flower
Well-Known Member
I have so many grandchildren, dead fish will upset you more than the kids. With a proper clean up crew...you will not ever see a dead fish. I do a head count every morning when I feed the fish. I had three large fish die on me during the 4 day black out we had last month, I had to remove my rock to get to the bodies. (That was an unusual situation). Most times I know when I lost a fish when one goes MIA at feeding time. I check for ammonia spikes and none happens, but the fish is just gone.
Serpent and brittle stars, bristle worms and hermits make quick meals of dead fish deep in the rocks. I don't go looking for a body unless it's a big fish that the CUC couldn't clean up in a single night or if I were to see the fish stressed and find an ammonia spike, that has never happened. I lose a fish, it's just gone and no ammonia spike..nothing.
The really cool thing about saltwater tanks is that there plenty of life to watch way before the fish are ever added. I mix my saltwater in a tub, I fill the tank 1/2 way and add the rocks, then the sand is added around the rock. You don't want to build the rock on shifting sand, rock slides will crush fish and could break the tank.
After the rock and sand are set...add the rest of the water and turn on the filters and power heads after the sand has settled. I prefer sand to crushed coral. Do your tests and let the little one watch, the lab test kits that you need with sw tanks are pretty interesting and have colors to look for, let him help you decide..this color...is it closer or this one?. Put them far away from little hands because they are dangerous chemicals, also junior won't try and do tests while you aren't right there to suppervise (I speak from experience) . Then look close at the rocks...stuff grows on them, critters are alive on them...everyday it will be another adventure to find things. Sponges appear over night, tiny fan worms that look like little snowflake cutouts open and close on the rock...weird little things come out after lights out, so get some moonlights.
Have him be your little helper when you clean your filters, feed the fish and pick out what to get next. You will build a lifetime of good memories and it's educational as well. My kids treat going to Nana's house like going to the zoo, they can't wait to see what's in the big tank now and the seahorses in the other...LOL..now I have a sea turd..uh I mean hare, for them to watch.
Serpent and brittle stars, bristle worms and hermits make quick meals of dead fish deep in the rocks. I don't go looking for a body unless it's a big fish that the CUC couldn't clean up in a single night or if I were to see the fish stressed and find an ammonia spike, that has never happened. I lose a fish, it's just gone and no ammonia spike..nothing.
The really cool thing about saltwater tanks is that there plenty of life to watch way before the fish are ever added. I mix my saltwater in a tub, I fill the tank 1/2 way and add the rocks, then the sand is added around the rock. You don't want to build the rock on shifting sand, rock slides will crush fish and could break the tank.
After the rock and sand are set...add the rest of the water and turn on the filters and power heads after the sand has settled. I prefer sand to crushed coral. Do your tests and let the little one watch, the lab test kits that you need with sw tanks are pretty interesting and have colors to look for, let him help you decide..this color...is it closer or this one?. Put them far away from little hands because they are dangerous chemicals, also junior won't try and do tests while you aren't right there to suppervise (I speak from experience) . Then look close at the rocks...stuff grows on them, critters are alive on them...everyday it will be another adventure to find things. Sponges appear over night, tiny fan worms that look like little snowflake cutouts open and close on the rock...weird little things come out after lights out, so get some moonlights.
Have him be your little helper when you clean your filters, feed the fish and pick out what to get next. You will build a lifetime of good memories and it's educational as well. My kids treat going to Nana's house like going to the zoo, they can't wait to see what's in the big tank now and the seahorses in the other...LOL..now I have a sea turd..uh I mean hare, for them to watch.
