My stuff is dying...
- Thread starter Jritter02
- Start date
I agree with m0nkie in getting a decent test kit, helps to know what your actual levels are. If you are not adding any type of buffer or anything to adjust alkalinity or pH, I don't believe your alkalinity is as high as you say. I'm not sure an alkalinity of 300ppm/16.8 dKh would kill fish though. No personal experience but have read other threads where people have had alk at those levels with no losses.
Your pH is good, not high at all. The alkalinity should not be that high if you are not adding anything to adjust it and I think it is a test issue. With a good test kit like recommended above you will be able to tell where you really are. The rest of your levels all look good from what I see. As others have recommended, you really shouldn't add anything unless you test for it so I would quit adding the trace elements and strontium.
Just my opinion, I think the reason fish are jumping is stress due to what you have/had in the tank. The blue tang, which you said jumped is somewhat of a spastic fish to begin with and requires very large tanks as they need a lot of swimming room. The yellow tang requires a larger tank as well, though not as big as blue tang. Tangs are just one of those fish, require lots of room and can be very aggressive among themselves. I don't recall what type of clowns you said you had, but clowns can also be aggressive, especially maroon and the like. Also you said you had 2, before the one jumped. Were they a pair? If not paired up they would probably fight until they determined who was going to be the boss, the female, same as it is with us
So if they were chasing each other that may have caused the one to jump.
If it were me, I would take the yellow tang back to the fish store for store credit, assuming they would do that, and stick with just the 1 clown for now (that's the only 2 fish left correct?). Get some good test kits and start monitoring your parameters. Get in a good routine of weekly water changes 10% should do you with what you have. Once you get in a good routine of testing, water changes, topping off for evaporation and general tank maintenance and all your parameters are stable, then think about adding more livestock. When you are ready to add more fish and stuff, think about what you like and then research that fish and see what their requirements are and how to care for them. This way you can make sure you meet them before buying. Browsing live aquaria is a good way to see what is out there and gives you a decent idea of their requirements.
The water changes should take care of all the trace elements. Since you do have a stoney coral (the hammer), it would be a good idea to also test for calcium and magnesium. The water changes should take care of the levels for you with what you have but would be a good idea to test to make sure and just to get in the habit of monitoring. Just take your time with stuff and enjoy. You have been able to maintain your levels with a vey high bioload so you are off to a good start. The fish you chose were really your big mistake and we all make mistakes. Yours pale in comparison to some of the mistakes I've made. Just learn from your mistakes.
Just my opinion, I think the reason fish are jumping is stress due to what you have/had in the tank. The blue tang, which you said jumped is somewhat of a spastic fish to begin with and requires very large tanks as they need a lot of swimming room. The yellow tang requires a larger tank as well, though not as big as blue tang. Tangs are just one of those fish, require lots of room and can be very aggressive among themselves. I don't recall what type of clowns you said you had, but clowns can also be aggressive, especially maroon and the like. Also you said you had 2, before the one jumped. Were they a pair? If not paired up they would probably fight until they determined who was going to be the boss, the female, same as it is with us
So if they were chasing each other that may have caused the one to jump.If it were me, I would take the yellow tang back to the fish store for store credit, assuming they would do that, and stick with just the 1 clown for now (that's the only 2 fish left correct?). Get some good test kits and start monitoring your parameters. Get in a good routine of weekly water changes 10% should do you with what you have. Once you get in a good routine of testing, water changes, topping off for evaporation and general tank maintenance and all your parameters are stable, then think about adding more livestock. When you are ready to add more fish and stuff, think about what you like and then research that fish and see what their requirements are and how to care for them. This way you can make sure you meet them before buying. Browsing live aquaria is a good way to see what is out there and gives you a decent idea of their requirements.
The water changes should take care of all the trace elements. Since you do have a stoney coral (the hammer), it would be a good idea to also test for calcium and magnesium. The water changes should take care of the levels for you with what you have but would be a good idea to test to make sure and just to get in the habit of monitoring. Just take your time with stuff and enjoy. You have been able to maintain your levels with a vey high bioload so you are off to a good start. The fish you chose were really your big mistake and we all make mistakes. Yours pale in comparison to some of the mistakes I've made. Just learn from your mistakes.
Where do I begin. The comment, " Mistakes, that's how we learn", is all well and good, but the fish, etc. in your care suffer. There's a lot of info on RC and there's things you never would of done based on what you can learn on this site. Research, research, research, is all I can offer to you. Mistakes: too many fish for a 24g, no tangs in such a small tank ( they need room no matter how small, look up lateral line disease. we have two in a 125 and the Tang Police would say that's too small. Had one for almost 20 years, still do.) too soon for anemones, tank should be a year old, no gonipora at all, maybe it will live a year at best, not a beginner coral. Do your best and enjoy the hobby, but remember that you need to not jump at a purchase without making sure your doing the right thing for your charge. Sorry if I was too hard. D Don has many great points. The kind of info you'll always find on this site.
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Appreciate all the input. The clowns are/were true percolator and yes I bought them at the same time. They have been in the tank together since day one. I am in the process of acquiring a 90g tank that I wanna get up and running and let it cycle and run for a few months then eventually transfer everything to that tank. Both fish that jumped out did it overnight. I have a calcium test kit and that tests at about 450 or so last time I checked. That was last week and I have done 2 water changes since then. 5 gallons each. Ill atop putting trace elements and strontium in the tank and hope everything gets better from here. Now that I have the plexi glass on the top I shouldn't have anymore fish jump out. I'm gonna stop at Walmart on the way home from work and see what they have as far as test kits. I'm pretty confident they won't have anything so ill go out tomorrow afternoon and get one from the LFS if not b
A 90gal was my first reef tank, I found that a fun size and it will open a lot more options for you.
Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions, the people here are willing to help, there are many with so much experience and knowledge. I have spent many many hours just reading through thousands of different threads just picking up information.
Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions, the people here are willing to help, there are many with so much experience and knowledge. I have spent many many hours just reading through thousands of different threads just picking up information.
i have had issues with trace elements, I used Kent when i dosed . I lost a small lobster. so if adding trace then space it out over a week and add it to the refugium or sump so that it gets diluted. with inverts such as shrimp and crabs they molt and are vulnerable from others and the act of molting itself has issues . Glad to hear that you put a cover on it . some fish are easily spooked when you pass by or lights come on quickly. if your tank is small they just dont feel safe and the only way for them to escape their perceived threat is to jump. the other thing to check for is stray voltage of any electrical component in the aquarium.
yeah, something is wrong with the water which is causing your fish to try to escape it. I would double check your parameters. take a sample of the water to a LFS or two to get it tested.
Also, making a screen should be easy. you can buy the plastic windows screen kits and cut to size. then, bam, you got yourself a screen to keep your fish in
Also, making a screen should be easy. you can buy the plastic windows screen kits and cut to size. then, bam, you got yourself a screen to keep your fish in
Don't put a plexiglass top on your tank. You need proper oxygen exchange and the CO2 needs to escape to maintain proper Ph. FDdragon mentioned a screen top, that's the way to go.
I'm using reef crystal salt. And how would putting a plexiglass cover over the tank and different then having the hood on that came with it? Also the glass doesn't cover the entire top. There is probably a 2" gap on the front. From there to the back of the tank is covered. Getting ready to head out in a few to pick up a kit
Interesting results from the fish store. They tested for the basic tests. He said nitrates were a tad high. Also said te ammonia was reading about 1ppm. A slight green tint. I came home and tested with my API kit (he used api as well) and I got a bright yellow. Reading 0. I bought a Red Sea kit for alkalinity and I'm getting about 11.9 or so.
Can you give a rundown of all your current parameters?
Alk - 11.9dKh
pH - 8.2
Cal - 450 (from yesterday's post)
Salinity ?
Ammonia 0 or 1 test again to verify
Nitrate ?
Nitrite?
Temp ?
Would help to see it all together and noticed some differences between some of the posts so want to confirm.
Thanks
Also if you have time to test, what is the alk and calcium levels in your new water? Assuming you have some made up.
Alk - 11.9dKh
pH - 8.2
Cal - 450 (from yesterday's post)
Salinity ?
Ammonia 0 or 1 test again to verify
Nitrate ?
Nitrite?
Temp ?
Would help to see it all together and noticed some differences between some of the posts so want to confirm.
Thanks
Also if you have time to test, what is the alk and calcium levels in your new water? Assuming you have some made up.
Salinity is 1.024. Nitrates are about 5ppm nitrites 0. Temp is 80. Ammonia is 0 acceding to my test. I don't have any water made up. Just RO water in buckets in the garage. Maybe these damn fish were just playing or something and accidentally jumped out? Both fish jumped into the chambers in the back of the tank.
Everything looks good water wise. I would slowly raise salinity back up to 1.026. Just my thought, if ammonia was actually 1 as tested by the fish store and you have nitrates you would be seeing nitrites as well so I believe your ammonia test.
I gave my thoughts earlier on why they jumped and don't see any water issues so think you are good. Just monitor parameters and do regular water changes. Test alk and calcium daily so you know how much your corals are using. With the couple you have and the salt you are using you shouldn't need to add anything to adjust it but still good to know the demand. Once you know demand you won't need to test as often. As corals grow and you add more the demand will change. Don't add anything else supplement wise and no more fish. Take things slow.
I forgot you had the goniopora. Those can be pretty difficult, some subspecies more than others. Use the search function and look up their care, might want to do the same for the anemone.
As far as the plexiglass cover, the reason someone said not to use is covering the tank tightly could cause problems with oxygen exchange, that is why they suggested clear screen.
You said you are going to be setting up a 90 soon. Take your time and make sure it is fully cycled before adding fish. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you have and feel free to PM me if there is anything I can help you with.
Dale
I gave my thoughts earlier on why they jumped and don't see any water issues so think you are good. Just monitor parameters and do regular water changes. Test alk and calcium daily so you know how much your corals are using. With the couple you have and the salt you are using you shouldn't need to add anything to adjust it but still good to know the demand. Once you know demand you won't need to test as often. As corals grow and you add more the demand will change. Don't add anything else supplement wise and no more fish. Take things slow.
I forgot you had the goniopora. Those can be pretty difficult, some subspecies more than others. Use the search function and look up their care, might want to do the same for the anemone.
As far as the plexiglass cover, the reason someone said not to use is covering the tank tightly could cause problems with oxygen exchange, that is why they suggested clear screen.
You said you are going to be setting up a 90 soon. Take your time and make sure it is fully cycled before adding fish. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you have and feel free to PM me if there is anything I can help you with.
Dale
