Setting up a 180

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10650278#post10650278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl
How's the PBT doing? Any updates?

Hey NG

I am sorry about not updating more often but I do have some updates.

PBT has been ICH free for several days and has not been eating very well. I had to place Ms clown in QT also and she is starting to look ICH free also.


Both would not sit still so this is the best shot I could get.

I have had several problems over the last 2 weeks with this tank,
Unkown problems with algea blooms, cloudy water, ICH and low calcium level ( even with calcium reactor running ).

I placed a 65 watt PC light above the refuge to replace the lower wattage light that I had to use for the hospital tank, and suprise the algea bloom is now gone and the water is very clear. The red Macro algea that was begining to become a problem in the main tank is just about gone also.

My remaining SPS corals are not doing so well, that is except the montipora digitata, it has been branching and growing throughout this whole ordeal.

I am in the waiting stage for the ICH cycle and if I could I would have hospitalized all of the fish but a 20gal long is to small, even for the 2 I have in there now.

It has been a very trying month but I have learned a few things,
QT IS A MUST! For everything new no matter what!
Do not hesitate on getting any fish with a white spot out of the main tank and into a Hospital Tank.
Be careful when changing lighting to an esablished refuge, I am not sure but I think I had a major system crash going from an overly bright to a dim refuge light.

Current tank shot (actinics)

Hows that for an update NanoGurl:thumbsup:

 

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10650314#post10650314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thirschmann
I know the tunze's are expensive but they are worth the price IMO. They give a hell of a lot of flow for their size and enery usage. Might be worth the investment and then you have just 1 or 2 powerheads to service and maintain and can get lots of flow.

I would definetly recommend more water flow if possible.

Thanks for the advice thirschmann, I had tried to win a reeflo dart on ebay (but wasn't willing to pay $183 for a used one) for a closed loop. I am going to try looking here on RC for a good used one and continue looking on ebay.

 

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10591165#post10591165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
I have a hydor and its ok for the price. 2 of them would be a good start or even to maxijets, and they aren't too expensive.

Sorry I missed your post erics3000. I am very happy with the Hydor4 I have, to bad they don't have a 3000 gph model

 

[NanoGurl]

Hi!

Thanks for the updates! Really happy to hear about your PBT! He's such a pretty fish.

I think the extra flow would help your SPS a lot. I don't think you have enough current to keep them happy. It will also help with some of that algae I think.

I learned the hard way with QT as well.

 

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10656498#post10656498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl
Hi!

Thanks for the updates! Really happy to hear about your PBT! He's such a pretty fish.

I think the extra flow would help your SPS a lot. I don't think you have enough current to keep them happy. It will also help with some of that algae I think.

I learned the hard way with QT as well.

Thanks NanoGurl, PBT started eating again tonight, very picky though. I did soak everyones food in selcon and everyone else ate like pigs.

I am thinking of getting a wave2k instead of a reeflo dart for a closed loop....each is a bit obtrusive but the wave2k functions in such a way to produce cool rhythmic swells. The closed loop would end up costing more with all the plumbing required but would provide extreme flow.


Any thoughts anyone?

 

[NanoGurl]

Not sure. I've never had a closed loop sorry!

Any more news on the PBT?

 

[muelpaul]

Bad news PBT passed away last night, I tried everything I could to get him to eat but he just wouldn't. My wife was crying (which did not help matters)and I felt so bad, like I should have done something more.
My last clown is also no longer eating either but all other fish in the main tank are healthy and ich free and eat like mad.

I am very upset, I love PBT'S but I am not going to get another...I obviously made a great mistake in not QT him and did not do enough to make him better.

My focus today is to try and get the clown to eat and hopefully get better.

I followed the medications instructions to a T, did the recommended water changes, correct salinity, PH and temp.

The clown and PBT were almost always together and both ate feverishly when they were healthy, it's heart breaking to now lose PBT and watch Clown wasting away.

 

[NanoGurl]

I am so sorry! I know how much you liked that fish. I still believe that where you got the fish was much worse then how you took care of that fish. You gave him a great tank with lots of space and lots of food. He may have been doomed long before you got him and finally succombed to whatever it was.

