Not a true build thread, but a progress thread

[Sod Buster]

You want to use this, not just regular glue. Dollar store super glue works great.

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

You want to use this, not just regular glue. Dollar store super glue works great.

Thanks so much - and as it has cyano in the name it must be linked somehow to reefs

 

[Sod Buster]

Most use the gel as it doesn't run all over. Another method you can research is the gel/epoxy/gel sandwich. Cut the stem off the frag plug. Make a waterproof epoxy ball (jb water weld at lowes) blob of gel on the plug, small epoxy ball, blob of gel on the epoxy. Quickly place in the rock where you want it smashing the epoxy in and holding for 30 seconds.

 

[norfolkgarden]

+1 on the gel vs regular runny superglue.

+1 on the gel epoxy gel.

You will be able to give it a good twist and break it off later if you want to move something.

But it will stay put until then.

Just gel + turbo snails = missing frags

 

[Medical_Reef]

This week is seems much better - not much on the sand, and less on the rock. I probably won’t beat it until I stop using tap, though.

I definitely second the RO/DI advice. I know people have had experience using tap water, but it seems like you run a much higher risk of introducing contaminants into the tank. This may be one of the reasons your star fish died, they seem to prefer a more stable tank environment.

Also, I was curious if you've been testing for Nitrates and Phosphates and what your nutrient export plan is? I know you had mentioned maybe getting a skimmer in the future.

Take everything I say with a grain of salt! Noob here with lots of my own mistakes, so I can really only tell you what not to do.

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

Thanks for the reply! I had a bit of a traumatic night actually. As I was turning out the lights to go to bed, I noticed my smaller clown was clearly dying. Eyes strange, colour off, lying on back. I had NO idea what was going on. Did a water change the day before, changed the phosphate removal as per the advice of the LFS staff, and fed them something new which was supposed to be good for them.
My larger clown was also discoloured and breathing heavily.
At any rate, little clownfish died. Larger one looked slightly better this morning, but didn’t eat. Royal gramma stayed in rocks and didn’t come out to eat (not normal) - yellow wrasse did come out and eat.
I posted an emergency thread on here last night - and it could be that the phosphate removal did this to them! I had no idea and feel terrible. I posted my results - amonia was good, nitrates good (although I interpreted as bad), and phosphate was 0, which is not good - I was removing it to combat the cyano, but to the detriment of the fish without knowing (i assume). Fish were all happy in the tank a few hours earlier.
I shall see what happens when I go home after work.
Ps: I do have a protein skimmer - not a fancy one, bit it works.
At any rate, I can’t believe this happened. So sad .

 

[Medical_Reef]

Thanks for the reply! I had a bit of a traumatic night actually. As I was turning out the lights to go to bed, I noticed my smaller clown was clearly dying. Eyes strange, colour off, lying on back. I had NO idea what was going on. Did a water change the day before, changed the phosphate removal as per the advice of the LFS staff, and fed them something new which was supposed to be good for them.
My larger clown was also discoloured and breathing heavily.
At any rate, little clownfish died. Larger one looked slightly better this morning, but didn’t eat. Royal gramma stayed in rocks and didn’t come out to eat (not normal) - yellow wrasse did come out and eat.
I posted an emergency thread on here last night - and it could be that the phosphate removal did this to them! I had no idea and feel terrible. I posted my results - amonia was good, nitrates good (although I interpreted as bad), and phosphate was 0, which is not good - I was removing it to combat the cyano, but to the detriment of the fish without knowing (i assume). Fish were all happy in the tank a few hours earlier.
I shall see what happens when I go home after work.
Ps: I do have a protein skimmer - not a fancy one, bit it works.
At any rate, I can’t believe this happened. So sad .

I'm sorry for your loss, it can be pretty devastating when things go wrong, no matter how small the system. We lost our fist clowns and all our coral too. It sounds like you have some good support though, so you'll figure it out!

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

Thanks .

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

Phew. My boss let me leave a little early after my marathon of meetings. So I could check up on my little babies. Remaining clown is looking so much better. Not 100% still, but I was able to take her out of the net as the crabs are no longer after her. Royal gramma is still hiding in rocks, so hasn’t eaten, but is still alive. I assume as the wrasse was already out and about eating this morning, she’s okay .
Went to the LFS and they think it could have been the quantity of epoxy I used when trying to stick down my coral/rock - even though it’s reef safe! Anyway, whether it was the phosphate removal or the epoxy, I’ve added carbon and am Hoping things will improve. I will post a pic of the surviving clown when it was struggling last night, and how she looks now so you can let me know if you think she looks better. So grateful for this forum, and all the support .
Pics: first 2 last night (see pink in white stripe), 3rd pic from this morn, last pic taken just now.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Are those tiny white spots on the clown in the last picture? Could be a parasite... I've used lots of super glue and epoxy, and never have known it to cause fish death How long has it been since you last added something "wet" to the tank? The small white spots, and gramma hiding in the rocks, and loss of color / struggling on the sand all sound/look like marine velvet...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

I see what you mean - however i can’t see them ‘in real life’ - and the one that died didn’t have spots - he did have loose skin tho so I thought brooklynella - but it was too sudden....I think?

