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I put the airstone back in for two reasons. First, the column of bubbles at the back of the tank helps create some upflow in the water and I can see a lot of water movement on the surface of the water caused by the water being lifted along with the bubbles. Second, because I have a glass top...

I certainly appreciate the advice and wouldn't interpret it as being critical. One thing that might help me is to understand how most people set up their powerheads. Right now, my filter and skimmer are on the back of the tank pointing forward, with the airstone at the back. All this causes...

It does if those using it know what they are doing! Mike

You know, I had wondered about the sand depth. It was about 2 to 2.5 inches deep. Since the sand is so dense and very little circulation gets below the surface, I suppose the H2S could have built up within the sand as I made sure to not disturb it until the very end after I resorted to...

At most (about a month ago) I had a couple small tangs and an oscellaris clown in there. When they all died, I waited about a month and then added a small heniochus. It died after a few days but I thought I had found the problem (low DO) and added a powerhead to increase circulation. I then...

I'm used to vacuuming gravel beds as I've done that on every water change with my freshwater system for years, so I'm used to that. Maybe this is just a case of gravel being more compatible with my own way of doing things. I use black gravel because it doesn't show algae and other debris as I...

I mean just your standard garden variety gravel, not CC. Never heard of nitrate problems with gravel which is basically inert: it doesn't do much except add surface area for bio filtration. I wish I knew what caused the hydrogen sulfide problem in my sand. I don't know if the sand (which was...

Out of curiosity, what types of issues can you have with gravel? I've never had/seen any issues with gravel but have read about and have personally had issues (hydrogen sulfide) with sand. Thanks, Mike

As it turns out, I believe it was a hydrogen sulfide problem with the sand bed. My foxface died and I was left again with just inverts, so I tore down the entire setup, sterilized things as best I could with just hot water and an aquarium sponge, new filters/bio-wheel and started over. I now...

Interesting article. Sounds like hydrogen sulfide could be the problem. Only oddity is that it should kill the inverts too, but it isn't. I've taken the sea cucumber out temporarily to see if that helps. I read an article on sea cucumber toxicity and the article said that if anything...

I now have the Emperor 280, the skimmer, and an extra power head on the tank. Surface agitation is quite good from what I can see with my untrained eye and I now have about as much stuff as I can hang off the tank: I'm pretty full on the back. The sand is 2 inches deep on the bottom. When I...

I used "Nature's Ocean" live sand. Comes in 20 pound bags in "wet" form. It's been in there for at least 2 months. For salt, I use "Natural Sea": comes in a blue plastic jug. The tank and top are both glass and I got it new. I rinsed it with water when I first started it up but nothing else...

I answered the acclimation question in post #12 above. I don't think it's that. Mike

I got the live rock from my most trusted LFS and he had already cured it before I put it in there. At this point, I'm tempted to move the inverts temporarily, empty the tank, and start over with just some gravel and new (cured) live rock, throwing away what I have. I don't know why but my gut...

Thanks again. To answer the pending questions... I feed my fish tetramin flakes with some crushed crab. They've all eaten it, but of course, they only eat for a couple of days and when they start getting stressed they'll stop eating. When vaccuming, I normally just touch the surface of the...

Forgot to mention: temp is set at 76F. I've tried fish from two local fish stores, both known to have good quality/healthy fish. Some have been at the store for 2+ weeks only to come home with me and die in ~5 days. Strange. I'm on public water and the water quality in my area is excellent...

Thanks for the thoughts. Acclimation procedures are what is outlined here: using the drip method over 2-3 hours. The fish seem to do fine for 2-3 days and then slowly go downhill. I've also been through all the usual suspects. I don't use any type of cleaner on or near the tank. I never put...

I have a problem that has been going on for months. The short of it is, every invertebrate that I put into the tank does fine but I cannot keep fish. I have cleaner and peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs, a sea cucumber, and a chocolate chip starfish and all have been doing fine for months...

Thanks. Just took out the airstone. I would think that I have enough flow without powerheads, but maybe you can advise. Between the aqua clear 70 and the protein skimmer, they both flow out in the same direction onto the top surface and when I put food in, you can tell that the water is being...

Originally Posted by hot883 Throw in 1 raw shrimp for 3-5 days. It will get "fuzzy" and you know it is working. I would not use an airstone in the tank either. The micro bubbles are very hard on saltwater fish' gills. Welcome to the boards. Barry Oh man. So much to learn! I have the...