tap water?

Are you testing your water parameters with a test kit?

You want to strive for:
Temperature range 75-82 but keep it stable on a number such as 78-79 or 80-81.

1.025-1.026 salinity
Alkalinity 8-9
Calcium 450
Magnesium 1325
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate detectable 1-5ppm

It’s only a guess, but maybe blenny had a parasite or there isn’t enough algae for it to graze on, unless it liked pellets. I once had a brown mud colored blenny in a quarantine tank for a week with no algae in the tank. I offered him algae pellets and wafers and he wouldn’t respond so I returned him to local fish store.

I would recommend taking a reading of salinity of your fish stores water and temperature. Match your tank to the fish store in terms of salinity, temperature, nitrates, etc.

I think you just solved it. I could have high amount of heavy metal. I didn’t think about switching to RODI and I’ve just stayed with Tap water to do the water changes. I figured if the clowns are doing alright then everything else will work out. Definitely switching to RODI. Would you keep a small heater in there to maintain temp? I believe my water is usually stable around 75-77 degrees f.

 

[James M]

I think you just solved it. I could have high amount of heavy metal. I didn’t think about switching to RODI and I’ve just stayed with Tap water to do the water changes. I figured if the clowns are doing alright then everything else will work out. Definitely switching to RODI. Would you keep a small heater in there to maintain temp? I believe my water is usually stable around 75-77 degrees f.

You don’t add anything to the tap water to do water changes??!!!!!

 

[Tanner Martin]

Hold up! Sounds like I’m an idiot with that reply. I condition the water with Prime

 

[Tanner Martin]

But im also out in AZ where the water from tap could be more harsh.. ‍ Hobby is ment for learning right?

 

[James M]

But im also out in AZ where the water from tap could be more harsh.. ‍ Hobby is ment for learning right?

Your not an idiot , you just forgot to mentioned the prime part . There are successful reefs that run tap water

 

[Tanner Martin]

I’m not running a reef tho. It’s just a swim tank

Your not an idiot , you just forgot to mentioned the prime part . There are successful reefs that run tap water

 

[James M]

I’m not running a reef tho. It’s just a swim tank

And FOWLR (fish only with live rock )

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

Welcome to reef2reef.