Nitrates won't go down! Over 150

[Hemmdog]

i googled and got this

ol Faust sure loves him some predator fish tossed in with his nice peaceful fish. must keep everyone on their toes

Stonefish?! Why the heck would you put that.. ugh, nvm. lol
Your a madman Dr! Lol

 

[Doctor Faust]

lol, sea goblin just casually dropping by for a quick leopard wrasse eating

what happened to your lionfish and the lyretail anthias? my lyretail is my favorite fish

Lol I felt like he wasn't feeling great so I brought him to my home aquarium for a couple weeks and he helped himself I guess. He's not in this 55 anymore though. He is being weird right now and I think its age related, and I can't find him a mate.

The lion I traded with someone through the lfs for a smaller specimen, and I'll be picking him up tomorrow. The anthias committed suicide when I was away. I realized anthias aren't my fish. At least not for a while.

 

[mattzang]

i mean, the anthias probably saw you drop in a sea goblin and was like screw this im out of here

 

[Doctor Faust]

Stonefish?! Why the heck would you put that.. ugh, nvm. lol
Your a madman Dr! Lol

Lool!

The goblin is the guy in my avatar. He's probably the best fish I've had thus far, maybe. He was in another tank with the mantises but I brought him home to watch closer. Not aggressive at all, just a gentle giant that no one messes with. The small leopard he ate was the biggest he ever has.

 

[mattzang]

the leopard wrasse would probably beg to differ..

 

[Doctor Faust]

the leopard wrasse would probably beg to differ..

And I'd sympathetically answer to him that feeding is not, or not necessarily, aggressive, or an act of aggression.

The pink streaked wrasse for example has lived through giant anglers, various other anglers, batfish, lionfish, remora, etc., but this particular leopard wrasse, who was usually secretive, was messing around the goblin at a time when all the feeder damsels were cleverly avoiding him. After a few days of this and hunger won lol.

 

[mattzang]

lol.. you're a hoot man

you have a remora?!

 

[Hemmdog]

lol.. you're a hoot man

you have a remora?!

Lolol

 

[Hemmdog]

 

[mattzang]

i mean, do they even keep those in massive public aquariums? i don't recall seeing any on my last visit to aquarium of the pacific

 

[Hemmdog]

i mean, do they even keep those in massive public aquariums? i don't recall seeing any on my last visit to aquarium of the pacific

I’ve never seen one outside of the ocean Lolol

 

[ccombs]

Thank you so much for a thorough reply!


I didn't know all of what you said about nitrate processing bacteria. Thanks a lot. As well about the numbers. Now those talk to me. Those numbers would explain why the numbers didn't seem to move, especially when my test maxes out at 160.

Thankfully my skimmer is good, rated for 130/60heavy, and rock I have a lot for the tank size, but yeah, I bet not nearly enough for the load.

As to the fish, here's what I'd be willing to do lol. Please tell me if this would be sustainable for 4 months, with weekly water changes:

-Damsels all will be gone. They're food, and if not eaten in a few days, I"ll take em to my office tank and they'll be happily eaten there.
-Moonies as in Mono Argentus. They will go either in the mantis tank, or back to LFS. I don't like their personalities, or perhaps lack thereof.
+/-tangs are about 2 inches currently, you think they'd be thaaat bad for the next 4 months? I mean I can rehome the chocolate one once I see the chocolate on him. If they wont make it that long, then I'll part with them too, not too attached. Otherwise plan is to meet their adulthood in the big tank in 4 months.
+ Cowfish will be fine as far as space is concerned for 4 months until i set up the 525. He's still like 2.5". Right? I mean those minimum requirement sizes are for grown adults, long term housing, right?
+/-Foxface I could give up too. Not too attached, but he's still small, want to enjoy for a couple more months. He's 2-2.5"
-Firefish was eaten solved that problem I guess.
+Batfish is small too. It's not the longnose subspecies that gets to 9.5 inches. Doesn't take up much real estate, and I keep him fed. I believe I can manage him for 4 months.
+Seahorses are all staying lol It either has to work or it has to work.
+Lionfish is staying for sure.
+Anthias I like. He looks fed and happy, it eats mysis and brine and pods that I fill up every week. Used to have 2 spotted and 1 ruby red dragonets up until a few days ago. They joined the firefish. If this guy survives, I wanna keep him.
+Leopards are eating very well all the mysis, brine and worms and all the bits of live food that they can get. All 3 are different kind, but I donno how it works out for them as far as genders and such, but they are peaceful. Honestly, if it stays as is between them, I'll keep all of them for the big tank.

The ones I have as +, do you think I can manage those for 4 months? Also, do you think they will be fine for 2-3 years in the 525L? I mean I'm willing to do the water changes, and even got an R/O unit, but I'm hoping to cut down my maintenance SIGNIFICANTLY when I switch to the larger tank soon.

Also, I don't mean to be asking you personally all these questions, but you brought up some detailed points that have always piqued my curiosity, but now it's more about some practical solutions. So anyone's input is greatly appreciated!

I promise I mean this in the most respectful of ways and I am not looking to start a fight as I have made plenty of mistakes in my reefing career.

If you are a troll... this stock list is very funny.

If you are serious... you should reconsider getting a larger tank and maybe not continue with this hobby. The mixture of blatantly ignoring advice that has been given along with the very irresponsible stocking is honestly quite shocking. You literally went through every fish and explained why you are keeping them but made it sound like you were making concessions. Unfortunately for the fish, you are creating an environment that will have no long term success. Plus, if you stock a 55 gallon like this, I cannot even imagine what your 525L would look like.

