I need some advice

shrub125

shrub125

Member
So i'm not very happy with my fishtank right now. I'll give a list of problems i'm having, and hopefully you guys can help me out.
-One of my clownfish is very sick. He has a bulging eye, and he also has a big red scab looking think on his face. He isn't doing to well, he is swimming near the corners and the top of the tank. what should i do with him?

-Theres a lot of algae growth in my fishtank, and i was wondering what i can do to stop or prevent this. I use tapwater, which i know is bad, and i plan on upgrading to RO/DI water ASAP. Will this help my algae problem? could i be overfeeding?

-I run a protein skimmer, is this helping my algae problem?

-My mushroom polyps don't look like they're doing too well, what can i do to help them? My lighting is not good at all, is that the problem?

-Theres really yucky looking algae growing in the sand bed, what can i do to stop this?

I know my water level is low, i plan on buying RO/DI water today, i just didn't want to add to it with tap water again

Any additional information you need i can give it to you. like parameters, information about my equipment, or anything.
PLEASE HELP :(
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I think you should give the rest of the info, we need water parameters, age and size of tank, filtration, filter media, etc etc
You should never let your water level get so low.....remember water evaporates...salt does not
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
Okay, so the tank is 35gallons, its been running for like 7months-8months. I'm running a external 205 fluval canister filter. As for filter media, i am not running anything other then the foam pads, and the biomax ceramic rings. I've changed the foam pads a few times, but i've never changed the ceramic rings.
As for the parameters, i'm doing them now, i'll post them in 10minutes max
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
popeye on the fish also looks like his lips are swollen.usually bad water and stress.doesnt look like you have enough flow in the tank.i get the red slime here and there.it takes a long time like months for it to go away.i dont replace my sponges when i use them.i rinse them in saltwater.why lose all the good bacteria thats in them.the polyps look fine they dont need much light.are the bulbs old?might want to change them out.they look like condestant .condescents dont keep their spectrum very long maybe 6 or 8 months then when the spectrum is off here comes the algea.might want to look into a bulb for a salt tank instead of a general light used for anything like the tank you bought probably can be used for freshwater,turtles,frogs ect.i dont use additives or anything but a phosphate reactor for algae control.algae a pain especially in young tanks like yours.
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
Specific Gravity - 1.027 ppm
Ammonia - 0.00 ppm
Nitrite - 0.00 ppm
Nitrate - Appears to be like between 40 and 80ppm... is this bad. it sounds bad, its a really dark red color.
pH - 7.8
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
Thanks so much for that info about the lights, i've actually been using that same bulb for years with my freshwater too. ahaha! i will deffinitely change it. and i was think the same thing, there appeared to be a lot of good bacteria on the sponges, so i always only changed one at a time.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
ph is way low. nitrates ar a bit high but imo dont affect fish until way up there .looks like you have some contaminates to get rid of.i would do a 30-40 percent water change and add another powerhead.not a rio get a #2 or 3 koralia as to disperse the flow throughout the tank.this will also help get rid of the algae.remember dont worry about too much flow the ocean has way more than a tank will.once you get the water cleaner for lack of words the clown should heal up.good luck.
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
Thanks Meowzor for that link, that was very helpful. Everything is making sense now, my high levels of Nitrates are causing the popeye. hopefully i'm not too late. i'm mixing RO/DI water as we speak!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
When you make your new SW, be sure to mix it really good...
Do you have a phosphate test kit? You also may want to consider running some chemi-pure elite in your filter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shrub125 http:///forum/thread/380850/i-need-some-advice#post_3315433
Thanks Meowzor for that link, that was very helpful. Everything is making sense now, my high levels of Nitrates are causing the popeye. hopefully i'm not too late. i'm mixing RO/DI water as we speak!
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
Alright deejeff442 I have another power head that i'm not using because i thought it was way to much flow for my tank, its a koralia 2. i'll add that now.
