Hey all new to the forum here...I've got a 46 bow for about 6 months now, since then i've only been able to keep fish alive for a week tops. all water levels are normal...Just recently i've noticed White flakes or specks on top of the water. I was told i didn't need a protein skimmer...are the white things from not having one? why can't i keep them alive...thanks in advance!
White things...
- Thread starter FDNY3838
- Start date
drummereef
Team RC
Could be protein buildup on the water's surface. A protein skimmer is always a good thing, imo. I would look into it. 
Hi FDNY
[welcome]
Proteins separate from water at the air/water interface. That is exactly how a skimmer removes protein. In your tank it is happening at the surface and the protein tends to pick up dust and such and produce a very visible film. Just use paper towels to remove it.
Oh, and a skimmer is always a good addition for any tank.
[welcome]
Proteins separate from water at the air/water interface. That is exactly how a skimmer removes protein. In your tank it is happening at the surface and the protein tends to pick up dust and such and produce a very visible film. Just use paper towels to remove it.
Oh, and a skimmer is always a good addition for any tank.
Weeks? I missed that in your initial post. We should be talking about years or even decades for fish to survive. Apparently there is more wrong here than just a protein film. Tell us how you tank is set up including biological filtration, LR/LS. Also, what livestock are being kept in the tank?
yup a week ive got 40 lbs of live sand and 50 or so of live rock. 2 power heads fluval 303 stock lighting which could also be prob. ive had chromies ive had clowns i had yellow tang ive had coral beauty. they all thrived for week. eating everything. theb about 5 hermit crabs and 25 turbo snails
OK, the LR and sand sound pretty good and in a FO tank the lighting is not that important. Circulation could be better but again not that critical in a FO. The fish you selected were not too big for a 46 so we need to look at other things.
Did the fish start showing any unusual signs at all (labored breathing, jerky movement, films on the skin, rubbing against the rock)? Also, what are your usual water parameters?
Did the fish start showing any unusual signs at all (labored breathing, jerky movement, films on the skin, rubbing against the rock)? Also, what are your usual water parameters?
i know the tang was too big the coral beauty is too big? they swim great and eat great then a few days to week they dissapear abd snails have a party w it. there are 2 power heads plus filter out put. water is .022 s/g 78 degrees and all other readings are zero. when i add fish i put stress coat in. the water is nix of tap and ro. i used tap water conditioner wth power head to mix buckets of salt water with. i just dont know why they last week or so. i aclimate them w tubbing abd all. thanks so much for all help
Aha, tap water. A possible problem there. Consider using either bottled distilled or getting an RO/DI. The salinity is somewhat low and should be adjusted to 1.025 to 1.026. Again, where it is at should not kill fish.
Did you have all those fish together at once or was that just the progression of your loses?
The coral beauty is fine for a 46 and even a small yellow tang is OK when small, although there are those that would debate that.
Did you have all those fish together at once or was that just the progression of your loses?
The coral beauty is fine for a 46 and even a small yellow tang is OK when small, although there are those that would debate that.
no not all at once i got 4 demsals they died...then yellow tang....that died...then let tank sit a few weeks then got 5 green chromies....they died one by one over e weeks...then let it sit again...then the 2 clowns they did good like 2 weeks theb added the coral b. theb one clown...then coral b. after week. then fially the clown
OK, time for a plan. First off I would strongly consider getting an RO/DI. Barring that you can use bottled distilled but it will run you some money when I get to step two. See <a href="http://reefcentral.com/modules.php?s=&name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2">RO/DI FAQ</a>
For Step 2 I would do 15 gallon water changes every day for the next three days and after that do a 15 gallon weekly for a couple of months. You can latter cut back to 10 gallons if things go well.
Step 3-If the clown dies then don't add anymore fish for at least six weeks. It could be a disease is present in the tank and the fallow period will usually eliminate it.
Though not a step in the plan; I'd also seriously consider adding a HOB skimmer like the Remora Pro. It will lighten the bioload on the tank and provide better circulation than you have now.
Thanks for sticking with me and I hope this takes care of the problem. Let us know.
:thumbsup:
For Step 2 I would do 15 gallon water changes every day for the next three days and after that do a 15 gallon weekly for a couple of months. You can latter cut back to 10 gallons if things go well.
Step 3-If the clown dies then don't add anymore fish for at least six weeks. It could be a disease is present in the tank and the fallow period will usually eliminate it.
Though not a step in the plan; I'd also seriously consider adding a HOB skimmer like the Remora Pro. It will lighten the bioload on the tank and provide better circulation than you have now.
Thanks for sticking with me and I hope this takes care of the problem. Let us know.
:thumbsup:
Well, over time those unseen, undetected things in the tap water get more concentrated through constant evaporation. Water changes only help a little in such a case as the contaminants are reintroduced in the change water itself. Water fit for drinking can have adverse effects on creatures that are surrounded by water as their environment. It is a little bit akin to being on a submerged submarine. Sure you can add oxygen as it becomes depleted but overtime carbon dioxide builds to lethal levels unless there is a scrubber system to remove it. In a fish tank impurity levels can build up for years on end until they reach lethal levels
bigjackstud
New member
Yeah, You should see what my wife looks like thanks to city water! hehe (Just a little levy...)
