First Loss

[maryg]

I had my first loss today. My husband wakes up very early. He walked by my 55 gallon and heard alot of gurgling noise and my sump was blowing lots of bubbles. He checked and found my yellow watchmen goby in my prefilter hang on thingy that is next to my overflow. He rescued him and put him back and he is fine. ( I swear this dude has a death wish, he is always doing stupid stuff like this) It was still making bubbles and noise. He checked below and where the tube hits the filter in the wet/dry he found my cute little false perc. clown! He didn't make it. I wonder if this sump is too much trouble. I feel like I can't leave the house. The water level is always dropping and it blows bubbles. I left for 4 days last week and went to Las Vegas and the water level dropped again and my mom and kids left the lights on too long and I came home to an algae mess!! I wonder if I should switch to a canister filter. The sump works really well and I do have a back-up hang on power filter I use as well. I have yet to have nitrates and my water quality is good.
Also what do I do about getting my other false perc another buddy. Is it ok to introduce a new one or will he fight with it? I bought the other one as a pair and they were even starting to get a little freaky. (if ya know what I mean) I am at a loss. I even cried. This sucks!!!

 

[dse]

sorry for your loss.. lucky your watchman is in goodnick.
how long your tank been running? also souinds like you'll need an sump expert to help you sort that out so that mean more $$$ gotta be spent but it's for the fishy's
also take pics of the tank and the sump and the input/output of it all so others can see that. just take about million of all the plumming.
good luck on your help here.

.

 

[geridoc]

Do you have an automatic top off on your tank. A 55 gal tank could lose 1-2 gallons/week, which explains why the water level is falling. An ATO would avoid that problem, and it maintains steady sg levels too.

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by GeriDoc
http:///forum/post/2767549
Do you have an automatic top off on your tank. A 55 gal tank could lose 1-2 gallons/week, which explains why the water level is falling. An ATO would avoid that problem, and it maintains steady sg levels too.
+1...

I can't think of any other reason why your water level would be dropping and then having the bubbling. Unless you are leaving something out here, it has to be an inconsistency in topping off. If you maintain about the same quantity of water at all times, and it is running smoothly, you should never have to worry about it unless the power goes out.
Sorry for your fish loss.

 

[maryg]

I am looking into getting an ATO. I hope I can fit it under with all of my other stuff.
My LFS finally got in some more false percs yesterday. He had to order them from Hawaii or some crap. I got there just as they arrived. I got one of them and got him home and acclimated him well. He would not eat. He also had this line running down the side of him on one side. I woke up this morning and he was belly up.
I called my LFS and explained the above. He told me to bring in a water sample. The girl that works there tested my water and said it was perfect. I knew it was. I work from home and have nothing else to do but upkeep my tanks. I asked her if he would replace the fish. He told her he does not guarrantee livestock! I was sooooooooo pissed! I spent a fortune in his store. The fish cost only $10.00, but it is the principle of it all. I spend that and more each week there on water alone! I guess I will take my money elsewhere. This guy is an arrogant dumb*$@! I told him I just re-set up my 12 gallon. I guess I can have another LFS stock it. These people got to learn they aren't the only game in town!

 

[hlcroghan]

Originally Posted by MaryG
http:///forum/post/2780097
I am looking into getting an ATO. I hope I can fit it under with all of my other stuff.
My LFS finally got in some more false percs yesterday. He had to order them from Hawaii or some crap. I got there just as they arrived. I got one of them and got him home and acclimated him well. He would not eat. He also had this line running down the side of him on one side. I woke up this morning and he was belly up.
I called my LFS and explained the above. He told me to bring in a water sample. The girl that works there tested my water and said it was perfect. I knew it was. I work from home and have nothing else to do but upkeep my tanks. I asked her if he would replace the fish. He told her he does not guarrantee livestock! I was sooooooooo pissed! I spent a fortune in his store. The fish cost only $10.00, but it is the principle of it all. I spend that and more each week there on water alone! I guess I will take my money elsewhere. This guy is an arrogant dumb*$@! I told him I just re-set up my 12 gallon. I guess I can have another LFS stock it. These people got to learn they aren't the only game in town!

That is ridiculous. Have you considered ordering off of SWF.com?? Everyone here has said that they get quality livestock every time and they do have a guarantee on their livestock. Yeah I would be really angry. I am sorry for your loss.

 

[srgvigil]

Originally Posted by MaryG
http:///forum/post/2780097
I am looking into getting an ATO. I hope I can fit it under with all of my other stuff.
My LFS finally got in some more false percs yesterday. He had to order them from Hawaii or some crap.
Sorry for your loss
I would suggest not getting wild clowns for two reasons:
1)Clowns are easily breed in captivity and there are plenty raised clowns on the market. No need to take a clownfish from the ocean. Plus tank raised clowns readily adapt to a aquarium because they've lived in one their entire life
2) Wild Clowns have a poor survivability rate. It is estimated that 90% of captive clowns die en route from capture to distributors. Of those 90% it is estimated another 90% die. In the wild clowns cannot survive without an anemone. Imagine being taken from your family and home(clowns live in social groups in the wild). Add the polluted holding water from being shipped. This all causes stress. And stress causes dead fish. They do not easily readibly adapt to aquarium life.
On the sump thing. I suggest putting something over the overflow box. I use egg crate over mine. It allows water in but no fishies.

 

[peachie98]

Mary...I wonder if you could work something out with saltwaterfish.com as far as pickup instead of paying the shipping? Not sure if they do that or not but you're so close to them...I have decided since I've had such good luck with fish and livestock to get most of my stuff from them when needed. The fish (and eel) I've gotten has been some of the nicest and healthiest I've seen (and they have the guarantee). Just a suggestion you might want to check into.
That sucks about your losses! It's so frustrating, especially at the beginning, when you're figuring all the stuff out (set-up wise), to lose one of them.

 

[maryg]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2780107
That is ridiculous. Have you considered ordering off of SWF.com?? Everyone here has said that they get quality livestock every time and they do have a guarantee on their livestock. Yeah I would be really angry. I am sorry for your loss.
I have ordered from here before. It was a good experience. I did have one item out of the many I ordered that didn't make it. But they gave me credit. I would definitely recommended it. I even bought gift certificates for my sister in law that got me into this hobby

 

[maryg]

Originally Posted by peachie98
http:///forum/post/2781201
Mary...I wonder if you could work something out with saltwaterfish.com as far as pickup instead of paying the shipping? Not sure if they do that or not but you're so close to them...I have decided since I've had such good luck with fish and livestock to get most of my stuff from them when needed. The fish (and eel) I've gotten has been some of the nicest and healthiest I've seen (and they have the guarantee). Just a suggestion you might want to check into.
That sucks about your losses! It's so frustrating, especially at the beginning, when you're figuring all the stuff out (set-up wise), to lose one of them.
Hi! I moved here from Wellington.
I have tried to see if I could pick up locally. I know where they are located. I think it is something they are working on.
Probably would bring in good business. Hint, Hint.....