Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[michelle.harris]

took the water to be tested today and nitrate is reading fine!!! so don't know what has killed of the lion fish!!! just don't know what to do next!

I know we have got to leave the tank - we are not in a rush to buy fish and get it filled - when you are told it is ok to add a fish then you do.

Now at the stage where the tank nitrate and nitrate is stable, one puffer fish who eats one cockle a day - all in one go. I am continuing to add the stabiliser.

It has also been advised to medicate the tank for whitespot, Oodinium and Fungus - what do you think??

We are also doing a water change once a week . But since having high nitrates a little more frequent - but was told today that if nitrates are high I shouldn't panic and do a water change and should leave it a little while and wait to see if the nitrate goes down - trouble is the nitrate reads sky high ?????????/

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Do not add medication to treat an unknown. Unless you have an accurate diagnosis, no medicine. When you say cockle, do refer to a hard shell clam?

Are the nitrates reading accurately yet very high?

 

[michelle.harris]

How many fish would you suggest - at the time of having the five fish which were the puffer, tasselfile, blue tang, yellowfin tang and the lion fish they were all approx 5cm long? Live in the Midlands - 25 miles from Birmingham (England).

 

[michelle.harris]

Today it is reading lower down the scale - whereas yesterday it was 3/4 up the scale - but not sure how long lion fish was dead - could have been for more than 12 hrs.

 

[michelle.harris]

yes the cockle is in a hard shell. The puffer attacks it and eats straight away - we only ever leave a few shells in for the puffers teeth.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Too Much Food!
A new tank has very little ability to handle waste products. As it matures, it will take more abuse. Looks like you started too fast with too many and too soon and fed too much. SLOW DOWN, take a breath, and cut waaaay back on feeding. It will settle out.

 

[michelle.harris]

how much would you suggest!!! this is what we were told to do and this is what they had been feeing it. we thought we could trust these people as they said they had been trained with a particular qualification - can't remember what it is off the top of my head. Just feel so annoyed as we have spent alot of money so far on things trying to do the right thing!!!!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

One of the primary problems in this hobby is manufacturers and stores trying to sell time machines in a bottle. The reef rock will mature over many many months and for many years. Each week, it does a better job. No suppliment will replace this time requirement. The fish stores have Huge filtration systems and lots of water change. They often are unaware of how to care for specific fish and animals and rarely have a clue about marine aquariums. Browse this site, use the search engine, buy or check out some good books. There are some basics that need to be learned.

At this point, your tank should be able to handle the one fish as it STARTS to cycle. Will probably be 1-3 months before any fish be added. Cleaner crews in moderation are good, but the puffer would probably make a meal of them.

Keep up your testing and water changes. The N levels should gradually drop as the good bacteria cycle and grow.

Reef fish do not need to eat that much that often. Perhaps wean him down to 1/3 of a clam a day and watch his behavior.

 

[michelle.harris]

thanks for the advice!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

My pleasure! Here is a good link: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/puffers.htm

 

[michelle.harris]

have got books and do look on the sites etc but everyone has different advice!!!! i will try my best and do as you say thanks again

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Yes... everyone does have different advice. That's why it's soooo important to read everything you can get your hands on, so you can understand the processes that are going on in your tank and make your OWN decisions. You'll find 6 different answers from 5 different people regarding how many fish your tank can support - but if you understand WHY you need to add fish slowly, and what makes some fish impact your bioload more than others, then you can start to understand why people give the advice they do, and make your own decisions.

On a different note...

Several times, I've noticed you've used the term "nitrates" twice in talking about your water parameters. First I thought you just mistyped, but I'm seeing it again. There are nitrItes, and there are nitrAtes. Two different things. NitrItes are toxic to fish in small amounts. NitrAtes are not toxic (in smallish amounts) and are the end result of the whole ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle. You don't want any nitrItes in your tank at all when you have livestock in it. NitrAtes will show up, and are eliminated by doing water changes. If I'm repeating something you already know, sorry. Just thought I should bring it up in case you didn't realize the difference.

 

[michelle.harris]

sorry it was mistyping have no probs with the nitrites - it is the nitrates each time - each time a fish has died they seemed to have rocketed - even though the day before they were quite low.

 

[michelle.harris]

unfortunately we have learnt the lesson - which is not to go to a garden centre aquarium stockist!!! though they appear qualified they have advised us wrongly!!!! And sadly some beautiful fish have been lost - we put our trust in the people - I will be contacting the management - informing them of this.

 

[NC2WA]

Michelle,

this is very sad to hear. It is companies like this that scare aware people from this hobby or have them saying, "saltwater is too hard" and then leave the hobby. Not fair.

 

[polydactyl]

i doubt this place was steering you in the wrong direction intentionally. everyone has differing opinions and there are some people who only see a bottom line and nothing else. unfortunately, we have all probably been had at one point or another....my first car comes to mind...well heck my second one too and it was brand spankin' new.........the other problem is good help isnt always easy to find....take everything and i mean EVERYTHING you hear with a grain of salt. with the advent of this here lovely thing called the internet.....i could be 7 year old pretending to have a phd in ichthyology....or i might really be the director of a huge aquarium with 40+ years experience....or just someone who has an honest passion for the hobby..ya never know. hopefully you can find a decent local place to help you rebound.......it sucks to see sooooo many new people get turned off the hobby because they can't get any help. also...if i may...why do people want to work in this field if they have no desire to actually have a tank and learn about the inhabitants.......but i guess not all people used to sleep with their fish books when they were younger......please tell me it wasnt just me.......please. well anyways heres hoping for a better tomorrow.

p.s: NEVER stop reading....its amazing how much money a decent book can save you

 

[dpaynter]

Lots of good advice above, especially the bit about slowing down. One point about the tangs needs to be mentioned. These fish need to eat mostly algae or a vegetable substitute. Fresh macro algae is best if you can grow it in a sump or refugium. Dried algae/seaweed (called Nori in US markets) is OK. Some people feed romaine lettuce and broccoli. Get a larger tank and read up on tang food before you get another tang.