16 days in

[joejoe1055]

this is a great hobby, glad your interested in it
but please read some books on it, study study study
these are lifeforms we are dealing with not toys
you just need to slow it down, we all will help you here

 

[11:11]

from OPs other thread



Hmmmm, can one person, single-handedly bring down the Petco chain :blown:...I'm selling my stock tomorrow!

I know your kidding, but I must add that before I became the Aquatics specialist, they had nothing but damsels and clownfish because they couldnt keep a trigger alive longer than 3 days. Now I have the store scooring 100 percent on their animal walks, in the number 1 store in the entire district in sales and animal care. Comments from the regional manager are "I haven't seen the Aquatics section like this in a very long time". Not trying to brag, but it shows in sales as well, and my customers feel confident as well as baffled, that I know what I'm talking about compared to most petco representatives. I am now responsible for truly starting the saltwater business at my Petco, because now that the tanks look nice and the fish look as happy as they can be in such small tanks (tangs in 10 gallons and 30 gallons), they are getting sold a lot quicker. GOing in to nice homes. I have a guy coming in to buy the tang in the 10 gallon since we now have 4 tangs on stock, the most tangs the store has had in years at the same time, and actually keeping them alive long, which is why we have so many. If anything, I'm doing these animals justice. Not specifically the ones in my tank, but lets just say I have my own way of doing things, and they are hardly ever strictly by the book, more like, basically by the book. However I am always open to critique and opinion, because at the same time it is important to remain concious and attentive to errors that CAN go wrong, rather than pretend to be the invincible newbie who can't take any losses. Im not sure what it is, but my cycling process happened different than usual which also shaped the way I am going about things. It had to do with the water chemistry of the initial water I placed in, and the amount of time I had it running along with the combination of additives I had to prep the water, and the water changes I have done.

 

[11:11]

...and I would keep your location under your hat. If somebody finds your location and complains (which they have every right to) you may find yourself out of a job in short order.
This is the super forum of uber marine aquatic specialists, and based on some of your posts that have been brought to light, you are so clearly not one of them. I'm a beginner, and I can see that.

For Petco to be putting folks like yourself into positions of expertise like that ought to be a crime. That's not your fault, it's Petco's. It's cool that you are getting first hand exposure to learn the trade/hobby, but really, they aren't doing you any favors.
I would urge you to cease and desist from giving any advice to customers on salt water aquaria. Be upfront with them about your beginner status, and point them to do their own research before making any purchases...especially livestock. Give them bad/incorrect advice, and it will return to haunt you.

Petco's only do FO as far as marine goes. All of their holding tanks are linked together, so a disease that's in one tank, is in all the tanks. Since they don't quarantine, you probably treat with copper as a profalactic, right? There's a Pet Extreme where I live that is set up the same way, yet every Wednesday, they still stock their SW tanks with a new shipment of snails, crabs, dusters and anemones, and they always look terrible. The only chance they have is if they get sold immediately. The copper and nitrates in these types of systems is a death sentence for them. As a beginner, I looked up to their staff and assumed I was getting good advice.

How long have you worked there? What is your SW fish loss rate there... Honestly? I've been into more than my fair share of these places, and most of the time, at least half of their livestock are visibly ill...not to mention the ones that are already belly up. The holding tanks are waaaay too small for the specimens they sell. Some are run better than others, but the basic recipe is seriously flawed from the git-go.

First off, just because I am not doing things the typical way, does not mean that I would instruct a customer not to do it that way, nor does it mean that I don't already know the proper way.

 

[Toddrtrex]

That is all well and good, but the fact remains, that the anemone you placed in your tank -- way too soon -- is getting worse. Like I stated above, it going from tan/brown to white is a bad thing. It is bleaching, that is a fact.

 

[11:11]

ok 1st off you put knowing sick fish in your tank? that was 1 bad idea, if they had a deseise then most likely that will go to the other fish and soon will all die.

what type of light fixture do you have? brand wise? I know T5's but just because it looks like the light is penetrating the water good don't mean that it really is.

I would really slow down alot and do alot more reading.

going through your other posts you were saying how 40% said to use a live fish to cycle your tank well actually peeing in your tank would have been a much better choice or any of the other options you stated. you basically put those fish on their death bed.

Your a very positive person. :eek1: The brand of light is zoomed aquasun.

 

[11:11]

That is all well and good, but the fact remains, that the anemone you placed in your tank -- way too soon -- is getting worse. Like I stated above, it going from tan/brown to white is a bad thing. It is bleaching, that is a fact.

He looks tons better in my tank than at petco (trust me I've seen many sick anenomes). Lol.

