Forums / General Forums / General Fish and Reefs Discussion

new tank???

500gal — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:27:48 GMT

I need some help from you fine fish people!! I am proud to say that I have become the proud new owner of a 500 gal reef ready tank. i will be receiving it within two weeks. So I am now trying to get things ready for it...trying! I have the filter system about 25% bought so far, It will have a 165 gallon sump tank below. I have all the plumbing as well ah hoses and lines to get the water to and from the tank. I am going to have the skimmer built by a company so it will fit and have enough gusto to do its job in the system. This is where i need help with, what else should I have in this massive filter??? I have been told all sorts of things like have it full of live rock and bio-balls...or half chemical half mechanical...mangrove trees...I have had a lot of tanks in my life but befor this my biggest tank was a 125. I had used two canister filters, both had some chem filters and bio filters and mechanical filters inside of them, but with this type of filter i am no help to myself??? I chose the 165 from the manufacturers guidelines...and it has little places for different things. Any help with this will be very useful.

Also I have turned my 125 into a stock tank for the time being. I am trying to stock it full of live rock for the big one when it is ready. How much live rock will i need for this big of a system??? And for live sand, I have always just took silica sand for the main part of it and then just seeded it using some live sand. I am not sure if this is good or not but it has always worked for me. Is this what most people do???

I would like to set it up as a community tank with all sorts of critters and fish. I don't know if the type of system will change on what it will be stocked with. So any help with the first phase will be awesome. Thank you for your time...

Reef safe gloves? latex, vinyl or nitrile?

xltom — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:56:48 GMT

My hands are dry and cracked. I think it's eczema. I need to know what gloves won't leech chemicals into my tank. I already have a pair of coralife reef gloves but I'm looking for something I can do fine work on equipment and corals with. I need to keep some kind of oil or lotion on my hands as much of the time as possible. The short gloves would be used to keep from washing my hands every time I touch anything that may end up in the tank. I don't plan to use them to dive in. I also was hoping that someone would know what kinds of lotion might be the least dangerous. Maybe shea butter or corn huskers oil or something? Part of me is hoping someone else has had a similar problem but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Ouch!! Thanks...........XLtom

SPS Polyp Extension Receding - Lighting Issue?

Dego Red — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:03:25 GMT

Hi all,
I've been lurking here for a bit after being directed by a friend/fellow reefer for some quality knowledge. Nice place you guys have here.

Anyway, I've noticed over the last week that my polyp extension on a few of my SPS has dropped to little to none, while others continue to thrive and grow like weeds. My early guess is light, but let's start with setup and you guys tell me from there.

Tank: 30g long, all-in-one
Skimmer: Tunze 9002
Light: 15000K 150 watt MH, 11hr photo period
Flow: Two modified MJ400's (~1000gph), alternating via AC Jr. once per hour
Temps: 78-79 at night, 79-80 during the day
Params: A/N/N = 0/0/<2mg/L, Ph 8.1 - 8.4, Ca 420+, 9dKH, SG = 1.026 always (topping morning & night, waiting on ATO), phosphate = ~0.2.
Maintenance: Weekly WC's -10g or 5g - and macro for nitrates. Light feeding of mysis and/or brine + DT's phyto once per day.

The tank is relatively new - about 3 months - but the parameters haven't budged since ending the cycle. I don't believe there's much I can do about the phos...I used marco dry rock and from what I'm told it may leech phosphate up to 8 months. If it's believed to be an issue, I can always run some phosban.

From what I read (over a year of research before setup - did my homework!), these parameters and my setup should be more than enough to sustain SPS successfully. However, they all came from a 400watt, multiple bulb environment and were generally housed closer to the surface. My single 150W is about 10" above the water, and the corals are 8-14" below the surface. Age of the bulbs is unknown.

First course of action: Install my backup ballast and light for 300W total and replace the bulbs with a pair of Phoenix.

Any other thoughts or questions? Please let me know, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you,
Mike

When to add Live sand

90overflow — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:57:27 GMT

I filled a 45 gallon, holds 42 gallon on 5-11 -08 . Have 30 lbs. of dry bought, sugar sized, unrinsed Argonite in tank. Have 20 lbs. of live sand same size, same brand. How long before I should add the sand. Filter is a Marine Land cannister, micron filters in there for now, with the twin Bio-wheels, with a "Y" to a deflection nozzle for the return to the tank. Tank will be a Reef.

