Fowlr

[dlopes]

Hi,

Today i leave you guys just a full tank shot and some bad news!

One of the Zanclus is dead. I really don´t know why (I´m shure that some will say that I was allready told that it would happen) and the truth is that he eat very well yesterday and this morning I found him stuck to a pump...

Cheers,
Diogo

 

[TitoTee]

Sir,

Moorish Idols are one of THE HARDEST fish to keep alive! If you don't know that by know - you have a lot of research to do. Some will eat and still die. It is thought that they need sponge to live and thus far not too many people have been able to keep this fish alive over a year. Expect your other two to have the same fate. Your best bet is to try and feed as much sponge as posible.

 

[beaglelax]

God this make me mad when someone shows this beutiful tank and people have to bash it GOLDEN RULE PEOPLE If you dont have anything nice to say dont say anything. Not to call people out but just because you read something on a forum or read something on the internet does not make it law...Different people have success where other people fair deal with it its life. By the way i love your tank i think its a new form of fish keep fish w/algea and life rock good luck you have inspired me i love the look i might try it with my 410

 

[beaglelax]

Fail not fair * i type to fast

 

[TitoTee]

Wo now relax. No one is bashing anybody. I love the tank - in fact, I have even link this thread to a Cichlid site I frequent because I have a lot of friends there and I wanted them to see this tank. However, you must understand - he stated that an Idol had died and that he didn't understand why because he was eating - so I figured I'd chime in with what I know.

Oh, and after taking another good look at the other Idols - they are showing their lateral lines - this is a BAD sign.

 

[sean48183]

Nice tank. It is a very different style tank than most of the tanks you see. I don't think your overstocked. You can still add more. With all the algae you have and a good fuge you will be exporting plenty of waste. Plus none of the fish you are keeping are the real aggresive types(triggers, wrasses, groupers).

However one thing I would suggest is QTing. I have found that it really is a great way to keep your tank disease free. It is a pain in the butt however it saves alot of misery and fish.(and money) I have success getting rid of ich by over feeding for about 1-2 weeks but I have the fuge to do it. Good luck with this tank. I do think it is refreshing to see someone keeping a butterfly tank.

 

[jay2525]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11021703#post11021703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitoTee
Wo now relax. No one is bashing anybody. I love the tank - in fact, I have even link this thread to a Cichlid site I frequent because I have a lot of friends there and I wanted them to see this tank. However, you must understand - he stated that an Idol had died and that he didn't understand why because he was eating - so I figured I'd chime in with what I know.

Oh, and after taking another good look at the other Idols - they are showing their lateral lines - this is a BAD sign.

I was gonna say the same thing. The fish in the pics look a little thin. BTW I love this tank too.

 

[jay2525]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11021703#post11021703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitoTee
Wo now relax. No one is bashing anybody. I love the tank - in fact, I have even link this thread to a Cichlid site I frequent because I have a lot of friends there and I wanted them to see this tank. However, you must understand - he stated that an Idol had died and that he didn't understand why because he was eating - so I figured I'd chime in with what I know.

Oh, and after taking another good look at the other Idols - they are showing their lateral lines - this is a BAD sign.

I was gonna say the same thing. The fish in the pics look a little thin. BTW I love this tank too.

 

[dlopes]

Hi,

Thank you all for your posts and feedback. The Idols are thin but I thought that they were getting better as time passes! Maybe I´m wrong...

I´m feeding them natural sponge for 2 weeks now. Hope it works.

Concerning QT I really know that I should do it but for now I´m not going to add any other fish.

Thanks,
Diogo

 

[dlopes]

Hi,

Today, another bad event...! One of the 2 Zanclus passed way! It´s incredible how they seem to be fine and in an instant they just dye!

The one that is alive... at least today.

Some other pics - a salaria fasciatus

And a new anemone - a Condilactis gigantea

And the full layout - the 2 zanclus really gave some life...!

Some links to Youtube were I have some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIGbvi3-E8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ERHAyGY-Q


Cheers,
Diogo

 

[mattsilvester]

Nice Tank - I think you have a few too many fish to have long term sucess, in particular when the emporer grows, but for the time being it looks very nice - well done.

My emporer is at about the same colour stage as yours is at the moment - he's about 4-5" long or so. I've kept a few angels in teh past, but teh emporer is still my faourite all round package..... I think the French for size and sheer presence, the queen for colour, but for a nice compromise, the emperor is my favourite..... not TOO big either.....

 

[dlopes]

Hi

Are are some pcs of the last zanclus - he´s still alive!

Some parcial and full layout fotos...

The Condilactis gigantea...

