Photos: Need Your Help/Opinions/Expertise!!

[billiejean]

Ok, Here's a few photos.. Hope you can see them good enough to give me advice/help!
Thank-you all so much.
This board has been a great help and so kind!
BillieJean

 

[airforceb2]

Yikes...
You will get many posts on this I'm sure. The first thing that pops out at me is the under gravel filter. Many on this board do not agree with them in salt tanks. It is possible to keep them but very hard to maintain.
Also, I would say it needs more live rock. Eels love to play in rock work. Also, you can get a couple pieces of PVC pipe from a hardware store and throw them in there. He will like the hiding places.

 

[dougai]

yah def more live rock
also the tang doesnt look a full healthy yellow, prob just from the pics but just making sure

 

[bluelagoon]

yep, more live rock is what popped out at me first... maybe that's why the eel has been stressed? i was just reading your other thread...

 

[billiejean]

ok, so live rock and take out the undergravel filter? Should I have another filter system on the back then? and yes the tang has a beautiful yellow to her at first been a few weeks now and she is now a pale yellow noticed that last night.. I do not know why! oh how I love my freshwater tanks.. But I will learn how to care for this one and make it right and love it just the same.

 

[airforceb2]

After you get used to this one...your freshwater tanks will slowly start to become salt!!

 

[dogstar]

Do you know how or if your brother did water changes. Is there testing kits to test the water parimitures? I think a water change could be the best thing right now if it hasnt been done in a while. Let us know if you have salt mix and some kind of drinking water filters ect. May have to buy 25 or so gals of RO water from Wallmart ect. and some salt mix to make new water with.

 

[hot883]

When the eel gets out (notice I said when not if) and you find him all covered in carpet fuzz, don't panic. Just put him back in the tank no matter how stiff he seems. NO openings at all or he will get out. EGGCRATE is the only way to keep him in.
Next, more, more, more LR.
The underground filter will haunt you. Take it out and make sure you put in SAND.
That tang needs atleast a 90 gal. tank, (6 feet of swim room) Just info. I do not know what size tank that is just telling ya. He does look pale in my opinion because he is stressed out. (no where to hide). What are you feeding him? He needs seaweed too, to survive or nori sheets. Just my $.03

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by airforceb2
After you get used to this one...your freshwater tanks will slowly start to become salt!!
I don't think I'll ever change my freshwater tanks but am definately thinking I'll be needing a new room adding to my house just for all my aquariums.. I've already put 2 of my ten gallons into the walls as we are running out of space for all these aquariums. I've been checking out alot of the photos everyone is sharing on this site and I've seen many beautiful set ups and can't wait to get started making this one just as beautiful.

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
Do you know how or if your brother did water changes. Is there testing kits to test the water parimitures? I think a water change could be the best thing right now if it hasnt been done in a while. Let us know if you have salt mix and some kind of drinking water filters ect. May have to buy 25 or so gals of RO water from Wallmart ect. and some salt mix to make new water with.
testing kits as in strips? no, I do not see anything like that. There is a hydrometer and it is reading at 32 or 1.024 which is in the red section. As far as water changes I do not know if he's ever done that before... I know his tank has been moved quite a few times before it finally ended up at my house and if I recall he always found a way to save the water that he took out to be able to move the tank and then just re-added the water back into it. My brother always popped in to check on it and do whatever else needed to be done to it..I only had to feed the fish! But now, I have to learn everything and I'm so overwhelmed I'm ready to give it away... and I don't want to do that..It's the only thing I have that my brother cherished so very much!
To do a water change does it have to be completely drained? and what do I do with the fish while doing this?
One more question..I have some sea shells I could put in there for the eel to hide around/under would they be safe if boiled/cleaned real good?
He's still not eating.. and the tang is still real pale..
BillieJean

 

[misty7850]