Don't give up! =) I know that's easy to say, bc if Ocean died I would be destroyed as well and want to give up too. But don't rule out aother one until you've had time to deal

*huggles* to you and your family

 

[2farNorth]

Sorry to hear that.. That's the thing in this hobby.... you can only do so much.. but when they are sick... such as Nanogurl said, most likely with something before you got them... it is ultimately up to the fish.. they decide the final outcome.....

They way it sounds you did everything in you power you could do, and that's the main thing!

Give it some time.. let your tank get back to normal.... And the way I look at it.. if you like them fish that much.. get another down the road.. you have the QT tank now, so.. you can take your time.. that is a great size tank, and it would make a great home for another one! You've probably learned alot from this ordeal.. so next time you've got some experience to work with!!

 

[muelpaul]

Thank you NanoGurl and thank you 2farNorth. Of all the inhabitants in my tank, the most prized were the PBT followed by clowns and the blue tip acro.
I am about to lose the last of all three with the remaining clown.

The main tank is very stable now and I will try my best to keep it that way. I am not going to add anything more for about a month, or until I feel like I am ready to do so.

Something like this can really shake a persons confidence, but after spending an hour or more looking at all of the life currently in the 180. I still have a big responsibility to their health and must remain confident and diligent with the tanks upkeep to keep them healthy.

 

[2farNorth]

That's the exact attitude many people lack!! If you keep thinking like that, you'll be able to quickly overcome these bumps in the road.. and soon have the thriving reef you want!!

Keep us posted!!

 

[Pirate@40]

Regarding you considering getting a wave2K, I had one in my tank and it lasted about six months before the guide that rides in the shaft track broke due to wear. I believe the wear and friction is made worse by calcium addition via reactor, kalk, or granules. Eventually, the unit will likely wear and break. Wave2K sells retrofit kits for $75, likely for this reason.
I switched to a Tunze wavebox. I personally like the wave motion better and would consider it more reliable. It cycles one tunze stream versus moving a plate with an electric motor, pulleys, belts, shaft, bushings and guides as does the wave2K. I con barely hear the tunze everything else turned off. And I mean barely. The wave2k was clearly audible, at least mine was. Perhaps someone could set it up silently as the manufacturer suggests, but I don't see how. I realize =the tunze is double the price, but I don't expect I'll be spending another $75 to retrofit it every 6-12 months either.

 

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10687379#post10687379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2farNorth
That's the exact attitude many people lack!! If you keep thinking like that, you'll be able to quickly overcome these bumps in the road.. and soon have the thriving reef you want!!

Keep us posted!!

Thanks 2farNorth....I am feeling much better about my tank!
It has been ich free for almost 2 full weeks, all of the fish are happy and eating very well

 

[muelpaul]

Hey there Pirate@40, thanks for posting!
It's a shame...you spend a couple hundred or more on a product that is supposed to be made for reef tanks and it has all those problems:eek1: Thanks for the information on your experience with a wave2k Pirate@40!

You have got a PM.

 

[NanoGurl]

Great news! =)

 

[2farNorth]

I thought I seen a few pages back that you used that Ruby Reef ich stuff... (sorry Dial-up, takes too long to look back) How did that work out with the Inverts and such?

 

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10754805#post10754805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl
Great news! =)

Thanks NG I am finally getting over the losses...Remember the PBT at the LFS I told you about. I saw it again tonight...very thin but was eating from a veggie clip. I wanted so much to take it home but it was just so thin I am still not ready to add another PBT, but maybe soon.

I love reading through your thread....it really inspires

 

[muelpaul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10754810#post10754810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2farNorth
I thought I seen a few pages back that you used that Ruby Reef ich stuff... (sorry Dial-up, takes too long to look back) How did that work out with the Inverts and such?

Hey 2farNorth
I used (3) 2 liter bottles and a 1 liter bottle all together at the recommended dosage for heavy infestation. It didn't help the clowns or PBT but I don't see any of the current fish with any signs of ich. The inverts (snails, crabs, shrimp and BTA's) are all healthy.

I am not sure if the ruby reef kick-ick did what it was supposed to or not, but I felt I didn't have a choice but to try and use it.

I hope you don't have a need for it!

 

[2farNorth]

Nope, I don't, just curious!!

 

[erics3000]

I am glad things have turned around for you. Keep on keepin on