Please help I think my yellow tang is in trouble

sassy16

Member
I have 3 big pieces of live rock! I don't know how much you will be able to see but added a few picks
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The first one was before I added the live rock because the original lfs sold me a fox face with flake food and didn't say it needed live rock or anything but flake good. Now I don't use flake food at all only frozen and the jar of flake is going to waste! Lol
 

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by sassy16 http:///t/397271/please-help-i-think-my-yellow-tang-is-in-trouble#post_3540686
Well I was told to change 25% of the water once a month. Then about about three weeks in the LF S told me to do a water change so I did. Then about two weeks later they told me I should change 5% of the water one week and 10% the following week and change water every single week so I did that. Then after two times of that I went in my tank was in a cycle and they said not to change so I have not changed sence and that was about three weeks ago.
It sounds like the tank "soft cycled". This type of cycling can be used when you have fish in the tank too early and you need to do Water Changes to keep the inhabitants alive while the tank tries to build up it Biological filter (Here is a helpful link on cycling a SW fish tank... https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling) SW tanks are a lot of fun, but they do require a lot of research.
I purchased my water from them and they mix it. That was easier than doing it myself. They tell me to add fresh water daily because of evaporation but I don't because I really have no evaporation. The tank is a corner bow with a glass top and I don't know why but I really don't get much evaporation and I check my salt level daily and it's normally right in the middle of what the tester says is okay. Sorry if there are mistakes I'm using talk to text. Lol.
This might be another issue. SW tanks need open tops for good gas exchange to keep the water oxygenated. If you cover the top you limit how much fresh air comes in contact with the waters surface... This could lead to low oxygen levels in the water, causing stress to the fish.
I am sure that all if this is very overwhelming (its a ton of info), but you seem to really have the passion for it. Keep at it and research. Your LFS sounds like they are on the better end of the spectrum, but they still are in business. I always like to get my information here and then cross check it with the LFS. You would be surprised just how wrong they can be sometimes. I'm pulling for you guys!!!
 

sassy16

Member

Looks like first one didn't go thru. Oh well here is another of some rock. This tank is set up to glow under the blue lights so there are fake glow stuff in it but I have removed some of it.
 

sassy16

Member
No jay other than in the trunk of my car when I am driving!!! Lmao! I just dump it in very slowly. Usually all the salt is dissolved if that helps! I'm telling you I can train a mean horse but know nothing about fish!! I don't even eat fish!! Nothing! Blah!! I would much rather look at them. I tried chickens and gave them away cause they kept dying god they were hard! This can't be any worse than them! Lol
 

sweatervest13

Active Member
After seeing the pics of the rocks and such. I do not think you have enough rock for the biological filter on the tank... Do you have your own test kits?

Here is another link.. This one is on the three types of filtration for a SW tank. Its a good read. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/beginner
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Good point w gas exchange. I shouldn't admit this lol but I have a glass top on mine. Its not totally sealed and I have added aeration for that reason, but sv could be on to it there
 

sassy16

Member
Sweatervest the back corner is open where the piping is. I covered it because I didn't think the fish would enjoy toys in it! lol it's in a 2 year olds room. Is the back corner enough. There is a black piece of plastic for that area but it sits at an angle because of the piping so it is pretty open back there.
 

sassy16

Member
About 2 inches were the fish are and the back corner where the piping is. Is that enough or should I do something else. I can't leave it open for fear of objects being tossed in it. I should have never allowed it to go in his room but I didn't know I just wanted a fresh water glow tank but nooooo moms always gotta go bigger and better! Lol
 

sassy16

Member
So will some fish just adapt like the clowns, fox face and shrimp? I'm confused because they are all doing great! It's just the new kids. And I had put a coral Beaty in there and she did great but I had to catch her and the coral bandit cause they killed a cardinal. I put the blood shrimp in about 3 weeks ago and he is happy in the rocks. Why are some good and others hate it!
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Welcome to sw lol literally there are thousands of fish out there all adapt differently. Clowns and fox are hardy fish that can handle alot. Angels, tangs, butterflies not so much.
 

sassy16

Member
Ok what others are really hardy like clowns and fox face because that's all I am buying from now on. Tang is dying and crabs want him so I keep pulling crabs off him. I feel bad
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Aww sorry. Well first wait. Give your tank some time to balance, bc something is off.I would also add more live rock. If filtration Is part of your issue, lr helps bio filtration greatly.
Now to fish. Dotty backs are mostly hardy just research what kind, some have attitude. Fire fish, wrasses, royal gramma. If possible look for captive raised fish. There much hardier
 
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