New Member needs help!

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by sweetdawn
when i first got my snowflake he ate krill then he decided he didnt want it anymore maybe when your brother was feeding him he did he krill try a couple different things dont get the silversides that look white get the ones that are silver looking and look like little fish
Thank-you

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by DaneDodger
Like the others here I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my brother only about a year ago very suddenly so I know how hard it can be.
I care for a snowflake eel that is still tiny enough to take krill by hand (the feeding stick is definitely smarter though, he's missed a few times and bitten me but fortunately he's too tiny to harm me yet, so do as I say and not as I do

because the larger ones can give a VERY nasty bite!). Silversides or any marine food that is in meaty chunks of the right size are good to try! Maybe he's just still very stressed? How long has it been since he's eaten anything? If it hasn't been too long it could be that he just needs to be left alone with the lights off for awhile to cool out (lights off tends to help stressed aquatic critters)?
Speaking of cooling out yep, I second (or is it third? Forth????) everyone's suggestion to bring that temp down. They also need a fairly steady temperature so the fluctuation you describe (warm one day, cool off several degrees, then back up again) is definitely harmful! I heartily advocate the type of heaters I have! I've got two Pro Heat II on my 130 gallon that I bought online that are a dream! The heating unit is fully submersible then there's a little probe you just suction cup to the inside of the tank. They're digital so you just set the temp to the number you want and voila! It takes care of itself! Very simple and reliable!
Did he have a water testing kit? Maybe you could tell us more to help you out like what the water is testing at and what equipment he has on it?
As for books, my favorites for starting anything out is always the Dummies books and they have a Saltwater for Dummies! Lots and lots and loads of good information in easy to understand language!
Dodger, Thank-you and I'm sorry for your loss as well. My brother died suddenly too..terrible motorcycle accident. I keep myself going by digging into this saltwater tank with all I have..helps keep me busy..but oh, how i miss him! I don't think anyone in my family calls me as much as my brother did..and my phone is so quiet now!!
Thank-you for the help.. Let's see... The eel hasn't eaten since the last week of september.. but I'm not sure it's the starvation thing that worries me..he acts weird..like laying on his side and breathing funny..can't describe it any other way..i don't know,, maybe this is normal..
Will definately be checking into them heaters you mentioned ..the one on the tank now is a tad confusing..
The only testing thing I can find in the cabinet of the aquarium is an hydrometer..reading at 32...
As for equipment... I'm sorry I have no clue! From others I understand the undergravel filter has to go.. and it will just as soon as I get some sand... and a book so I can read up and get this aquarium set up the right way... I do not want to lose my brothers fish at all.. i'm so worried!
I just told my hubby I need a saltwater book for dummies..I wasn't sure there was one but I was gonna search...
Thank-you so very much for your help. all is greatly appreciated!

 

[treybomb]

the dummies book is called saltwater aquariums for dummies it does exist (i have it)
an even better book that is reccomended by so many people is"The conscientious Marine Aquarist" its such an amazing book that gives soo much info... it can help begginers to advanced aquarists and IMO its easy to understand
i would recommend conscientious marine aquarist over the dummies.. i have read them both and marine auarist has helped me so much more
another great research toll is thie website! if it wasnt fro this website i would have almost no clue what im doing right now... there are tons of people here that know what they are talking about and they can answer your individual ?'s better than a book can sometimes
: )
good luck
and soory for your loss again
-thomas

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by BillieJean
The only testing thing I can find in the cabinet of the aquarium is an hydrometer..reading at 32...
Need to try to get a better reading by getting a refractometer, hydrometer don't always give you accurate readings. If it reads at 1.032, your salinity is way too high. That might explain the hard breathing of the snow flake eel. Take your water to your LFS to test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH, Alkaline, Specific Gravity, etc. IMO You should keep your specific gravity around 1.023 - 1.026 some may disagree. Good Luck! :happyfish

 

[airforceb2]

I think she was talking about salinity. 32 is a little low. Ideal is 34 at 78 degrees. Now if she was talking about Specific Gravity and it was 1.032 then it is high.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by treybomb
i disagree with the yellow tang not being able to be in there.. the minimum tank size for them is a 55 ive have seen countless 55 gallons with lots of tangs in there and they seem to be doing fine : ) just my $.02 cents
i know by saying this i will probably get yelled at by some but its just what i have read and saw on this boards
Not saying it's not fine in that tank right now, but saying in the future should consider a larger tank. I will disagree with you about "i've have seen countless 55 gallons with lots of tangs in there and they seem to be doing fine". When I try to put two tangs together in a 55, they fought like crazy!!! It was a yellow tang with a sailfan tang, but the one yellow tang I got together with the sailfan tang did not fight at all! It depends on your fish's personality and depends when it was added if together or separate. Tangs should be added in together, not separate, otherwise the one that's already within will be extremely territorial towards the new tang. You have only seen them in other's tanks, try them yourself and you'll find out the difference between seeing and believing. This is my $.02 cents! Not trying to flame you or anything, but you have to be sure enough inorder to tell someone this sort of information... :happyfish

