cicadae
New Member
Hello! This is the kind of posting that can make the forum perfectionists really cranky. If you are not prone towards irritability in regards to inept newbies, read on...
We both work full time and that means week-ends and late nights also. We got a pretty 55 gallon half moon tank (we are short people and it is almost 36 inches deep and set on a stand. A ladder is required for us to work with this and even then we cannot completely reach the bottom). We set it up with help but it seemed that every week something happened. The live rocks would avalanche (repeatedly) especially after the sleeper gobies did some heavy digging beneath them. We got this gorgeous green star serpent...that nobody warned us about and it ate several fish and got big really fast (that took some work removing). We thought we could change the filter medium and the canister opened with a pop! and water went everywhere! An anemone turned out to be the not so nice for fish type and it got a few little guys (removing it was a trip). And then we fell in love with corals and promptly killed the soft ones off (PH bounced). Finally we worried so much about the lawnmower blennie not eating that we probably overloaded the cycle and killed the rest of the guys off.
We have removed MOST of the bodies. The corals are not unhappy. We are in process of correcting the water and are aware that we have done every possible newbie mistake and probably more. We are irrationally resolving our grief over losing Dorie, our beautiful yellow tang by avoiding looking at the aquarium or making comments about how we are" just beginners". Needless to say they were all very nice creatures and the experience of their demises has not been happy.
We do have an assistant who knows his fish and his aquariums. He can come monthly and sometimes runs over when we are desparate. He is not usually available on short notice and our knee jerk purchases and changes to the tank are not his fault either. He thinks we should keep trying. He is working on fixing our water and has ordered a wonderful set of LED lights to please the corals.
Another thing we are beginning to wonder is...is it true that aquariums are these peaceful zen type experiences as commercials hype them to be or...are they indeed mini micro societies much like our own where feuds, wars, petty disagreements, canibalism, dismemerment, and territory problems exist? I work with traumatized children as a mental health therapist. Coming home to find my pretty sweet whatchacallit eating or trying to eat my other pretty thingie can be stressful.
Please don't be overly critical. I have been deadly honest with you and if it helps, I am an awesome koi pond owner. To my credit, I did not overstock my tank (I dont think) and I did read up on the hobby and did not place the fish until the water was completely cycled.
Here are our questions:
1. Is there a way we can regroup without weekly catastrophies?
2. We are willing to cut down to 3-4 fish. Can you suggest a nice group that will LIKE each other and not hide behind or under the rocks?
3. Is there a way to maintain this tank without sacrificing many hours each week-end (I think I have the live rock avalanches under control)?
4. Is this the type of hobby that requires persons with more time on their hands and fewer responsibilities than we have?
5. (UGH) Should we consider turning towards fresh water?
Given the fact that we can invest in the monthly helper and can afford to stock the tank (money is not the issue as yet)...
What would you do?
Thanks
We both work full time and that means week-ends and late nights also. We got a pretty 55 gallon half moon tank (we are short people and it is almost 36 inches deep and set on a stand. A ladder is required for us to work with this and even then we cannot completely reach the bottom). We set it up with help but it seemed that every week something happened. The live rocks would avalanche (repeatedly) especially after the sleeper gobies did some heavy digging beneath them. We got this gorgeous green star serpent...that nobody warned us about and it ate several fish and got big really fast (that took some work removing). We thought we could change the filter medium and the canister opened with a pop! and water went everywhere! An anemone turned out to be the not so nice for fish type and it got a few little guys (removing it was a trip). And then we fell in love with corals and promptly killed the soft ones off (PH bounced). Finally we worried so much about the lawnmower blennie not eating that we probably overloaded the cycle and killed the rest of the guys off.
We have removed MOST of the bodies. The corals are not unhappy. We are in process of correcting the water and are aware that we have done every possible newbie mistake and probably more. We are irrationally resolving our grief over losing Dorie, our beautiful yellow tang by avoiding looking at the aquarium or making comments about how we are" just beginners". Needless to say they were all very nice creatures and the experience of their demises has not been happy.
We do have an assistant who knows his fish and his aquariums. He can come monthly and sometimes runs over when we are desparate. He is not usually available on short notice and our knee jerk purchases and changes to the tank are not his fault either. He thinks we should keep trying. He is working on fixing our water and has ordered a wonderful set of LED lights to please the corals.
Another thing we are beginning to wonder is...is it true that aquariums are these peaceful zen type experiences as commercials hype them to be or...are they indeed mini micro societies much like our own where feuds, wars, petty disagreements, canibalism, dismemerment, and territory problems exist? I work with traumatized children as a mental health therapist. Coming home to find my pretty sweet whatchacallit eating or trying to eat my other pretty thingie can be stressful.
Please don't be overly critical. I have been deadly honest with you and if it helps, I am an awesome koi pond owner. To my credit, I did not overstock my tank (I dont think) and I did read up on the hobby and did not place the fish until the water was completely cycled.
Here are our questions:
1. Is there a way we can regroup without weekly catastrophies?
2. We are willing to cut down to 3-4 fish. Can you suggest a nice group that will LIKE each other and not hide behind or under the rocks?
3. Is there a way to maintain this tank without sacrificing many hours each week-end (I think I have the live rock avalanches under control)?
4. Is this the type of hobby that requires persons with more time on their hands and fewer responsibilities than we have?
5. (UGH) Should we consider turning towards fresh water?
Given the fact that we can invest in the monthly helper and can afford to stock the tank (money is not the issue as yet)...
What would you do?
Thanks
