Everything id Dying. I think my new tank has Ich???

[falonchristie]

Congrats,

sounds like you have some confidence back!!!

I believe what you may be talking about is stacking rock with acrylic rod.

Several people on the forum have tanks with rocks they attached together by drilling holes for acrylic rod and 'pinning' them together.

Good luck with your new process.

Did Leigh Ann suggest a test kit besides the strips?
You are correct, they are very difficult to read.

thanks, yeah i was sad i killed things but now i think im on the right track. she didnt suggest any test kits. She kept it simple and said to add just the water no salt and for me to get my salinity down and bring more water in and we will go from there. im going to be having her test my water ever week for me but i would like to figure out my salinity on my own. I thought that hydrometer was the one thing that i could be certain about but that was the one thing that i think i was always wrong on.

 

[falonchristie]

I have 2 tangs, yellow and a sailfin plus an angle,clown, 6 line and a couple other fish in my 48" long 75 gal. tank with no problems
I've seen tangs in smaller tanks also

well im not sure exactly what i want in my tank per say. i was just using a tang as an example of wanting to find a way to do my rock where there are bigger spaces for fish to swim in and out instead of a giant pile i have it in now where there are only small cave like hidding spots for invertebrates. im going to start out with mushrooms and zoas and before and after that i will be getting a list together of what i want in the tank that will be compatible and reasearch what i need to know before adding anything. My main goal is getting the rock good now before any further steps im am learning about.

 

[pwhitby]

I would suggest a refractometer.

They are very simple and easy to use. You just add a spot of water to it and look through the other end. Extremely accurate as well.

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...ode=PA&Product_Code=REFRACT-HD&Category_Code=

Paul.

 

[pwhitby]

Im glad you have the issues under control, I totally agree with the advice of Leighanne, I had told you previously that you likely need more flow. This is always a positive in marine tanks. A skimmer would also be good, as it will both remove excess organics and help oxygenate the water and keep your pH stable.

I do not advise running the HOB with biowheels in it. I strongly advise removing the biowheels and floating them in the tank for a week or so, then removing them one at a time over a few weeks period.

Biowheels lead to an imbalance of the bacterial flora of the tank. In essence they promote growth of the bacteria that convert ammonia in fish waste to nitrate. They limit the growth of bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrite and, as a consequence, nitrate will rise in the system over time. You can combat this by lots of water chnages or allowing the live rock in the system to do the denitrification. This is also why its important to use good rock, and not the non porous limestone rock.

If you want to know more about this, read this thread. I was discussing denitrification in the context of cxeramic beads, but biowheels were introduced and the principles remain the same. I would be happy to answer questions if you have any.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1951597

Paul.

 

[jimlundborg]

Looks like you got a lot of good advice here. In this hobby just be patient only bad things seem to happen fast.

 

[happysak]

So I feel so much better I went and spoke with her. Also she told me that my topfin 60 hob filter was fine to use

She is right. TopFin filters don't have biowheels.

 

[pwhitby]

Thanks Roman, I assumed most of the HOB type filters run biowheels, my bad!

So with that said, Falon, you should be good to go!

Paul.

 

[falonchristie]

Thanks Roman, I assumed most of the HOB type filters run biowheels, my bad!

So with that said, Falon, you should be good to go!

Paul.

thanks paul. i have some green hair alge growning on a few rocks. I was running the lights for 12 hrs .. i changed it today to run 7 hours a day. i also have been having to clean the glass daily for the last few days b/c im getting green algae on the glass everyday as well. Is this normal. I get confused on what algae im supposed to have and what im not.

 

[falonchristie]

Ohhhhhh yah!! I just discovered my pepermint shrimp in my tank. He's alive!! this is so weird though and i and giving my husband a hard time b/c i knew it wasnt the pepermint that i found dead. The other day i came home and there was a leg that looked identical to the coral banded shrimp with some other stuff attached to it and wiskers or tentacles(not sure what they are called) that were long like the coral banded shrimp. But i only have one coral banded shirmp in the tank and he was alive. So i thought it had to be the pepermint shrimp b/c i could not find him. But this is so weird to me b/c i dont know how i could have had another one in the tank. The whiskers are so long and the red and white colored legs i would have seen it if one came with the live rock i bought. I dont think it could have been inside the live rock. Is this possible? or could my coral banded have lost a leg and whiskers somehow? any ideas would help my mind stop spinning. But im so happy my shrimp is still alive!

 

[lauremf2002]

hair algae is common, its probably growing from excess nutrients in your system and too much light. Cutting back the lights should help. When your tank is ready, there are critter that will mow that down for you.

 

[lauremf2002]

Shrimp and crabs shed their exoskeletons. It will look like an exact replica of them with no guts inside. They will also do this more often when they are trying to rid their body of toxins. Switching to rodi should help to relieve them of having to do this too often.

 

[JasonF]

You may have found a molt (shed skin) from your shrimp. As they grow they get new larger shells to replace the old smaller ones and they look like a dead copy of themselves (usually white or somewhat clear). Stick with Leighanne, she will stay with you for the long haul.

Edit: Beaten