Totally new to saltwater

[rantipole]

Welcome to r2r!

Sorry you are having some issues but that seems normal for everyone in this hobby. I haven't started a tank yet, but I expect to have my share of problems once I get going.

Have you tried Craig's List or eBay for a skimmer? I've seen other posts on here where reefers have scored great deals because other people are getting out of the hobby and are dumping their equipment. It's worth a try. Good luck!

Cheers,
rant

 

[Marinevrablic]

So I'd I medicate my DT that runs into my sump obviously lol...my cuc would die?

 

[jsker]

The fish are stressed and I feed this daily in the picture. You can add to the food mixture MetroPlex by seachem (kind like and antibiotic ) the focus make everything bond to the food. the like a super protein shake for you fish. You could get some cuppramine and do a dip in fresh water do not put cupramine in the tank.


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[morpheas]

So I'd I medicate my DT that runs into my sump obviously lol...my cuc would die?

You can find a lot of "reef safe" meds out there for ich but I haven't heard anyone having a success with them. The only successful med I am aware of is copper. Now, copper will kill invertebrates at the dosage required. That means shrimp, crabs and corals (which you don't have). Most importantly, when you're done and you run carbon to remove copper (and probably do a water change) you will effectively remove it from the water column but not the live rock and any other surface you have in the tank. This would make your tank uninhabitable to invertebrates thereafter (more info here http://www.aquarium-medications.com/2014/02/aquarium-copper-facts-and-use.html)

 

[Marinevrablic]

Oh this is rough. I have like 100 dollars in cuc. I feel like I'm at a loss.

 

[Marinevrablic]

I just purchased a skimmer. Now to battle ich.

 

[morpheas]

Oh this is rough. I have like 100 dollars in cuc. I feel like I'm at a loss.

I understand and I'm sorry for your situation. Maybe a more experienced reefer will have some different advice and approach. In your shoes, after evaluating your situation to the best of my knowledge, I'd give the TTM a go (unless you're not sure it's ich).

Also, another approach is roll the dice and see what happens. Sometimes livestock bounces back. The ich stays in the tank but the fish are asymptomatic for months/years/ever. It's a slim chance but it does exist especially if you start feeding good food like @jsker suggested. If it doesn't work though, you might end up losing all livestock and having to go fallow for 4-8 weeks (which you might have to do in the long run anyway).

That's the best advice I can think of...

 

[reefwiser]

You are learning all the things that you need to do in saltwater. Green Algae is normal if you have no way to export it from your aquarium. Skimmers help the situation. They remove 25% of the organics from and aquarium. Since you are only keeping fish you need to watch what you feed and not over feed them. If you still have algae issues a Algae scrubber will take care of the rest of the organics in the aquarium. You can search the forum for algae scrubbers and you will find many DIY versions. For the ICH issues you need to read the Fish Disease forum and read the many posts on ICH there.

 

[DevonMeep]

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[Marinevrablic]

Thanks everyone for the advice!!! Much helpful. I look at my freshwater and then to my salt and I'm like why? Lol I read so much on saltwater and my friend was moving and I got his set up. Also when I was reading things....a lot of it seems like hit or miss or trial and error in saltwater.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Oh also....good news....I checked out my tang and he doesn't have ich. It was micro bubbles stuck on him that looked just like ich. Now he doesn't have any spots. Noticed this right before my water change.

 

[morpheas]

Oh also....good news....I checked out my tang and he doesn't have ich. It was micro bubbles stuck on him that looked just like ich. Now he doesn't have any spots. Noticed this right before my water change.

Glad to hear! The hardest part is diagnosing. BTW, if you choose to put new fish in, you might want to start thinking about a QT tank. Honestly I don't have one but I knowingly am taking a gamble. If you want to play it safe, now is the time to prepare and setup one.

Enjoy!

 

[Marinevrablic]

Haha yeah I'm doing that now. I have room under my stand for my sump and QT. Also. I'm thinking of running a HOB until my skimmer gets here next week. What do I put in the HOB? I'm sorry for noob questions. I tried googling it but got no where.

 

[morpheas]

Haha yeah I'm doing that now. I have room under my stand for my sump and QT. Also. I'm thinking of running a HOB until my skimmer gets here next week. What do I put in the HOB? I'm sorry for noob questions. I tried googling it but got no where.

No problem at all. If I can help I'll gladly do so!

I had started my tank with an HOB filter and I just left the filter that came with it (carbon, floss). A little better is poly filter, a lot of people swear by it. I would just leave it like that until I get my skimmer and break it in. Then I'd remove the HOB.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Awesome!!!!! Thanks so much that totally answered it. Would that help clear the water a little more? I see what looks like white tiny stars floating everywhere. I keep wiping the algea off my glass twice a day it's crazy lol.

 

[jsker]

Oh also....good news....I checked out my tang and he doesn't have ich. It was micro bubbles stuck on him that looked just like ich. Now he doesn't have any spots. Noticed this right before my water change.

Good the here, darn air bubbles. I have to do a double take with my tang too when she has air bubble one her.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Good the here, darn air bubbles. I have to do a double take with my tang too when she has air bubble one her.

Haha now I know what to look for. I seen ich on my freshwater fish Oscars in particular. I can go all day for freshwater but this saltwater stuff is a beast lol. Thought I was ok in the hobby to go saltwater but this is a very fun experience

 

[jsker]

Haha now I know what to look for. I seen ich on my freshwater fish Oscars in particular. I can go all day for freshwater but this saltwater stuff is a beast lol. Thought I was ok in the hobby to go saltwater but this is a very fun experience

Once you get some time under your belt you will get the hang of it. I have a 125 with 3 oscars a long time ago. I liked those fish.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Yea love my oscars. Eat crawfish all day.