Damn Tuskfish

[fishysteve]

I got my tuskfish about 3 months ago. I'd wanted one for about 8 years. The problem is that I have to pump so much food into the tank just for him to get some because the other fish are such ravenous eaters. He's the biggest fish by about 2 inches, he's not shy at all, and shows no fear of any of the other fish. He's just so slow compared to the other fish at eating. So as a result of all of this food going in the tank, I have a cyano problem. The tank is a 75 with a 20 gal sump with 4 nanostreams, all new T5s, and Rowaphos.

Ca 420
Alk 3.7 meq/L
Mag 1350
SG 1.026
Phos 0.03
Nitrate 0

I do 25 gallon water changes every week. The cyano is 95% on the sandbed so I just skim over the sand to suck it out but in a couple days it's back. Can anyone offer any suggestions? This is driving me crazy.

 

[Painted skin]

Maybe QT the tusk until you get the cyano under control. You need to reduce your nutrient and make sure you have sufficient flow. Continue skimming sand and water change. 25gal is a good amount, but instead of doing once a week spread it of over the course of time just for now until you have it under control. If all fails them medication treat cyano, but that's only short term fix.

 

[fishysteve]

I don't have another tank setup to quarantine it. The tank was pristine before the tuskfish was added, so I think I would be back in the same situation when I added him back. I was thinking of adding another sump with just chaeto in it to try to get some nutients out.

 

[psykobowler]

This is easy. Remove the sand bed, add the separate tank with chaeto blasted by a good light, carbon dose with wet skimming and run ozone. I feed VERY heavily and cyano never shows up.

 

[fishysteve]

A few weeks ago I started using the Prodibio digest and optim I had left over from my old tank. I was thinking of trying Nitrobacter7 if the prodibio doesn't work.

 

[fishysteve]

Remove the sandbed permanently?

 

[etepperman]

What fish do you have. I ask because if you other fish have smaller mouths then you can try to feed it larger food. This works for me. My tangs eat the small stuff and then I put in a hard pellet for the puffer and the tusk fish. Works like a charm.

-E

 

[etepperman]

oh, as for the cyano get the red slime remover. It should kill it in one or two applications. That will give you about 3 months to fix the issue before it comes back. Do water changes and cut down on your feeding.

I just went through this trying to get a clown tang to eat.

 

[foxsavage]

An upflow algae filter would work.

 

[jlnielsen13]

I have the SAME exact problem with the same fish. I target feed my tusk. He is huge compared to any other fish but so slow, and it seems like he misses a lot when "attacking" a food item. I use the wood barbeque skewers. I buy a pack for a couple bucks and then throw them out every once in a while. Stab a nice chunk and stick it in front of his mouth. He gets it then!

JIM

 

[anbosu]

I don't know how big your tusk is, but a 75 isn't really a big enough tank for one in my opinion, at least long term. You can try target feeding, running GFO, and some sort of algae scrubber and I think that will help short term.

What other fish do you have?

 

[fishysteve]

The other fish are a bicolor angel, a green coris wrasse, and 4 mono argentus. I have had success giving him large chunks of shrimp that the others can't eat, but I try to give him a variety.

I don't know what an upflow algae filter is, but I'll research them.

I really don't to use the red slime killer, I want to fix the problem the natural way.

As for the tank being too small long term, I already have the 125 I am going to upgrade to. I was going to wait until the spring to set it up.

The tusk is about 5 inches long right now.

 

[Painted skin]

I have a 7" tusk myself, they love shrimp. He is not aggressive when it come to feeding and so I would drop food in one end where all the fish goes and then drop food in the other end so the food is not all in one spot.

 

[Curious George]

I spent very little money in setting up a GFO reactor in my sump with a small power head moving water through it.

Probably the best money I've ever spent because I have never had an algae or Cyano problem since. I could feed all I want.....as long as the GFO isn't exhausted (usually takes about 6-8 months) I don't have a problem.

 

[fishysteve]

I got the sump for my 125 yesterday. The new setup will be done by next week.

 

[fishysteve]

I got the new tank setup but still have to arrange the rocks so I can't see the mangrove box.

 

[teog]

Looks good.

 

[fishysteve]

I guess I also have to get a longer light. The 48" one looks a little goofy.