poor frogspawn coral
- Thread starter quiltingmom
- Start date
ophiura
Active Member
It is unlikely, IMO, in a tank with LR and algae growth with pods, for fish like clownfish to starve. One of the reasons to use LR is to provide a NATURAL food source to fish. Specialized feeders, or fish in FO tanks are at risk of starving. IMO, it is really truly rare for generalized feeders in tanks with LR (and new tanks with a clear sign of a nutrient issue) to actually be starving. I do not believe that is an issue. Feeding flakes twice a day, in a tank with LR, pods and some mysis every once in awhile??? Those fish are not starving, IMO.
I regularly hear of peppermint shrimp eating corals such as these. After all, it is not that far off - we put them in tanks to eat aiptasia, an anemone, a very very close relative of those corals. It is not surprising at all to me to be honest. BUT they will also readily eat dying corals. THis sounds like a young tank, and I don't believe parameters were posted. My first assessment is that the coral may have been dying, and the pep. cleaned up. Regardless it is possible it ate it otherwise also.
The reason you nitrates are increasing - apart from true issues with the test kits themselves - is the fact that it accumulates in most tanks while ammonia and nitrite are converted. So nitrate is the end of the road and it builds up until water changes or other export (algae) uses it.
I regularly hear of peppermint shrimp eating corals such as these. After all, it is not that far off - we put them in tanks to eat aiptasia, an anemone, a very very close relative of those corals. It is not surprising at all to me to be honest. BUT they will also readily eat dying corals. THis sounds like a young tank, and I don't believe parameters were posted. My first assessment is that the coral may have been dying, and the pep. cleaned up. Regardless it is possible it ate it otherwise also.
The reason you nitrates are increasing - apart from true issues with the test kits themselves - is the fact that it accumulates in most tanks while ammonia and nitrite are converted. So nitrate is the end of the road and it builds up until water changes or other export (algae) uses it.
ophiura
Active Member
IMO, your aquaclear filter is not a sufficient filter overall for the tank (it is a good freshwater filter but insufficient for a saltwater tank)...but if you have LR and enough powerheads for circulation, technically your LR can carry the load. But overall we would really need to look into the setup of your tank in detail, and all parameters.
chaseter
Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3137636
ok....you don't feed your whole tank just 2 measly flakes do you?
mine get mysis, + other good meaty foods....and a heck of a lot more than 2 pieces
No way. I feed flakes, pellets, and they get krill. All of my inhabitants are well fed. They don't try to eat each other or my decorations. I was saying that when I feed, the shrimp easily eat two flakes or pellets a piece. So, the thread maker only feeding two flakes to everything is crazy.
http:///forum/post/3137636
ok....you don't feed your whole tank just 2 measly flakes do you?
mine get mysis, + other good meaty foods....and a heck of a lot more than 2 pieces
No way. I feed flakes, pellets, and they get krill. All of my inhabitants are well fed. They don't try to eat each other or my decorations. I was saying that when I feed, the shrimp easily eat two flakes or pellets a piece. So, the thread maker only feeding two flakes to everything is crazy.
ophiura
Active Member
I suspect she does feed a pinch, and that each gets about that much. It would be impossible, IMO, to isolate the fish so that each only gets two flakes...either that or they are incredibly well trained!
But you are correct, I think there is also potentially more and different issues with the coral/pep shrimp...perhaps...how long have you had the coral? Do you have a, well, "before" picture of that coral?
But you are correct, I think there is also potentially more and different issues with the coral/pep shrimp...perhaps...how long have you had the coral? Do you have a, well, "before" picture of that coral?
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
http:///forum/post/3137332
twice a day with flakes is PLENTY of food. too much if you ask me for what you have BUT it just so happens flakes suck (in terms of preserving water quality, sinking, phosphates ect). Now naturally just flakes and mysis once a week lacks variety but twice a day with a staple flake or pellet will certaintly meet their nutritional requirements if they are eating it. My fish get fed every other day (either frozen mussels, krill, mysis or squid and formula two pellets when I'm too lazy to grade off the cube...and a single cube last me WEEKS. grading off a small corner is plenty for my sixline, false perc and gramma. I would NEVER use a whole cube a day and even when I had 4 anthias, a midas blenny and two tangs I didn't use but a fourth of a cube daily in their twice a day feedings. seperate algae sheets for the tangs of course).
Your peppermint shrimp is eating your coral because sometimes they do plain and simple. seems like every 3 months somebody complains about this. I've had peppermint shrimp and they never tried to eat any corals. most peoples dont just like most peoples tangs and foxface dont but some do. Peppermint shrimp are MUCH more likely than alot of fish we chance on eating corals. After all they are often bought to eat stinging aitapsia anemone's so the occasional specimen attempting a coral shouldn't suprise anyone.
Just remove it or take it back. I hope you didn't just watch a $5 shrimp down your frogspawn with no intervention. I had a sallylight foot eat some zooanthid and he was gone within 10 minutes and I had to tear the tank apart to catch it.
+1 Fish have more to eat in a reef than just the food you feed them...they pick at the rocks all day for a reason. In a freshwater tank the fish only have what you feed them, not so in a saltwater tank. Some critters just eat coral ...I had a Hippo Tang eat up all my xenia.
http:///forum/post/3137332
twice a day with flakes is PLENTY of food. too much if you ask me for what you have BUT it just so happens flakes suck (in terms of preserving water quality, sinking, phosphates ect). Now naturally just flakes and mysis once a week lacks variety but twice a day with a staple flake or pellet will certaintly meet their nutritional requirements if they are eating it. My fish get fed every other day (either frozen mussels, krill, mysis or squid and formula two pellets when I'm too lazy to grade off the cube...and a single cube last me WEEKS. grading off a small corner is plenty for my sixline, false perc and gramma. I would NEVER use a whole cube a day and even when I had 4 anthias, a midas blenny and two tangs I didn't use but a fourth of a cube daily in their twice a day feedings. seperate algae sheets for the tangs of course).
Your peppermint shrimp is eating your coral because sometimes they do plain and simple. seems like every 3 months somebody complains about this. I've had peppermint shrimp and they never tried to eat any corals. most peoples dont just like most peoples tangs and foxface dont but some do. Peppermint shrimp are MUCH more likely than alot of fish we chance on eating corals. After all they are often bought to eat stinging aitapsia anemone's so the occasional specimen attempting a coral shouldn't suprise anyone.
Just remove it or take it back. I hope you didn't just watch a $5 shrimp down your frogspawn with no intervention. I had a sallylight foot eat some zooanthid and he was gone within 10 minutes and I had to tear the tank apart to catch it.
+1 Fish have more to eat in a reef than just the food you feed them...they pick at the rocks all day for a reason. In a freshwater tank the fish only have what you feed them, not so in a saltwater tank. Some critters just eat coral ...I had a Hippo Tang eat up all my xenia.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Just for clarification can you post a pic of your shrimp