new here but not so new to aqualife

fishyfish · 02-15-2008, 05:31 AM

Hi I live in Naples, Florida. I have a 72 gal bowfront tank that I've had for about 4 yrs. It started as a fish only tank with live rock and live sand.

I did go too fast even though I read all the info and was warned not to.
I guess I was thinking weeks and they meant months (hee hee)

I started with damsels to cycle. Added a hermit crab and several small snails.
Then a mythrax crab.
My first 3 purchases of fish was a Coral Beauty Angel, a Maroon Clown and 3 chromis. We discovered a stray crab that must've come with the rock. We also found another mythrax crab. Both the mythrax's died within a month, maybe that bigger stray crab got them. The Angel fish died in 3 days, he was injured. Maybe from the crab (it was quite big) or maybe the Clown picked on him.
One of the chromis fish died. We then bought a Keyhole Angel, a Racoon Butterfly and 2 more chromis and more snails as they died off pretty quickly.
The chromis fish fought and killed each other off.

We had the Angel fish several months and he died. The Butterfly fish lasted a full year. He died suddenly but we did have an anemone that he nipped at and then wouldn't eat for a few days but that was several months before he died.

We still have the maroon clown. We bought a rose anemone that he just loves

We bought a yellow tang a month after the butterfly died Finally we started a few corals. We bought some mushrooms.
Then a polyp which didn't last long. I think we didn't have enough
filtration. We now have a brain which is doing good.

This is an expensive hobby but well worth it to me.
I enjoy changing water and messing around with the rock and discovering
new fish.

We learned a lot. Like angel fish aren't necessarily good for a new tank
and an inexperienced aquarist.

We've lost many fish. Had a dragon wrasse, a couple of scooter bennies
an engineer goby (wouldn't eat, lasted 3 days) a royal gramma, several
angels over the 4 yrs. We had a starry blenny that we loved that disappeared. Maybe he died inside a rock and the crabs got him.

We're still looking to get into more corals. We try to keep a nice variety.
My mate likes fish mostly and I like critters and corals and just a few fish.
So we now have 4 fish, a hermit crab, an anemone, several mushrooms, a brain coral and a shrimp.

It's a fun hobby, an expensive hobby and at times aggravating.

tippMANn98 · 02-15-2008, 10:06 AM

Welcome to RS....I live in New Port Richey, FL(north of tampa) Could you maybe elaborate on your tank setup, IE-filter, pumps, skimmer, lighting...maybe we can get you back on the right track to not loose fish...

AQTCJAK · 02-15-2008, 10:33 AM

Welcome Aboard

goldenmean · 02-15-2008, 10:44 AM

Howdy Hooooo!
Welcome to RS!

lcstorc · 02-15-2008, 10:45 AM

Welcome to RS from the other side of the state.

framerguy · 02-15-2008, 10:54 AM

Welcome to RS!! You've come to the right place. I'm with Daniel...tell us about your setup and the water parameters you are keeping because you shouldn't be losing that many fish.

vdituri · 02-15-2008, 11:50 AM

Welcome aboard!
Sounds like you've had a busy reefing experience so far.
Please do posts some stats about your setup.
And maybe some pics? hint hint?

fishyfish · 02-15-2008, 03:51 PM

If you must know...I bought a new skimmer (Prism Pro by Red Sea)
and replaced the lights recently. (we use 65 watt florescent coralife
2 actinic and 2 50/50). We had a Rio powerhead as the main pump (2500) and now we've switched to a magnetic drive utility pump 950 GPH which is much more efficient. We replaced two maxi-jet 1200 submersible powerheads with one powerhead by Tunze. All those other powerheads heated the water too much during the summer and I had to put a fan under the aquarium to cool it down. Now these new pumps are much better. More efficient and less heat.

Everything is great now. I was just saying I had lost fish over the 4 yr period while learning. Sometimes I knew why...like once the main pump needed to be replaced and I lost a fish due to not enough aeration. Sometimes a fish dies to wake us up that there is a problem. Sometimes a fish just won't eat. We've experimented with various foods and have come up with a good variety for the fish we have. Brine Shrimp Plus, Prime Reef, Sometimes regular brine shrimp (frozen) sometimes live brine shrimp. Sometimes Cyclops, and always fresh algae strips for the tangs. (not all at once of course).

My Maroon Clown lived through all those problems and more. I had ick twice early on, a huge algae bloom once. It's frustrating but a learning experience.