 

[11:11]

Believe it or not, i actually get a lot of very experienced saltwater hobbyist at my huge petco, and not afraid to ask them all questions.

 

[Toddrtrex]

He looks tons better in my tank than at petco (trust me I've seen many sick anenomes). Lol.

I will say this one last time -- when an anemone becomes "very white", it is NOT a good sign. You stated that it was slightly brown at the store, and is now "very white". There is no debate, it is bleaching, which is a bad sign for an anemone. So, while it may LOOK better, it is actually doing worse.

FYI -- I have been keeping hosting anemones for 18 years, with the oldest one being in my care for 12+ years now.

 

[11:11]

"the key to success for this animal is performing frequent partial water changes (10 - 20% every 2 weeks), supplementing with iodine, having the right light intensity over the tank (at minimum - Power compacts in short tanks and HO, VHO or Metal Halides in tanks deeper than the standard 24 inches) and supplemental feedings with a variety of fresh marine foods."

This is from www.fishlore.com

Thats exactly what I do He seems to love the strontium and iodide I supplement the water with. Im going to vary his diet up alot.

 

[11:11]

I will say this one last time -- when an anemone becomes "very white", it is NOT a good sign. You stated that it was slightly brown at the store, and is now "very white". There is no debate, it is bleaching, which is a bad sign for an anemone. So, while it may LOOK better, it is actually doing worse.

FYI -- I have been keeping hosting anemones for 18 years, with the oldest one being in my care for 12+ years now.

Well when i say white that is with the light on it. It gives it this cool effect Im used to seeing it with the light on it rarely without. But with the light on it is slightly brown at its core, but when it was at the store half of its tentacles were shriveled, and brownish black. Kind of inflated. Now they are all full and thick. I didn't realize this guy was this big either. (not huge, but bigger than I thought)

 

[cubsFAN]

Are you thinking of adding any tank bred mini tangs?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Please, do not supplement anything (( especially iodine and strontium )) without testing for it -- overdosing iodine can have very serious effects.

But, I have to ask - do you actually want help, or are you just trying to prove that your way is going to work?

 

[username in use]

wow, you really are not interested in keeping anything alive long term. The people who have posted before me are giving you advice. The advice they are giving you is for one thing, to keep your animals alive. If you don't want to keep them alive, keep doing what you are doing, if you like to see fish die over and over and if you want to lose that anemone, keep doing what you are doing, but you better believe that the people on this board know what they are talking about and are giving you really good advice.

 

[Original Fin]

Is this a joke? Reading thru the op's other posts, I have a hard time believing this is for real.

Good call. Kudos for spotting it so soon.

 

[Misled]

I'm not saying anything till I see a pic of this white elephant.

 

[11:11]

Are you thinking of adding any tank bred mini tangs?

I dont want to add any fish that wont be happy in a 40 gallon. I originally thought a 40 was big enough for a small stingray until I realized how big they can grow. The biggest fish in my tank will be a flame angel or the clowns I get down the line

 

[11:11]

Please, do not supplement anything (( especially iodine and strontium )) without testing for it -- overdosing iodine can have very serious effects.

But, I have to ask - do you actually want help, or are you just trying to prove that your way is going to work?

I want help from my current situation, and less flame for the route I have already taken. I realize that this isn't a route that will work for everyone. However the water I initially had running in my tank had ammonia in it. I had the water running for two weeks, and I think it cycled before I had even put the live rock and sand in, and then I think it did a mini cycle. Now Im showing no ammonia, even less nitrates, and no nitrites.

 

[cubsFAN]

I dont want to add any fish that wont be happy in a 40 gallon. I originally thought a 40 was big enough for a small stingray until I realized how big they can grow. The biggest fish in my tank will be a flame angel or the clowns I get down the line

awesome.

 

[11:11]

wow, you really are not interested in keeping anything alive long term. The people who have posted before me are giving you advice. The advice they are giving you is for one thing, to keep your animals alive. If you don't want to keep them alive, keep doing what you are doing, if you like to see fish die over and over and if you want to lose that anemone, keep doing what you are doing, but you better believe that the people on this board know what they are talking about and are giving you really good advice.

I've heard advice of what I shouldn't do that I've already done, not advice of what I should do from here. I already stated that I didn't plan on adding any further fish than what I have now for a white.

 

[WienerDog]

In regards to the Zoo-Med Aqua Sun light...I have it. It only supplies 48 watts-2-24w's. I am in the process of looking for a new light before I add anything in my tank. That is not enough light for any coral or ANY anemone. Just suck it up and listen to these guys.