Hi BillieJean,, I agree with the rest, get rid of the undergravel filter. Add more live rock and add live sand. Might want to put blue or black background behind tank.
I have both freshwater and saltwater tanks (1 each) and I luv em both.. :jumping:

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by hot883
When the eel gets out (notice I said when not if) and you find him all covered in carpet fuzz, don't panic. Just put him back in the tank no matter how stiff he seems. NO openings at all or he will get out. EGGCRATE is the only way to keep him in.
Next, more, more, more LR.
The underground filter will haunt you. Take it out and make sure you put in SAND.
That tang needs atleast a 90 gal. tank, (6 feet of swim room) Just info. I do not know what size tank that is just telling ya. He does look pale in my opinion because he is stressed out. (no where to hide). What are you feeding him? He needs seaweed too, to survive or nori sheets. Just my $.03
oh my gosh, i'm not liking the pet store I speak to for advice.. They said give the eel some krill he'll be fine..then give the tang these flakes and she'll be fine.. grrrr I can care for the puffer I have been for 4 months and no problems..he's spoiled to death..loves to eat right out of my hand.. and I pet him each and every day! But then again my brother has had him for quite some time..these others are newbies and I have no idea what to do... Best get out my notebook..all this information is frying my brain..
thank-u so very much for all of the help ya'll are offering!

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by misty7850
Hi BillieJean,, I agree with the rest, get rid of the undergravel filter. Add more live rock and add live sand. Might want to put blue or black background behind tank.
I have both freshwater and saltwater tanks (1 each) and I luv em both.. :jumping:
once I take out the undergravel filter will I need to add another filter system to tank? and can I just reach in there and take it out or is that too disturbing for the fish?
where do I get live sand at?
Thank-you
BillieJean

 

[dogstar]

IMO you should not remove the UF yet untill you can test and do water changes, It could just stir up bad stuff and make the water worst.
Water changes are not to hard but sound scary.
You can get a couple of clean 5 gl buckets and a bag or box of salt mix from the LFS and 10 gls of RO water and put enough mix in the water to bring the SG up to 1.025 and mix over night with a small power head or air stone. Test the SG and try to get the temp close to what the tanks temp is and then just remove 10 gls. from the tank and pour in the new water.
Get a marine test kit that test Amonia, PH, nitrite and nitrate. Most standered kits test theas 4 things but should also tset Phoshates and alkalinity as well. Thease test can get expencive but over time you can aquire them. I would change the 10 gls and see if theres an improvement. Probly should to a nother 10 or even more if you can. want hurt to even do half- 25 gl. if possible.
Like any other thing there will be different brands ect. but if money becomes an issue then cheapest at this point will be better than nothing. What city are you located in and maybe someone can recomend a good LFS for you.

 

[billiejean]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
IMO you should not remove the UF yet untill you can test and do water changes, It could just stir up bad stuff and make the water worst.
Water changes are not to hard but sound scary.
You can get a couple of clean 5 gl buckets and a bag or box of salt mix from the LFS and 10 gls of RO water and put enough mix in the water to bring the SG up to 1.025 and mix over night with a small power head or air stone. Test the SG and try to get the temp close to what the tanks temp is and then just remove 10 gls. from the tank and pour in the new water.
Get a marine test kit that test Amonia, PH, nitrite and nitrate. Most standered kits test theas 4 things but should also tset Phoshates and alkalinity as well. Thease test can get expencive but over time you can aquire them. I would change the 10 gls and see if theres an improvement. Probly should to a nother 10 or even more if you can. want hurt to even do half- 25 gl. if possible.
Like any other thing there will be different brands ect. but if money becomes an issue then cheapest at this point will be better than nothing. What city are you located in and maybe someone can recomend a good LFS for you.
Ok, I'm off to do some shopping tomorrow. I'm located in Zanesville Ohio..not many stores to choose from but i'm gettin good at internet shopping..haha
thanks for the help
BillieJean

 

[bluelagoon]

where is that at in Ohio? Zanesville?