02-15-2008, 05:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
fishyfish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	new here but not so new to aqualife Hi I live in Naples, Florida. I have a 72 gal bowfront tank that I've had for about 4 yrs. It started as a fish only tank with live rock and live sand. I did go too fast even though I read all the info and was warned not to. I guess I was thinking weeks and they meant months (hee hee) I started with damsels to cycle. Added a hermit crab and several small snails. Then a mythrax crab. My first 3 purchases of fish was a Coral Beauty Angel, a Maroon Clown and 3 chromis. We discovered a stray crab that must've come with the rock. We also found another mythrax crab. Both the mythrax's died within a month, maybe that bigger stray crab got them. The Angel fish died in 3 days, he was injured. Maybe from the crab (it was quite big) or maybe the Clown picked on him. One of the chromis fish died. We then bought a Keyhole Angel, a Racoon Butterfly and 2 more chromis and more snails as they died off pretty quickly. The chromis fish fought and killed each other off. We had the Angel fish several months and he died. The Butterfly fish lasted a full year. He died suddenly but we did have an anemone that he nipped at and then wouldn't eat for a few days but that was several months before he died. We still have the maroon clown. We bought a rose anemone that he just loves We bought a yellow tang a month after the butterfly died Finally we started a few corals. We bought some mushrooms. Then a polyp which didn't last long. I think we didn't have enough filtration. We now have a brain which is doing good. This is an expensive hobby but well worth it to me. I enjoy changing water and messing around with the rock and discovering new fish. We learned a lot. Like angel fish aren't necessarily good for a new tank and an inexperienced aquarist. We've lost many fish. Had a dragon wrasse, a couple of scooter bennies an engineer goby (wouldn't eat, lasted 3 days) a royal gramma, several angels over the 4 yrs. We had a starry blenny that we loved that disappeared. Maybe he died inside a rock and the crabs got him. We're still looking to get into more corals. We try to keep a nice variety. My mate likes fish mostly and I like critters and corals and just a few fish. So we now have 4 fish, a hermit crab, an anemone, several mushrooms, a brain coral and a shrimp. It's a fun hobby, an expensive hobby and at times aggravating.

02-15-2008, 10:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,937 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: new here but not so new to aqualife Welcome Aboard __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

02-15-2008, 10:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
goldenmean Beautiful Katamari Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,063 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: new here but not so new to aqualife Howdy Hooooo! Welcome to RS! __________________ A 55g link in the GoldenChain My Second Quarantine Tank 2 (+) Year Retrospective of a 12g Nano Jeff What You Think Upon Grows... Have a Smooth Day!

02-15-2008, 10:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,473 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: new here but not so new to aqualife Welcome to RS from the other side of the state. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

02-15-2008, 10:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,326 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: new here but not so new to aqualife Welcome to RS!! You've come to the right place. I'm with Daniel...tell us about your setup and the water parameters you are keeping because you shouldn't be losing that many fish. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 390gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 150g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

02-15-2008, 11:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,725 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: new here but not so new to aqualife Welcome aboard! Sounds like you've had a busy reefing experience so far. Please do posts some stats about your setup. And maybe some pics? hint hint? __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

02-15-2008, 03:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
fishyfish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: new here but not so new to aqualife If you must know...I bought a new skimmer (Prism Pro by Red Sea) and replaced the lights recently. (we use 65 watt florescent coralife 2 actinic and 2 50/50). We had a Rio powerhead as the main pump (2500) and now we've switched to a magnetic drive utility pump 950 GPH which is much more efficient. We replaced two maxi-jet 1200 submersible powerheads with one powerhead by Tunze. All those other powerheads heated the water too much during the summer and I had to put a fan under the aquarium to cool it down. Now these new pumps are much better. More efficient and less heat. Everything is great now. I was just saying I had lost fish over the 4 yr period while learning. Sometimes I knew why...like once the main pump needed to be replaced and I lost a fish due to not enough aeration. Sometimes a fish dies to wake us up that there is a problem. Sometimes a fish just won't eat. We've experimented with various foods and have come up with a good variety for the fish we have. Brine Shrimp Plus, Prime Reef, Sometimes regular brine shrimp (frozen) sometimes live brine shrimp. Sometimes Cyclops, and always fresh algae strips for the tangs. (not all at once of course). My Maroon Clown lived through all those problems and more. I had ick twice early on, a huge algae bloom once. It's frustrating but a learning experience.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)