4 Month - 29 Gal Biocube - What is wrong

jdsr1970

jdsr1970

Member
I have my 29 Gal Biocube since Jan-2008 and still have not been able to keep a fish for more than a month.
Notwithstanding, I've been really lucky with a fire shrimp, red sea star and rose anemone that are just fine from the beginning and in very good conditions until now.
Reading several threads I notice a lot of mistakes like
having a Blue Tang and Yellow Tang in this tank, taking out the biocube balls out, etc.
But still do not know the reason of why I am loosing Perculas, Yellow Blenny and recently a Bangai Cardinal that show up one morning being eaten by a Polyp (really strange).
Everytime a fish dies I take a sample of water to the LFS they make the tests and the water conditions are Ok, is there anything else I should do? The only one fish left right now is a yellow wrase that has been with me for almost a month, but I only hope this ones lasts.
Any help or advice.
29 Gal Biocube
Biocube Skimmer (added just recently)
 
A

alexmir

Guest
I would buy some tests, and do them yourself. Sometimes fish stores TELL you that your water is good, but lie so that you will buy more fish. It has happened to a few people on here.

Also, how are you aclimating your fish?
 
jdsr1970

jdsr1970

Member
Yes. I feed them twice a day (early morning and afternoon). Morning flakes and spectrum (10/15 little balls) and afternoon a cube of brine shrimp or mysis shrimp or spirulina brine shrimp. Once in a while Kent marine Zooplex.
Once a week I put the Kent Marine Nano Reef A/B and reef iodide and reef strontium. Last two recommended for the invertebrates.
I bought the test stripes and when I do it myself it does not reflect any discrepancy. I am sure this stripes are not so accurate but I do not want to spend to much money on those kits. Also, the LFS keeps a test record and they show it to you to explain if simethin is low or high.
I do as instructed by the LFS 30 min. max in the bag, 10 to 15 min adding 1/4 of water from my tank and another 10 to 15 min adding another 1/4 of water from my tank to the bag.
I hope this helps to figure out what is going on.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by jdsr1970
http:///forum/post/2669964
Yes. I feed them twice a day (early morning and afternoon). Morning flakes and spectrum (10/15 little balls) and afternoon a cube of brine shrimp or mysis shrimp or spirulina brine shrimp. Once in a while Kent marine Zooplex.Not really a great choice of food here IMO. Brine shrimp hold little to no nutritional value and should only be considered a treat. Flake food is also lacking in nutrients and isnt the best for them. You are also feeding WAY too much, and if you do not have considerable nitrates I would be shocked
Once a week I put the Kent Marine Nano Reef A/B and reef iodide and reef strontium. Last two recommended for the invertebrates. You should not add anything to your tank that you do not test for. Do you know for sure that you need these additives in your tank?
I bought the test stripes and when I do it myself it does not reflect any discrepancy.Test strips are only a guideline and should not be taken seriously I am sure this stripes are not so accurate but I do not want to spend to much money on those kits. Also, the LFS keeps a test record and they show it to you to explain if simethin is low or high.Take this with a grain of salt the only real way to be sure of your readings is to do it yourself.
I do as instructed by the LFS 30 min. max in the bag, 10 to 15 min adding 1/4 of water from my tank and another 10 to 15 min adding another 1/4 of water from my tank to the bag.
I hope this helps to figure out what is going on.
IMO your water perameters are more off than you think. Things that I am sure your LFS Is not testing for. How often are you doing water changes? What is the salinity of your water? How is it measured, Hydrometer or Refractometer? If doing weekly water changes you shouldnt have to add anything to your water. However without testing adding anything at all is very dangerous. HTH good luck.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
PD nailed it once again.
If it were me in this situation I would:
First and foremost purchase an ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Ph kits and a refractometer. Then learn how to use them, then use them.
Second discontinue feeding schedule you are now on. Especially with only one fish in the tank. Feed only once per day or better yet once every other day and only as much as the fish can consume fully in 1 minute.
Third stop all dosing. In a tank this small with little to no coral you do not need to dose anything.
Fourth if you do not have one, embark on a consistent once per week 10% water change schedule. This will not only help to keep the tank clean of nutrient build up but will replace any used elements that need it.
These are JMO's but if taken will help you to stabilize your tank and get a better handle on what good husbandry is all about and how to build your system better.
Keep posting here and keep us up to date on what is happening. There are a lot of concerned reefers here that are willing to give you some of their experience so that you can use it to develop your own plans.
Oh and
to SWF!
 