 

[billiejean]

I tested the PH 7.4 Alkalinity tested between the 180 and 300 Nitrite .5 and nitrate 200
now what?? oh my I'm scared..The eel died this morning... I hope I can save the puffer and tang..
Thank-you all again for all your help!
BillieJean

 

[1journeyman]

Ok.. something weird is going on in the tank...
Nitrite is a killer. Water change is a must!
pH is definitely low. Is there any salt there? Can you do your own water change?
How close are you to a local saltwater fish store? My first idea would be to go buy some saltwater from your fish store. It should cost you about a dollar a gallon. Change about 20% of the water and see if that brings up the pH. Your pH should be at 8.4.
Also, list what type of tank, plumbing, pumps, protein skimmers... EVERYTHING. Give us an idea of what you are dealing with.
Also, take your water to the pet store and let them test it all for you.
What time did you check the pH? It will fall a little at night. (Shouldn't fall that much though..). Do you have good water movement across the top of the tank? Is your tank covered with anything that is preventing good gaseous exchange?

 

[dogstar]

Yep, none of those readings are good. Need to do water changes. Like 25 % daily. Untill the water gets closer to where it should be.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
Yep, none of those readings are good. Need to do water changes. Like 25 % daily. Untill the water gets closer to where it should be.
I wouldn't do it daily, I would rather do it every 3 days at that percentage, BUT her tank's PH level is quite low. She needs to do 10% daily to bring back that PH level slowly, otherwise you'll shock the fish. You really NEED to take your water to your LFS to check. Next thing you need to do water change like the post above have mentioned. Need to get it done ASAP before anything else dies. :happyfish

 

[scubadoo]

Originally Posted by BillieJean
Hi Everyone, I have a 55 gallon salt water aquarium that belongs to my brother. I have no clue how to care for it as all my aquariums are fresh water. My brother recently passed away and I need help..I do not want to lose his fish he cherished so much. He has a Porcupine Puffer, snowflake eal, yellow tang in his tank. My question is: what temperature should the tank be kept at? right now it is at 86degrees which feels extremely warm to me; but then again what do I know ... none of my freshwater tanks have heaters..lol :help:
Also, would like to know if anyone can recommend any good books or websites to help me learn what other fish I can keep in this tank and what live rock, coral, reef, etc..is safe for this tank as well. My brother has had this tank for over a year and has had the puffer since the beginning but the others were just added a few weeks ago. The snowflake eel doesn't look like he's doing so well.. but the others are very active and eating just fine...
Thank-you very much for any help ya'll can offer me.
Sincerely, BillieJean
:jumping:
Send me an email at superidiot@cox.net
I'm off from work tomorrow and will be glad to help you out via email.

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Ok.. something weird is going on in the tank...
Nitrite is a killer. Water change is a must!
pH is definitely low. Is there any salt there? Can you do your own water change?
How close are you to a local saltwater fish store? My first idea would be to go buy some saltwater from your fish store. It should cost you about a dollar a gallon. Change about 20% of the water and see if that brings up the pH. Your pH should be at 8.4.
Also, list what type of tank, plumbing, pumps, protein skimmers... EVERYTHING. Give us an idea of what you are dealing with.
Also, take your water to the pet store and let them test it all for you.
What time did you check the pH? It will fall a little at night. (Shouldn't fall that much though..). Do you have good water movement across the top of the tank? Is your tank covered with anything that is preventing good gaseous exchange?
I really have no idea.. I do not know anything about this tank..how do I tell what type tank, filter,pumps, etc.. it does have lids/lights...and there is water movement across top of tank from undergravel filter... remember please this is my brother's aquarium..I know nothing about saltwater... I will be gone all day today.. hope to make it to LFS this evening... Thank-you for all your help again!
BillieJean

 

[danedodger]

Could you describe the equipment? It would give folks at least some idea what's on there.
Personally I'd get rid of the undergravel filter. There's no telling what's under those plates rotting away which could cause some of your readings to be off kilter.