Crashed tank

[tthemadd1]

Getting the mesh top will help a lot.
Did you have lots of algae in the tank?
Why no protein skimmer? It's a cheaper option than a sump. A hang on back works very well.
More water changes and vac the sand to remove all the fish waste. 1lb per gallon is just enough for a fowlr tank. Double that weight for a reef. Good luck

 

[dilan]

I thought so I can do the mesh and just coralline algae because my cuc crew kept it pretty clean.
Port eight skimmer because I have know where to put it I know it's bad but I have know where els and the hang on the back I heard it can overflow
I didn't know u could vac sand and I use to do water changes but when i do it something always ends up going wrong

 

[tthemadd1]

HOB skimmers can overflow but if you maintain it properly than it will do fine. There are many people that use skimmers and never have issues.
Like anything else its all about a good maintenance program. Setup good cleaning schedules, water changes, and track your water parameters. Even if your tank seems to be doing well for a long time it is important to test. Things can creep into the tank and cause issues.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dilan http:///t/396106/crashed-tank/20#post_3528636
I thought so I can do the mesh and just coralline algae because my cuc crew kept it pretty clean.
Port eight skimmer because I have know where to put it I know it's bad but I have know where els and the hang on the back I heard it can overflow
I didn't know u could vac sand and I use to do water changes but when i do it something always ends up going wrong
There are several reasons why things go horribly wrong when you clean the tank, or do water changes...
A tank that has been up and running for years without the sand being moved regularly, has toxins deep in the sand and under rocks, if you disturb it, you release those toxins into the tank. I always kept critters that dig, so nothing was trapped under the sand layers.
If you didn't disturb things, it could be the tub you use to hold your change water, for example, a non-food grade plastic tub can leak chemicals into the water from the plastic. An uncovered tub is open for non fish type stuff to contaminate it. A tub with no water movement can go stagnant. Sudden differences in the temperature or salinity will send the critters into shock.

 

[dilan]

i always test like oncce ortwice a week

 

[aquariumgirl16]

Frozen food is mostly used as a treat. Like popcorn to humans. We can't live on it. I have a canister filter and it works just fine. Change it every 2 months. I use pellets and flakes for food. Frozen brine shrimp or sponge angelfish food once or twice a week.

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by aquariumgirl16 http:///t/396106/crashed-tank/20#post_3528661
Frozen food is mostly used as a treat. Like popcorn to humans. We can't live on it. I have a canister filter and it works just fine. Change it every 2 months. I use pellets and flakes for food. Frozen brine shrimp or sponge angelfish food once or twice a week.
You kind of have that backwards...flake and pellets are not good foods
NOT all frozen are good....brine shrimp really has no nutritional value.....but frozen mysis, marine cuisine, emerald entree, etc...etc are all excellent foods

 

[aquariumgirl16]

I use frozen mysis too. I feed every other day. Guy at store said sponge angelfish frozen food is like a treat.

 

[tthemadd1]

Can you change only half of canister filter at a time? If so that would be ideal, as you build up lots of biological filtration in that thing. This too could be part of the problem.
Look on here for making your own fish food. It's really easy and is very nutritious.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by aquariumgirl16 http:///t/396106/crashed-tank/20#post_3528663
I use frozen mysis too. I feed every other day. Guy at store said sponge angelfish frozen food is like a treat.
Sponge is the natural part of an angelfish's diet, it isn't a treat. A SW tank "usually" has those little white sponges growing all over, the angelfish eats it. What you feed your critters is not the only food in the tank. The tiny copepods, amphipods, and isopods, along with bits of algae and sponges are all growing naturally in the tank and your critters hunt and nip at the rocks all day.
Pellets and flake are pollution in a package. Frozen foods (not brine shrimp) rinsed, are very good for your fish and IMO, the best food for them aside from home made.
I will again repeat the #1 rule for keeping a successful SW fish tank:
NEVER,EVER, ask any LFS person for advice for ANYTHING. Go into the store knowing what you want or need.

 

[tthemadd1]

Get to know your LFS owner and double check everything. Those who sell you things are not the best for advice. They can be helpful but like Flower stated know what you want first. After that fact LFS people can be a great source for brands and new tech. Just be knowledgable and don't fall for the traps.