Building a Tide Pool

90overflow — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:55:35 GMT

I think I can get someone to give me a pond kit, liner type, never been out of the box. Has anyone every built a Tide Pool? Any web sites where someone has done this? It''ll be in the basement and would like to plumb it to my 90 gallon with a bypass valves to run each independent. Have an idea how to put a window in it, and would want it off the floor on a platform.

fish does not eat

madcam — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:06:40 GMT

I just set up my standard 55 gal aquarium aprox 4 weeks ago. in which i have 2 clarki clowns and have just added a long nose butterfly. my problem is with the butterfly. we have had him for 3 days now and in this time he has not eaten anything. we have used both the standard marine food that we give the clowns and flakes. is it normal for a fish to take a while to develope an apetite while adapting?

im using live sand and only about 5 lbs of live rock(both straight from the ocean) but with my canister filter and skimmer my water is kept suprisingly clean. no ammonia or nitrite. 10-15ppm mitrate 1.023 salinity ph is slightly low at 8.0. he is fairly active swimming around but i figure if he doesnt eat he'll probably die right?

Peral bubble dying I think....

ryanpfaffer — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:21:53 GMT

I have a 29g reef and my pearl bubble is wasting away for the past few weeks. I have had him for about 8 months and until a couple weeks ago he was looking incredible healthy. I have been feeding him silversides but now he doesnt seem to want to take anything in. My water parameters are as follows

Salinity 1.025

PH 8.1

Phos 0

amm 0

nitrite 0

nitrate less than 10

calcium 480

DKH 8

Any help in this matter would be great. Thanks alot!

Ryan

Gorgonian in trouble recovery

tonig — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:24:02 GMT

Hi Just an update on the gorgonian I wrote you about some time ago. I fragged a part of it that was looking good. I didn't loose either the main part or the frag. They both are out eating and seem to be doing fine so far. My friends gorgonian is fine too last i heard. Live brine shrimp really brings them out. Feeding twice a day with rotifers, brine shrimp and other fine foods.It seems whatever was "eating it" quit at last. ?????? Don't know how long it will last. Holding steady for now.Toni

dead lionfish

angler — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:31:53 GMT

hi i have a 60 gallon tank about 3 months old. i had a 2 inch lionfish and a koran angel. a couple of days ago i added an anger. i put about 6 guppies in there for the lion and the angler, however the lion ate all the guppies right away. the next day the lion was in the bottom gasping and eventually died. there were no visible marks on him, all the tests came out normal. what caused the lionfish to die? was it intestinal blockage from the guppies? please help

Aquascaping and Water Flow - your thoughts???

DJGEXETER — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:33:16 GMT

Hi Folks -

My 90 mixed reef has been up and running for about a year now. I've been trying to adjust (what I think) has been either too much flow---and/or improper placement of power heads. I know that its difficult to move "too much" water for a reef, however, I've noticing some of my SPS le my tank, zenias for example, really look like they are blowing back and forth too hard...I bough a new shroom rock last week and some of the muchrooms have been blowing off. My bubble coral has also been having trouble staying fully inflated, and I read somewhere on the forums that too much flow can/will impact the corals ability to thrive.

Anyway--I moved things around this morning and already the bubble seems to be much more filled out.

Any thoughts based on past experience would be great!

fedding saltwater fish

angler — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:39:55 GMT

hi, i just changed my freshwater to a saltwater tank. my question is, i have a 2lb bucket of nls cichlid formula can i feed this to my saltwater fish? thank you

just put in prtoein skimmer ? & salinity level

clownfish2 — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:19:39 GMT

I just got the protein skimmer and it is foaming a bit well i got it in about oh im not sure how many hours its been on, but the foam goes up the tube but it never goes out like never drips on the side just stays at the level of the funel, should it be like that ? or is it going to later on accumulate and then dispose itself ? andy ideas on how to get it working at its best ?

also my salinity levels increase a bit should i do a water change ? or whats going on

Thanks

Storing water ?

clownfish2 — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:51:18 GMT

What do you guys do to store water ? I hear it is important to at least have it sit 1 day before adding it to your tank

know my salinity is dropping a bit should I remove some access water and wait a day with the salt water to settle and then pour it in the tank ?

Low pH

pixie — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:41:16 GMT

Hello All,

I've been searching the web for weeks. So, I thought it was time to ask for help.