jdsr1970

jdsr1970

Member
thanks for all your comments.
I would certainly have to obtain a Test Kit. Any suggestions? - Salinity 1.021 (Hydrometer)
maybe I did not explain things well. The food quantities were on the basis of having 4 - 1 yellow blenny, 1 cardinal, 1 clownfish and the blue tang.
With only one left, yes I have reduced the quanities. Nevertheless I am worried about the quality of the nutrients as established by PD. What would be the recommended food ifplanning to have the wrase add a clownfish and maybe a tang?
I was doing biweekly water changes, but reading most of the threads in this site now I know that need to do it on a weekly basis, specially when I start aquiring more fishes.
The Nano Reef A/B was recommended by the LFS, with the biweekly 5 gal water change.
The stronium and iodide was also recommended by the LFS, (sorry) forget to mention that I have also some mushrooms, frogspawn and a sunfower polyp.
Houston, Texas
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by jdsr1970
http:///forum/post/2671460
thanks for all your comments.
I would certainly have to obtain a Test Kit. Any suggestions? - Salinity 1.021 (Hydrometer)
maybe I did not explain things well. The food quantities were on the basis of having 4 - 1 yellow blenny, 1 cardinal, 1 clownfish and the blue tang.
With only one left, yes I have reduced the quanities. Nevertheless I am worried about the quality of the nutrients as established by PD. What would be the recommended food ifplanning to have the wrase add a clownfish and maybe a tang?
I was doing biweekly water changes, but reading most of the threads in this site now I know that need to do it on a weekly basis, specially when I start aquiring more fishes.
The Nano Reef A/B was recommended by the LFS, with the biweekly 5 gal water change.
The stronium and iodide was also recommended by the LFS, (sorry) forget to mention that I have also some mushrooms, frogspawn and a sunfower polyp.
Houston, Texas

Stop dosing... get test kits, I use API but there are many reliable ones out there. Formula 1 frozen is a decent food to offer your fish, and its readily found at most LFS. Something like Rods food is great, or home made if you want to go that route is also great. Only as much as they can eat in 1 minute, once a day thats all. weekly water changes a must with small tanks, 15 - 20% IMO. For a reef your inhabitants will be much happier with a salinity of 1.025 or 35ppt if it were a fish only tank your current salinity would be ok. Buy a refractometer and calibrate it accordingly. This will give you your most accurate readings. Swing arm hydrometers are often inaccurate. HTH.
 
nwdyr

nwdyr

Active Member
I agree with PD 100% he said pretty much everything i was thinking
don't be afraid to spend money on test kits , in the long run it is wayyy cheaper then replacing fish. Shop on line for those things , I found test kits that were 39.00 in the lfs for only15-20 on-line. SWF.com don't sell these kits but I still cannot tell you the place I get mine due to the fasct that they don't want us to mention competitors sites. Maybe you can fig it out , the name is Dr.. no disrespect to this site , but like I said they don't sell them here. Cant repeat it enough..DONT DOSE ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT TESTING FOR. Also like my friends here said DONT trust the LFS!! I think if you follow the advice these guys have given you , you will be fine
It's not that hard and you will really begin to enjoy your tank allot more. I actually LIKE to do water changes , just make it part of your weekly schedule. Always let the new water mix overnight in a 5gal bucket with a power head and heater and test the salinity so you know it is the same as your tank before you add it. Good luck and welcome to the best site on line with the best people in the hobby!
 
jdsr1970

jdsr1970

Member
Per the received recommendations, I bought a Test Kit.
And as expected by PD the Nitrate read 20. I put drops of Tap Water Conditioner as indicated in the Test Kit instructions to lower it. I will change water in two more days anyway.
Everything else seem Ok. pH between 8.2 and 8.4 / Ammonia 0 / Nitrite 0. I did not get the Phosphate and Calcium test since the few corals I have seem to be great. Do I really need to get those.
I know is just been a week but the water looks clear.
The yellow wrase has now almost five weeks (has last more than any other fish) and got a percula clown about a week ago an seems really healthy; it does not go the rose anemone.
Thank you all for your help and I will keep you posted. I will take some pictures in a week or two (hopefully everything would be just fine.
 
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