These are just my thoughts, at the end of the day you are entitled to your opinion and can stock a tank however you wish. I am just adding my advice to the thread since it was asked for.

Either way, best of luck to you!

 

[Doctor Faust]

@Hemmdog and @mattzang LOOL! You guys are funny! Yea the remora is a long story but a very short stay ;/.

@ccombs Thank you for your advice. I appreciate and understand it, and largely agree with it. The 525 will be for whoever I have in the current tank, and I have several tanks as I mentioned. Finances will be more strained as well lol, so all I have is all I'll be having fish-wise for some time. If I cut down the stock a bit (or to other tanks), get some good nitrate control something, along with more often than acceptable water changes, it is sustainable and maintainable. I'm looking for some help with that nitrate something. Some lessons I'm learning too late, though, like with quarantining. And all of the above makes it generally sustainable, though far from ideal from the perspective of having least amount of work or expense.

It is a hobby. Like many other hobbies that I/people have. For example, some people can churn a fat book in a matter of 2 days, others like to take notes and annotate and illustrate the same book as they read it for weeks. I mean, I am far from schooling anyone. just entertaining the inner child with all your helpful advice and posts (to a myriad of threads I've read here)

 

[mattzang]

I mean assuming he's serious about this stuff it's definitely not the way I'd go, although I can appreciate his desire to recreate a reef, predators mowing down fish and all. I almost want to give him credit for stocking it with fish that are a little more expensive so apparently this point is very important to him. To me that's akin to letting a coyote in my house where my cat lives. It certainly would keep her on her toes and recreate nature, but she'd end up dead. Or the next time Dr Faust is swimming in the ocean and a bull shark rips his leg off, I'll be there to remind him, sympathetically, that the bull shark was just looking for something to eat.

To me the only way I want to do this hobby is keeping all my fish and giving them a safe place to live out their lives. They were taken from the ocean (or some captive bred) and so the least I can do is give them lots of food and a chill spot where the worst they have to worry is the great hand from the sky reaches in to mess with the corals. But some people enjoy keeping predators and predators have to eat meat, so it is what it is I guess.

 

[Doctor Faust]

I appreciate all you've said, thank you!

Loool Do you think I'd be claiming the bull shark had a vendetta on me for the remora or something? lol of course it's looking for something to eat or protecting a territory loll.

Territory issues I've never had in this tank. I experimented once with 2 clowns elsewhere, but that's it. Everyone has his nook, cave, patch, area, whatever. Everyone is fed and savoring seeing the great hand from the sky lol They will be much happier in the bigger tank of course, but for the time being, will have to hussle like I am for them. And believe me, I always share the perspective you've expressed here. That's what keeps us human and keeps us grounded. But another perspective is, these fish could have ended up in a million other households and tanks worse than where they are. Life works in mysterious and often fd up ways lol

 

[Kirschy17]

So as others have said allready theres nothing wrong with your tank but it being massively overstocked.

Anyways my best guess at a solution:

I would get a 2nd tank to use as both a refugium aswell as a seahorse tank.

Something like a 20g-40g tank with lots of liferock and various kinds of macro algae. The seahorses like to live in macroalgae because the can hold onto it.

The main tank could house your predators.

From your list the cowfish concerns me the most. These fish are extremely sensitive and need at least 180g when grown up.

The tang will have to go at some point but is fine now and keeping wrasses and such with a lionfish and an angler is not gonna end well. Both of these fish can extend their jaws so they can eat fish that are way bigger than their mouth. I had a customer of the fs i worked at tell me about an angler that ate a small lionfish as a whole. These things are not to joke with.

 

[Doctor Faust]

So as others have said allready theres nothing wrong with your tank but it being massively overstocked.

Anyways my best guess at a solution:

I would get a 2nd tank to use as both a refugium aswell as a seahorse tank.

Something like a 20g-40g tank with lots of liferock and various kinds of macro algae. The seahorses like to live in macroalgae because the can hold onto it.

The main tank could house your predators.

From your list the cowfish concerns me the most. These fish are extremely sensitive and need at least 180g when grown up.

The tang will have to go at some point but is fine now and keeping wrasses and such with a lionfish and an angler is not gonna end well. Both of these fish can extend their jaws so they can eat fish that are way bigger than their mouth. I had a customer of the fs i worked at tell me about an angler that ate a small lionfish as a whole. These things are not to joke with.

Anglers, cowfish, tangs, moonies, all gone. I posted an updated list in response to mattzang. Thank you. I am considering your advice. I am thinking more like having some sort of division in the big tank with the fish separated physically. In essence similar to what you're saying. Haven't gotten there yet.

 

[Doctor Faust]

I actually came to work one day to discover a medium giant angler perching in the tank having eaten the 2 moonies referenced in my original post. Both in the same night and they were sizable lol. I had planned to give them to the lfs the next day lool

 

[Kirschy17]

Anglers, cowfish, tangs, moonies, all gone. I posted an updated list in response to mattzang. Thank you. I am considering your advice. I am thinking more like having some sort of division in the big tank with the fish separated physically. In essence similar to what you're saying. Haven't gotten there yet.

Certainly a step in the right direction! What the division wont help with are your nitrates tough, the refugium would work as a big natural filter which would be a perfect environment for your seahorses aswell. Good luck

 

[Doctor Faust]

Certainly a step in the right direction! What the division wont help with are your nitrates tough, the refugium would work as a big natural filter which would be a perfect environment for your seahorses aswell. Good luck

I hear you Space is a problem. Space for 2 tanks of that size. At least for a couple years. The big tank will have a bigger sump and a refugium, I'm sure that'll help too, and will hold more reactors and stuff, which I'm trying to learn about. Thanks!