I have a reef tank that has been running for about 9 years. I knew something was up because the 100 or so hermit crabs and snails disappeared. I thought at first my snowflake eel might be the cause, but his appetite hasn't changed. The tank is in very good condition, but lately my pH has dropped to 7.6-7.7. Probably because I switched from an overflow system to a hang on refugium about a year ago. That's my guess. I was getting lazy about checking my pH because it's been very stable. My nitrates are less than 0.2, calcium is 425, alkalinity is 11. I haven't checked my pH for about 6 months. For the previous 8 years, it was never very far off 8.2. So, the first thing I did was add an air stone. That brought the pH up to about 7.95 in the morning, 8.05 in the evening. Still too low, but closer. I tried putting so much air in that I could barely see the fish, but that didn't help.

I'll try to give enough vital information. It's 140 gallons, 8 gallon hang-on refugium. 150 lbs of live rock. 8 large fish. 5 corals, 1 large anenome.
Nitrites 0, ammonia 0, magnesium 900, total alkalinity 11, borate alkalinity 1.5, calcium 425, nitrate 0.2, pH 7.95-8.05, salinity 1.023, temp 77-79F chilled, lighting MH 800 watts 10 hours a day, water flow 4000 gph.

Another problem I found was my RO water is about 7.8 pH. So, I've started to use the air stone in my weekly water changes.

The only readings I find strange above are the magnesium and borate alkalinity are a little low, but they don't seem that bad.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

What do you guys think about Cycle from Hagen reduces fish loss ?

clownfish2 — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:44:58 GMT

Do you guys use it ? what do you think of it ? should new people that are starting fish tanks use this and keep on using ?

Moray Eel

Runway_Boi — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:41:46 GMT

Hello,

I would like to start out by saying hello and that it is a pleasure to find a forum to get some help on!

Background information:

I am in the market for an eel, and I just wanted some more information and possibly where to buy them. I am looking at the Green Moray, the Honeycomb Moray, and the Grey Moray. For the most part, I know what I'm getting into with these eels. They are aggressive, mean, and possibly harmful to my health should I neglect to take the necessary precations. I have a variety of fish-free tanks that an eel could go in (ranging from 55-120 gal.); so size is not a problem. I will be buying a larger tank in the near future, which may be useful if I decide to go with the Green Moray (it will be anywhere from 500-1,500 gal.).

My question:

Could you just give me your opinion of these eels? To the people who have had very bad experiences with these fish: PLEASE, share your experiences. Could you tell me exactly what you think of these eels? Am I getting into something that I'm totally unprepared for? Also, does anyone know where I can buy these eels? I have looked on Marinedepotlive.com and they only have the Green Moray, and I also look at the WSIWYG section of liveaquaria.com.

new to forum

kdc — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:37:12 GMT

first want to say Hi, and now the question. getting ready to add cleaning crew to tank. i have set up a separate tank, and have them in it for now. wondering if you guys and or gals, would use a none copper based treatment for parasites , and if so which one. or just keep them in the tank for a set time with elevated temperature perhaps. any input would be appreciated thanks

Feeding fish while away

Nstig8tr — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:45:18 GMT

We camp alot during the nice months of the year. I have been looking at automatic feeders. One is the Current USA Aquachef and the other is the Eheim. Does anybody have any experience with either of these? Also what about those food tablets type things that dissolve and feed fish over a certain number of days, any thoughts on using those?

Why is my blue hippo tang losing its black coloring

AK JERRY — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:07:30 GMT

My blue hippo tang is losing its black coloring? What can cause this?

EXPERT ADVICE ON REDUCE NOISE ON SUMP SETUP

DC_APEX — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:15:58 GMT

Need help in reducing gurgling sound on my overflow box, I try to construct a modify durso standpipe but it was too big for my overflow box, so I build a “Hofer Gurgle Buster” I got from the internet: http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/HGB_construction.html, but the problems is I am not getting the result, I can reduce the noise a little but at the expense of very slow flow to the sump, I am consisting getting a pair of the Stockman Standpipe.

Another problem is a lot of air being suck down the hose and enters the sump and created a lot of noise and water bubbles, there is a design on the internet that say can reduce the noise:

http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/reverse_durso.htm, I would like to know anyone have experience with this setup.

Also with all the restriction from the air, I don’t think I get close to 1200 GPH flow into the sump, I have to restrict the flow on the return pump to balance the system. I originally use a GEN X – GX6000 as a return pump, and I have to turn the flow dial way down to balance the flow, but I have to replace the pump because it was just too loud (anybody want to buy a 2 week old pump?), so I replace it with the Pentair 6000 and I added a ½” bypass because I don’t want to restrict the flow of the pump too much.

