29 high (Help)

[bicod300]

Alright
Here it is, I have a 29 high saltwater tank built into my family room wall. since FEB2005
I could not go bigger because of a stairway behind it. I access it from a closet.
I have a pretty good grasp of maintaing the the levels. but I still seem to lose fish.
I had 2 perculas(False) last a good 2 months but I added 2 more small ones and a royal grama. the 2 new clown died within a week and then the 2 original ones died shorty after.
All I have left is the royal grama.
I would like alot of activity in my tank.
just wondering what fish would be good for a tank my size? non aggressive?.
I realy liked the clown fish but not sure how many and what else to buy?
thanks for the help.

 

[sinner's girl]

you can only have 2 clowns in that size tank. Since it's high, you can't really have a lot of fish. Three fish is alot to add at once.
Please post your water levels, not just say they are good. how much lr?
I'd get a pair of clowns, and the gamma, or a bleeny or goby.
I wouldn't put too many (more than four) in there, it's too small. And you want to stick with smaller fish.

 

[fishieness]

woah woah woah
before you go around asking what other kinds of fish can you try, first we must isolate the problem on why they are dieing
give us more info about your setup
what are the symptoms of the fish before they die?
any types of inverts in there?

 

[bicod300]

I'll give you an update on my levels when I get home.
the simptoms were, when I added the 2 new clown fish (smaller than my originals )
one stayed to himself up in the corner and he was the 1st to go.
then the other new one seemed to be doing fine but within 2 days he started hiding and died soon after.
My 2 original percs were not the same after that. They started laying on the decorations and finaly died. the gamma looks great.
About 2 weeks before the new fish I had the black stringing algae and medicated the tank but the clowns seemed to do just fine at that time.

 

[aelene]

Originally Posted by bicod300
I'll give you an update on my levels when I get home.
the simptoms were, when I added the 2 new clown fish (smaller than my originals )
one stayed to himself up in the corner and he was the 1st to go.
then the other new one seemed to be doing fine but within 2 days he started hiding and died soon after.
My 2 original percs were not the same after that. They started laying on the decorations and finaly died.
I've been told that clownfish are not exactly the "I'll take any friend type of fish" They have the potential to get along, but that's up to whether or not the fish like each other. The advice I have always been given is to add clownfish at the same time if you want more than one. Adding two smaller ones after having two established probably created a territory problem.
Also, I have a 40g and have been advised that 5-6 small fish is the max I should have. I would think 5 in a 29g = not good.

 

[yacobito]

I have a 29 H and I have 2 false percs, a bi-color blenny, and a wheeler watchman goby. I am not going to add anymore than that. I also took my time finding small (I am guessing younger) fish, so that they wouldn't be too cramped. I hope to upgrade the size of my tank as they and my income grow larger.

My wheeler is the largest of the bunch and seems to be the most aggressive, but they all get along just fine.

 

[bicod300]

PH 8.0
nitrate 5.0
nitrite 0
amonia 0
SG - 1.0205
Let me if you see any problems with my levels
I've just stared using a deionizing filter after the loss of the fish.

 

[fishmamma]

Hi- I also have a 29 high tank. Stock a max of 4 small fish. A pair of false percs, maybe a bicolor blenny or shrimp/goby pair. A sixline wrasse or blue chromis would make good additions as well. I just mysteriously lost my favorite pygmy angel yesterday, they stay very small and LOVE to swim all around the tank. But first I would wait a t least two weeks, try to figure out what was killing your fish. Did they appear out of sorts aside from hiding? How was their respiration? Any excesive slime coating or anything?
When you are ready to add new fish add no more than two at a time. Good luck to you.

 

[fishieness]

what is your alkalinity measureing?
hey fishmamma, pygmy angles do not live long. They are delicate fish with short lifespans. how long have you had the little fella?

 

[fishmamma]

Hi -

I had the little swimmer about 5 months. I LOVED to watch it swim every night over and through the rock at full speed. What is strange is that it showed no signs of distress or illness. Just gone one morning. Thank you for your words about their short lifespans, I got it from LFS so who knows what it's history was. I am awaiting another on order from this site, hope the next one lives a longer healthy happy life in my tank.

 

[fishieness]

hopefully you will get a younger one. i have heard nothing but great things abuot them. but also that their life spans are often only a year long

 

[the reef]

If you were using tap watter before that could be the cause of many problems I would do 30 percent watter changes with the ro watter every other week and after a couple of months I would try out some new clowns

 

[fishmamma]

That truly is too bad because they are so cute to watch, very playful with you. Thanks again for educating me, I appreciate it and it is good to know since I rave about them to others.