 

[dilan]

I have a really good friend that owns a fish store he always helps me out ohh and flower I got rid of the mantis shrimp I gave it to my science teacher he loves them

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tthemadd1 http:///t/396106/crashed-tank/20#post_3528709
Get to know your LFS owner and double check everything. Those who sell you things are not the best for advice. They can be helpful but like Flower stated know what you want first. After that fact LFS people can be a great source for brands and new tech. Just be knowledgable and don't fall for the traps.
Honestly, I have never found a single fish store that sold good brands on anything. They all carry Cyclone skimmers (GARBAGE)...none carry MH bulbs, and non carry refractometers, nor know what they are, and none carry TDS meters. It seems they all sell only API test kits (GARBAGE). They will sell you additives for everything, instead of how to do thing naturally. A newbe won't understand why the problem happened in the first place, and will have no idea that when you add one thing you unbalance another (all because the bandage (additive) didn't work)...it becomes a circle, and the LFS makes money on the junk they sell you to fix the new problem that cropped up because of the one before it. They are not trying to rip you off, they honestly don't know how to help you, because every tank is unique. Chemicals and additives are your LAST resort. Most problems (not all) can be fixed with water changes...but they don't want you to do that, it's too easy and cheap.
Now maybe it's only by me here in Illinois on the boarder of Wisconsin...I love the LFS in Wisconsin, but I wouldn't ask for their advice. This site is a treasure of information, and nobody is selling anything, it's all just advice from folks who have been doing this for years and years...Because of all the people on this site, somebody has used first hand, every brand of equipment sold on the market, and can give first hand experience and advice on it.
So find out what you need, and the brand of whatever is best, right here...THEN go on the hunt for it. I want to support my LFS, we need them. But what fish to buy, or equipment to get is up to me to do my homework. It's expensive enough without having to replace garbage stuff sold to me from the LFS so they could make a penny or two.
I have one fish store that will order any critter I want, and I don't have to pay for shipping. It's more expensive then the base price on-line, but less when you calculate the shipping charge.
The one drawback...on-line you can get a 14 day guarantee that the critter (invert, coral or fish) is healthy, and get a in-store refund if it dies...from a LFS, the moment you walk out the door you are on your own. One note of warning} Don't fall for the claim that they will replace a sick fish if it dies (on-line or the LFS), if they ask for a water sample... believe me, your water is NEVER perfect enough to support the life of whatever critter died on you, making it your fault not theirs, so no refund for you.

 

[tthemadd1]

Well my LFS owner is great. Mountains To Sea Aquarium. When a person is a dedicated hobbyist that decides to make their passion into a career. They tend to be more reserved and picky with not only their clientele but also their suppliers.
It's all about having the conversation to get to know their expertise vs their sales goals. We all need to stay in business and part ofthat is creating loyalty through respect.
I have seen the best and the worst. You have to make an effort to become educated through multiple sources not just this site.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tthemadd1 http:///t/396106/crashed-tank/20#post_3528721
Well my LFS owner is great. Mountains To Sea Aquarium. When a person is a dedicated hobbyist that decides to make their passion into a career. They tend to be more reserved and picky with not only their clientele but also their suppliers.
It's all about having the conversation to get to know their expertise vs their sales goals. We all need to stay in business and part ofthat is creating loyalty through respect.
I have seen the best and the worst. You have to make an effort to become educated through multiple sources not just this site.
Hi,
You become educated from smart people that have been in the hobby for years and years...on sites like this, and some good books. You won't become educated going to any LFS.
Whenever there is a beginner...I will forever tell them to not ask for ANY HELP from the LFS. The reason why is that 99% are idiots that will sell you anything for a buck. To be honest you are the first person to actually say to me that their LFS guy was a dedicated hobbyist, because all the others are dedicated to keeping their store going. A beginner has no way to know the good from the bad advice, so the best advice is not bother to take the chance.
I want the LFS to stay in business, and I don't mind a bit to purchase from them, but asking advice or their opinion, is courting disaster. I will shout it from the housetops...NEVER, EVER ASK ANY LFS FOR ANY ADVICE ON CRITTERS, EQUIPMENT, OR ADDITIVES. Know what you need or want when you walk into the store. Tell them what you came there for, and don't let them talk you into getting what they carry instead with the claim...It's just as good, better, they are all the same or costs less from them.