My setup:

200 gal. Tank

34 gal. Sump

110 lbs. LR

3.5” LS

1200 GPH Hang on overflow box w/2-1” dia. drain to sump on flex hose and 45 elbows

Pentair 6000 return pump

ASM G-3 protein skimmer

10”x17”x9” refugium section in sump w/LR, LS & Macro algae

Fish

3 – Damsels

1 - Blenny

1 – Firefish Coby

1 – Twin Spots Coby

1 – Royal Gramma

2 – Emerald crabs

4 – Zebra hermit crabs

5 - Scarlet hermit crabs

6 – Cone Head snails

10 – Cerith snails

10 – Nassarius snails

2 – Peppermint shrimps

1 – Sand Star

Top news story for May 2, 2008

Nstig8tr — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:55:38 GMT

Six-lined wrasse mutilates Porcelain crab.

What the hell! I have a Green chromis that's a serial killer and a Freddy Krueger wrasse. I give up.

Something is killing my fish

Nstig8tr — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:06:11 GMT

Ok, so for awhile I only had a six-lined wrasse, 2 green chromis, a peppermint shrimp, 3 turbo snails and 13 blue-legged hermits. One green chromis committed suicide and jumped out of the tank and 1 of the snails died for unknown reasons. I have since fixed that problem of fish jumping out. After that I added a Coral Beauty that didn't live long. It developed ich and died. For awhile after that I didn't add any fish to the tank. A couple of weeks ago I decided to try some more fish. I bought 4 Green chromis and a Banggai Cardinal. A couple of days later I found 1 Green chromis dead. I figured it just died from stress or something being in a new tank. No big deal. A few days later I found the Cardinal dead. It was wounded and partially eaten. Today I found another green chromis dead and hermits eating it. It had wounds also.

All water params check out fine as usual. This leads me to believe either the wrasse or the large Green Chromis is killing the others unless there is something living in there I don't know about. It seems to happen at night. I go to bed and the fish are all fine. I get up and find a dead one. So between the wrasse and the chromis which do YOU believe would be most apt to kill others in the tank? I want to exclude the wrasse just for the simple fact that it sleeps in a coccoon. I don't think it would come out, kill a fish and make another bed and go back to sleep.

my 37 gallon

slaltyfish808 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:06:12 GMT

tell me what you think?

Bulkheads ?

TRIGGER5150 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:49:34 GMT

I was wondering is there much diffrence between standard and heavy duty sch.80 bulkheads?I need to get about 5-6 bulkheads.I need 2-1.5 for my overflow,and 3-3/4 for a closed loop.Would just get heavy duty ones but $ wise that adds up.Always could spend else where on tank.

Also should i put anything (silicon lube etc.)between bulkhead and acrylic?tank is 100gal. acrylic.

THANKS FOR ANY INPUT...

Tank Crash

skeeterdav2002 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:00:40 GMT

I have missed being online with you guys for such a long time but I'm glad to be back. Well I have some good news & some really bad news. I moved into a new home this past week which is the good news. The bad news is my beautiful reef "Crashed" during the move. For those who don't know what "Crashed" means, all my corals, clams, most of my fish perished in just three short hours it took me to move the tank. I think oxygen depletion was the cause but not positive. My Sailfin Tang and Coral Banded shrimp are the lone survivors. I had to remove all the live rock and scrub them clean in saltwater to remove all the dead soft corals and sponges and do a massive 95% water change. What a complete heartbreak and huge hassle. I've moved this tank twice before with no problems so this was a complete shock. On the bright side of things, I wanted to rearrange the tank and go completely with SPS corals so I guess this is a good time to start over. See ya all around the reef ><}}}}">

cyano bac problem

Garry Mc — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:45:19 GMT

I own a 110gallon reef that has been set up for a year now, after upgrading the lighting to a gisemann inifiti I've noticed that the areas where there hadn't been light before now has brown algae growing! Last week I had my hand in the sump which has a red/maroon slimy substance present in it my fear is that I've transferred the cyano from the sump to my main tank as now there seems to be a lot of this algae arround my setup can any one tell me how to get rid of this I have good water movment and quality

Refugeriums

anthony — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:54:20 GMT

Hello,

I have a sump and lighting all set for a refug and i would like to get some opinions on the best set up.