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380850/i-need-some-advice#post_3315435
When you make your new SW, be sure to mix it really good...
Do you have a phosphate test kit? You also may want to consider running some chemi-pure elite in your filter
Yeah i read on that link to mix it well and have a lot of aeration, so thats what i'll do. And noo i don't have a phosphate test kit. and what will the chemi-pure elite do for my tank?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I'm lazy....LOL.....So I copied this
Chemi-pure is still a very revolutionary product, and practically all aquarium filter mediums have been patterned after it! Over the years Boyd Enterprises has continually upgraded Chemi-pure with better ingredients and manufacturing processes to keep it the most effective filter medium available!
Now with Chemi-pure Elite, Boyd Enterprises has taken the next step in keeping Chemi-Pure the ultimate and complete choice for filtering your aquarium. It is the latest in reef aquarium science.
Chemi-pure Elitecomes added with Ferric Iron Oxide in order to remove phosphate and silicates. Ferric Iron Oxide has been proven as one of the top choices for removing and controlling any phosphate and/or silicate problem within your aquarium. It is the ultimate filter for reef aquarium filtration and reef care will be easier from now on.
Get all the benefits of Chemi-pure now with the added benefit of being able to remove all your phosphate and silicates. NO need for bulk Iron Oxide removers or spending additional money on a phosphate reactor. Chemi-pure Elitekeeps making your aquarium easier by being prepackaged in a nylon filter bag, just rinse before adding to your aquarium and start to enjoy a more maintenance free aquarium as it helps control any nuisance algae and keeps your aquarium crystal clear!
[*]
LONGER LIFE - Fish often live 3 to 4 times longer than in any other closed system, fresh or marine.
[*]
CONSTANT pH - Always within the safe range
[*]
PROTECTS NECESSARY ORGANISMS - Allowed growth with no danger of pollution.
[*]
REMOVES OFFENSIVE ODORS
[*]
USE WITH REAL SEA WATER OR ARTIFICIAL
REMOVES TOXIC ELEMENTS - Including Copper & Phenol
REMOVES ORGANIC PARTICULATES
QUICKER RESPONSES - Neurological reactions like fishes in natural habitat.
GOOD FOR SALTWATER & FRESHWATER FISHES - helps all species thrive.
[*]
ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR AFRICAN CICHLIDS & DISCUS
[*]
CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER - Always sparkling blue-white water
[*]
NO OSMOTIC SHOCK - 90% eliminated
NO ION ANTAGONISM
ELIMINATES PHOSPHATES AND SILICATES
ECONOMICAL - It lasts for up to 6 months
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
That whole comercial up there is the sole reason why I purchased the chemipure elite. Well that, and everyone's recomendation on it. I am just saddened that out of all the LFS that i have around me, not a one sells the stuff. I have to pay shipping on this stuff when I go to change it out. BTW, how long can I run the 1 bag of chemipure elite? Is it a month, 2 months?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
In some cases 6 months.....you really have no stock yet, so you should be able to get a long tiem with it....In my 225G, I will probably change mine in 4 months...maybe 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380850/i-need-some-advice#post_3315456
That whole comercial up there is the sole reason why I purchased the chemipure elite. Well that, and everyone's recomendation on it. I am just saddened that out of all the LFS that i have around me, not a one sells the stuff. I have to pay shipping on this stuff when I go to change it out. BTW, how long can I run the 1 bag of chemipure elite? Is it a month, 2 months?
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
I think if you follow all the advice you have been given the tank will make a full recovery. I would recommend to get a calendar going to help plan the weekly maintenance for the tank. This is what I did until it became second nature. What do you feed your fish and how much? I would recommend adding a supplement like zoecon or selcon to help the clown.
 
shrub125

shrub125

Member
I was feeding 1 whole cube of brine shrimp, and half a cube of mysis shrimp every day. is that too much?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shrub125 http:///forum/thread/380850/i-need-some-advice#post_3315592
I was feeding 1 whole cube of brine shrimp, and half a cube of mysis shrimp every day. is that too much?
FOR 2 FISH!!!! HOLY COW....yes, that is way too much......for 2 fish 1/2 a cube would be more then enough.....and remember .....brine is as nutritios as a potato chip unless you soak it in vitamins
 
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