And the clowns

 

[suitcasey]

Clowns

Clowns

Hello dlopes . Let me first say that you're tank is absolutely gorgeous and a real inspiration. I have never seen a tank done this way and it is a very nice change. So congratulations. I read through nearly every new thread on these forums every single night but I rarely reply to any, however you're thread inspired me to reply. You should feel priviledged !

I will agree with a lot of the people who say you do things against the mold a little. But I ask them not to bash you for this (not speaking to anyone in particular, just in general). You are obviously very experienced and like to do things your way, it is only natural for you to use techniques which have worked well for you in the past. Sorry for the losses you have had along the way to get to this point, hopefully you have learnt from them and can pick up tips from other experts here who try to help you .

You're aquarium is beautiful and one day I would love to recreate something similar. Well done, and the video's really capture the graceful beauty.

I'd just like to ask you some questions about the clowns if you do not mind, no one has really mentioned them in a few pages. In my 55 gallon, I currently have two female occelaris. It is my current understanding that they should not get on, but they do. 16 years ago I got my first pair of clowns, about 8 years ago the male of the pair died and I was left with a female. A few weeks after, my dad's friend was closing down his tank, so while I was away one weekend he thought it would be a nice surprise to add his friend's mated pair of ocellaris to my tank.
I thought my original female would have went crazy but she didn't, the three formed a trio and never left eachother's side in eight years since. Then last month the male of the trio unfortunately got sucked into a powerhead and died, it was very sad. I'm now left with two female clowns (one of which is 16 years old, and absolutely gorgeous) who act like a pair. Very strange indeed.

Anyway, all that wasn't too important. That was just my backstory for my experience with clowns, and if anyone know's what is going on with them and if that is normal please let me know. It tells me that there are many exceptions to the 'rules' we normally understand, and really anything can happen in our tanks.

In a few months time I am upgrading to something along the lines of a 250 gallon reef tank. And as I am clown obsessed, I'd like to do what most people would not do and keep a large number of occelaris as a group. I see you have done this and I was wondering if you would reccomend it ?
I already have the two large females, how many baby clowns would you reccomend adding? They would all be added at the same time.
Is/was there much fighting between your clowns and have you lost any due to this?
How long did you have them all together before they started to get to a size/age that fighting became a problem?
In your experience, would the group stay as a group with maybe a few large females and the rest small males/ungendered fish? Or would they all pair off individually and stake out their own territory each?
I understand that the black clownfish you can get are a morph of occelaris, if that is the case then I could safely have a few of them in the mix too?? (You might not know the answer to this one, thats ok if you don't ).
And finally, would it make a difference if all the babies are brother and sister? Or is the only important bit that they are all the same size?
Any other tips you could give me to make sure this works I would be happy to hear . Especially if it is something you would actually reccomend doing or if you think they'd be better off kept as a single pair.
If anyone else has any experience with what I am asking please chime in too .

I'm very sorry, I really hope you do not think I'm cheeky for asking so many questions. Just people always say this is impossible, but yet I know people do it and I know they have a lot of success with it. It's just rare that you find someone you are able to ask to get all the information you need . This is something I would really like to try in my new tank, and your input would be much appreciated.

P.s your english seems very good, but just in case I worded any of that too complicated or anything just ask me and I will clarify .

Thanks again mate, and well done on such a beautiful tank. I really hope the last idol contunues to do well, it's absolutely stunning.

Thank you,
Casey.

 

[dlopes]

Re: Clowns

Re: Clowns

Hi Casey,

First of all thank´s for your post. Don´t worry about the English issue because I do need it on daily basis!!!

About the clowns and my experience with them...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11107049#post11107049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by suitcasey
I'd like to do what most people would not do and keep a large number of occelaris as a group. I see you have done this and I was wondering if you would reccomend it ?
I already have the two large females, how many baby clowns would you reccomend adding? They would all be added at the same time.
Is/was there much fighting between your clowns and have you lost any due to this?
How long did you have them all together before they started to get to a size/age that fighting became a problem?
In your experience, would the group stay as a group with maybe a few large females and the rest small males/ungendered fish? Or would they all pair off individually and stake out their own territory each?
I understand that the black clownfish you can get are a morph of occelaris, if that is the case then I could safely have a few of them in the mix too?? (You might not know the answer to this one, thats ok if you don't ).
And finally, would it make a difference if all the babies are brother and sister? Or is the only important bit that they are all the same size?
Any other tips you could give me to make sure this works I would be happy to hear . Especially if it is something you would actually reccomend doing or if you think they'd be better off kept as a single pair.

My clowns are alll brothers and sisters and they are together since born. They do get alloung very well and swim allways in group until I had the anemones. Since then they start fighiting with each other. I lost 3 of the original 9! Now I have 6 - 2 of them are matted in one of the anemone and the other 4 are in the other allways fighting.