Do i add live rock?

Do i need sand? The salesman at the fish store tried to persuade me from using sand, stating it would get sucked into my pump and get in the tank. He suggested leaving the pants in pots? Thoughts??

What type of algae is best for refug starter?

I tried to find how to articles on the site but was unsuccessful in finding a how to set up article? It would be great if Marine depot sold a refug pack for starters.

Temp Control

nater1984 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:22:40 GMT

I just bought 2 visi-therm deluxe heaters (200 watt each) for my 75 gal. tank. I previously had 2 hydor heaters that I could never get to stay at one temp. I am already having the same problem with my new heaters. I have one on each side of the tank with the thermostate in the middle of the tank. I have the heaters set at 82 right now (even though I want a temp of 76-78) and my tank temp is 75 (for a 1.5 days). Has anybody had this problem, is it somehthing I am doing wrong or just a heater problem?

THanks

Nate

LIGHTING

DC_APEX — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:08:37 GMT

I want to replace my NO light fixture with a 48" Outer Orbit MH fixture, but my acrylic tank top is enclosed except for 2 - 7"x17" opening with 4" brace in the middle, anybody have any idea how high my MH light fixture need to be above the acrylic top so it wouldn't melt the acrylic? The acrylic top piece is 1/2" thick.

tank setup

reefme — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:57:06 GMT

currently i just added water, salt, powerhead, and heater in my 29g tank today. my friend is going to give me around 20lbs of live rock from his well established tank. if i put the rocks in my tank right away from his, will it cycle it (will i get any die-off)? also would you recommend using any nitrifying bacteria, specifically nite out II, if his rocks are considered cured?

Water changes

proangel2 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:08:34 GMT

My tank holds 400liters iam changing 30 liters a week is this enough or should i be doing more

fish stock

2 clowns

yellow gobby

lawnmore blenny

radiant wresse

golden wrasse

naso tang

powder blue tang

emperor angle

and a couple of soft corals;six shrimps and cleaner crew (Snails and hermits)

Emperor angle

proangel2 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:35:33 GMT

I recently bought a juv. Emperor angle iam feeding him Mysis shrimp small frequient feeds he wont take flake food.Is the mysis enough for him? he is also grazing the live rock any replies would be appricated

Robbie

Two Flame Angels in a 90 gallon

90overflow — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:43:52 GMT

Someone wants to give me a Flame Angel, I already have one thats been in the tank a long time. Other fish is a Yellow Tang. Has anyone had any luck combining two of them?

rock ok to use?

scubanoah — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:36:03 GMT

I was listening to blue zoo radio and one of the guest speakers said it was ok to use any rock in your tank as long as it did not fizz when you put vinegar on it. well i have like 4 diff kinds of rock in my tank so i was curious to see if any in my tank would fizz. well i took a few small pieces out of my fuge and 1 type of rock did actually fizz when i poured vinegar on it. my tank has been set up for a couple of years with all this rock in it and i have had no problems. should i be worried with this rock?

coral

geoplane2 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:44:20 GMT

hello I would like to know how much corals,polyps mushroom,ect... can you have in a reef tank ? Is there a ratio like there is for fish i dont want to over stock the tank !!

aga megaflow #4 sump filter

pink crab — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:21:26 GMT

hi guys and girls i am starting up a new 120gal tank with 2 overflows. i am thinking of useing this sump any pros or cons on this sump.i have read about it and talk 2 people and they say all good things. is it hard to set up. thanks any info would be great thanks.

help with ocean runner 2500 pump with turboflotor t1000 multi

Fishguy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:50:58 GMT

hey guys, i recently purchased a turboflotor t 1000 multi protein skimmer and when i look at the pictures online, the pump is shown with an external needlewheel, but i do no tsee one on my pump. i am, however positive that the desciption said it had one. coul dit be that the needlewheel is inside the pump?
thanks in advance!

help with sand bed

titanzmom — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:42:23 GMT

I have fine sand for my substrate. And I cannot seem to keep it green algae free. I did water changes to see if that works , all of my test are fine and I am having problems. Please help..

Marine fish

proangel2 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:33:41 GMT

witch is the wright form to post questions about marine fish eg Angles,Tangs ect

Aiptasia

ryanpfaffer — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:21:48 GMT

Any suggestions. Ive seen a few in my tank and Ive read about a few natural eaters of these guys... How dangerous are they though?