New Guy

Sponges & bioballs --- things most people with saltwater try to avoid.
Bioballs are OK with fish but a no-no with corals because they are nitrate factories by design.
You will find the sponges need constant maintenance (cleaning) to prevent nitrates also.
If you have gone through the nitrate cylce (sounds like it), you do not have to do water tests so often. I test weekly with water changes, but used to do every other week also.
Chromis establish a pecking order and 1 by 1 they get picked on until only 1 survives.
 
^ agreed . I have tried multiple Chromis many times. I always end up with only one in the end. They become very aggressive to each other and eventually just begin to disappear. In my 300 gallon display its near impossible to find the body's .
 
DeepSeaBeauti said:
^ agreed . I have tried multiple Chromis many times. I always end up with only one in the end. They become very aggressive to each other and eventually just begin to disappear. In my 300 gallon display its near impossible to find the body's .
Click to expand...

I had 7 light blue/green chromis and ended up with 1 as well...the biggest bully survived, (until I got him out of the tank). HOWEVER I have had 2 yellow tailed blue chromis for years and they each occupy the opposite end of my tank w/out issues...I also have 3 black and white chromis and have had them for at least 2 years so...maybe it's just the size of the tank and maybe it is relative to the specific chromis that you select.
 
What's a good alternative...

What's a good alternative...

OK, I will look for something other than chromis. I like the size and color and the idea of getting a few of something. Does anyone have any ideas?

Also, regarding the posts about bio balls and sponges above, what could be the alternative there? I am new, so the idea of a refugium is interesting but I think it might not be right for me now. I use the sponges between the baffles in my sump. One of them has cut outs that I put small mesh bags with charcoal and some white ceramic balls-looking things. I finally found the right sponges for the baffles (I got the sump second-hand and it is no longer made - Aqueon Model 3 / 23 gallons I think) so I am slowly getting rid of the sponges I have been putting in and replacing them with the correct. I have a phosban sock between the bio balls and the skimmer's pump.

I am happy to get suggestions. Thanks to all of you.
 
Try looking @ Cardinal fish, they can be kept in schools.
Yellow coris wrasse are OK up to 6, I have been told.
Live rock is what replaces bio balls & sponges.
Phosban is better in a reactor tumbling gently or it has a tendency to become rock hard.
Sponges are fine IF they are cleaned religiously.
 
Thanks. So you would replace the bio balls in that chamber with more live rock?

I wonder if a phos-ban reactor would fit in my sump with all of the other stuff.
 
Come to think of it, I just looked at cardinals and remembered that I'm not a fan. I really want more color in my tank.
 
Sold! I have room on the outside. I am going to look into that. I notice that my water is cloudier than usual tonight.

pH 8.0
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 5-10

I wonder why...

I added the banded goby last night. He has been eating and doing some sifting. It's a 92 gallon corner and he stays on one side sifting. Could that be causing the cloudiness?
 
Welcome!

I've only been in the hobby for 2 years 5 months now"¦I've learned that you need to take it sloooowwww with everything you do. Also, pick your fish carefully. I had a flame angel and he started eating my coral. It took me about a month to catch him and get him out. I also had a 6 line wrasse that was awesome and then turned into a jerk and beat on everyone. I got him out and got 2 helfrichi fire fish instead. Currently I only have 2 clowns, 2 helfrichi fire fish, a mandarin and a blue hippo tang who is quickly outgrowing (if not already outgrown) my 65 gallon tank.

I get my fish at Aquarium Village and from LiveAquaria. I like how LiveAquaria gives a 2 week guarantee on their fish and they USUALLY come in ready to go, although I've had some die on me.

I've had some nasty stuff happen to my tank and I've lost a lot along the way so just make sure you stay up to date with everything on the tank and NEVER TRUST DOSING PUMPS if you decide to get into the coral game.

That's the only advice I can give. Best of luck!
 
Your cloudy water could be cause by you removing the sponges and anything else from that sump. Like Vinny said, they are nitrate factories. I would do a small water change. Also I think I found that sump online, if it is the model 3 with the two filter socks it has a small chamber that would be perfect for a nice deep sand bed and some live rock. I would just block off the lower holes where the sponge is and fill it with miracle mud or sand. Then top it off with some Live rock. It will take care of your tank in ways you would not believe. Put a small light on top of that with a reverse timer of the display and fill it with some Cheato and it will keep your Po4 and nitrates down.

Will
 
Thanks for the suggestions

Thanks for the suggestions

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to look into the fish you suggested. I think I am also going to get a phos-ban reactor.

My sump does not have the two sections for socks in the first baffle. Old water comes from the tank through a PVC pipe that aerates it, sends it onto a diffusion plate and then through the bio balls. There is plenty of room under the bio balls to set up cheato and rock, though. I think I am going to try that.

So far everybody (sleeper banded goby, two clowns, and a flame angel) seem happy and are eating. I am starting to get rust colored algae on my rocks, which the flame eats. I am hoping increased phos-ban controls it going forward.

My wife thought this would all de-stress me... notchet!
 
Thanks

Thanks

Thanks. I will look into them. I am going to hold off for about a month before I add any more livestock. I may add a phosphate reactor in the meantime. But I don't want to add any more fish until I am certain the time is right.
 
I've been to every store on the island and I can tell you the best ones as far as cleanliness and quality and the worst to steer clear from... Top 3 stores aquarium village in westbury, Caribbean blue aquatics in bayshore, and tropical island in deer park The ones to steer clear from who have consistently bad reviews and sick/dead fish are Aqua hut in coram and country critters in patchogue Good luck And jumpers are a normal occurrence if the right precautions aren't taken. I have a rimless tank and just recently dealt with a diamond goby commit suicide as well lol
 
Hoopz87 said:
I've been to every store on the island and I can tell you the best ones as far as cleanliness and quality and the worst to steer clear from... Top 3 stores aquarium village in westbury, Caribbean blue aquatics in bayshore, and tropical island in deer park The ones to steer clear from who have consistently bad reviews and sick/dead fish are Aqua hut in coram and country critters in patchogue Good luck And jumpers are a normal occurrence if the right precautions aren't taken. I have a rimless tank and just recently dealt with a diamond goby commit suicide as well lol
Click to expand...

You gotta be careful, both Aqua Hut and Country Critters have their following. People here can get really worked up over trashing their favorite stores.

Personally, I like Aquarium Village and Pet's Warehouse. I don't frequent AH or CC, but I know CC is under new ownership (new, like 3 or 4 years ago), and the expectation was that it was going to improve. I honestly have not followed that story line.
I asked the OP many posts back where he is on the Island. Knowing what town someone is in makes recommending a store much easier. Let's face it, if you're in So. Hampton, you aren't driving to Westbury at 4:00PM on Friday to pick up a Scooter Blenny, not if you're sane.
So, with no info to work with, I've offered my favorite LFSs, and I suggest taking a look here: Long Island LFS list/info
 
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