My experince tells me that they do get allong until they had a reason to fight. From that the caos is installed and the weaker ones will fall!

I think you can had some babys to the older females but when they start growing keep an eye on them...

Cheers,
Diogo

 

[Big E]

3 dead clowns & it's likely the dominant females will kill a few more in due time.

So with the two recent Moorish Idols gone the death total continues to climb. I don't see the chaetodon xanthurus in your recent pictures. Is it still alive?

I also noticed your tank has developed alot of red cyano algae on the rocks & substrate & a lot of green algae on the back glass. These are signs of your system not being able to keep up with the heavy fish load.

 

[RoWall]

yeah, threre is plenty of cyano! I think you should increase the volume and frequency of water change.

 

[suitcasey]

Thank you very very much for your reply dlopes . The information you gave was very helpful. I hear so many people saying "don't do this, it WILL end badly". But I know some people have done it with success. And my success with keeping two females together as a 'pair' has shown me there are exceptions to all rules.

One thing you said was very interesting. You say the clowns were perfectly fine together untill they had anenome's or territory to fight over. My 55 gallon is a FOWL (it was supposed to be a reef eventually, but I had an accident with some copper last year and I'm not going to risk it in this tank, I will wait for my big one I am creating now).

I have never kept any corals or anenome's with these fish. As far as I am aware they do not host anything, at night time they pick some random place on the sandbed and sleep on top of one another. When I had the trio they did the same thing. Perhaps the fact that they've never had territory to fight over is the key to my success.

My next tank is going to be a full blown mixed reef, but I do not plan on keeping any anenome's. The tank will have many softies and LPS such as toadstools, leathers, xenia, hammer corals and such. I know in the absense of an anenome the clowns will likely host these corals. I am curious if it would be better trying this in a tank with absolutely nothing for them to host on, and therefore no territory to fight over. Or perhaps because I will have many hosting places, and not just the two anenome's that you have maybe the clowns will all successfully pair off and be happy living alongside eachother.
What does everyone think?

Thank you again dlopes, you have given me a LOT to think about . The multiple clowns were going to be one of the main focuses of this tank, as it is very rarely done, so I will do some more research and decide what way it will turn out best.

Sorry for jacking your thread, I am done now, was just looking to hear from you on that point . I think you are doing a brilliant job. Keep it up and I will be following along religiously .

Thanks again,
Casey.

 

[dlopes]

Hi,

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11108175#post11108175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Big E
3 dead clowns & it's likely the dominant females will kill a few more in due time.

Probably so. The dominant couple really don´t get along with the others. All the others don´t get along with each other. So it will probably will end up with just two! Sad but thrue...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11108175#post11108175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Big E
So with the two recent Moorish Idols gone the death total continues to climb. I don't see the chaetodon xanthurus in your recent pictures. Is it still alive?

Thanks again for your concern! Probably you were awaiting for this oportunity to say that. As I told you before I´ll keep you posted with the dead and the xanhurus is not one of them! He´s pretty much alive and doing well.

I can only assume that the idols were caught with poison because they really were doing well and from one day to the other they were dead... As you can see with the one that still lives he is doing fine and getting fater every day. The other two were also like this.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11108175#post11108175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Big E
I also noticed your tank has developed alot of red cyano algae on the rocks & substrate & a lot of green algae on the back glass. These are signs of your system not being able to keep up with the heavy fish load.

I don´t have cyano! As you can see in the pic bellow the algae that are developing in the rocks and substract are nor cyano. They are caused by the heavy stock of the tank and a lot of food that I´m giving to fish.

Cheers,
Diogo

 

[dlopes]

Hi,

After another dead (this time the xanthurus) tomorow I´m gonna start a hiposalinity teratment. First I´ll remove all LR, Substact and inverts and start with 1017. The day after tomorrow I´ll go for 1012.

Meanwhile please check some photos. The Condilactis and another full layout before the dismount.

Cheers,
Diogo

 

[TitoTee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11135616#post11135616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dlopes
Hi,

After another dead (this time the xanthurus) tomorow I´m gonna start a hiposalinity teratment. First I´ll remove all LR, Substact and inverts and start with 1017. The day after tomorrow I´ll go for 1012.

Meanwhile please check some photos. The Condilactis and another full layout before the dismount.



Cheers,
Diogo

Why are you doing this? To kill the algae? I hope you don't think that is why the fish are dying. The Idols are dying because they ussually do - they don't last long in captivity. Also, the other fish you lost I believe is because you added too many too soon. You're tank is fine you should leave it alone.