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

Oh - and I did add some snails and hermit crabs about 3 weeks ago. Can they carry the diseases?

I see what you mean - however i can’t see them ‘in real life’ - and the one that died didn’t have spots - he did have loose skin tho so I thought brooklynella - but it was too sudden....I think?[/QUOTE

Are those tiny white spots on the clown in the last picture? Could be a parasite... I've used lots of super glue and epoxy, and never have known it to cause fish death How long has it been since you last added something "wet" to the tank? The small white spots, and gramma hiding in the rocks, and loss of color / struggling on the sand all sound/look like marine velvet...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

 

[ngoodermuth]

I see what you mean - however i can’t see them ‘in real life’ - and the one that died didn’t have spots - he did have loose skin tho so I thought brooklynella - but it was too sudden....I think?

Brooklynella can kill pretty quickly If he had the sloughing skin that pretty exclusive to brook. And yes, they can hitch a ride on inverts. Inverts can’t be infected though.

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

Brooklynella can kill pretty quickly If he had the sloughing skin that pretty exclusive to brook. And yes, they can hitch a ride on inverts. Inverts can’t be infected though.

Noooo!!!! Originally that’s what I thought - but then I didn’t. So it’s possible for a clown to seem really sick but then bounce back from brook? My other clown seems so much better. Sorry for all the questions!

 

[Captain Quint]

I want one! I had never heard of that type of crab before, but just googled it. If it will eat from my hands that would be a new one for me!

Wait until you get a cleaner sunk shrimp and it jumps on your fingers and cleans them. It is awesome.

 

[Captain Quint]

You are doing a wonderful job and all your research is paying off!

Welcome to R2R and thank you for sharing.

You might want to consider the starfish as the one you have does not do well in most tanks.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Noooo!!!! Originally that’s what I thought - but then I didn’t. So it’s possible for a clown to seem really sick but then bounce back from brook? My other clown seems so much better. Sorry for all the questions!

Well... parasites have a lifecycle. Brook has a pretty short one. They feed off the fish, and then drop down to the substrate to reproduce then come back, in larger numbers. Fish can build a temporary “immunity” if they are very healthy (wrasses are good at this) but clowns are VERY susceptible to brook...

Treatment would be either acriflavine bath or formalin bath, followed by transfer to a QT for follow-up with 14 days of metroplex (dosed every 48 hours) And your tank will need to be fishless (fallow) for at least 6-weeks.

Best practice is to QT all new invert additions in a fishless tank for at least 6 weeks, up to 76 days (for ich). But, at the very least rinsing your CUC really well with fresh saltwater (or tank water once it’s pest-free again) dramatically decreases the risk of hitch-hikers. Never put LFS water into your tank if you can help it...

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

Well... parasites have a lifecycle. Brook has a pretty short one. They feed off the fish, and then drop down to the substrate to reproduce then come back, in larger numbers. Fish can build a temporary “immunity” if they are very healthy (wrasses are good at this) but clowns are VERY susceptible to brook...

Treatment would be either acriflavine bath or formalin bath, followed by transfer to a QT for follow-up with 14 days of metroplex (dosed every 48 hours) And your tank will need to be fishless (fallow) for at least 6-weeks.

Best practice is to QT all new invert additions in a fishless tank for at least 6 weeks, up to 76 days (for ich). But, at the very least rinsing your CUC really well with fresh saltwater (or tank water once it’s pest-free again) dramatically decreases the risk of hitch-hikers. Never put LFS water into your tank if you can help it...

I have never quarantined - I never add the LFS water, but as it’s just a biocube, I haven’t bought all the bells and whistles. Lesson learned I guess.
Thanks for such an informative reply. Very much appreciated

 

[ngoodermuth]

You're welcome, I'm sorry for your troubles... I highly recommend setting up a cheap QT, for future fish purchases anyway. Doesn't have to be fancy, 10-20g tank, little heater and a small powerhead or airstone, little hob filter, and an ammonia badge. You can seed it with biospira to get it going. I won't keep going on about it on your build thread, but there are stickies in the fish disease forum, and if you start a thread over there... plenty of folks to help you get through it

 

[JacquieBeginnerReef]

I will for sure - I’m learning the hard way!
How on Earth do the oceans do it!?