Need Help With A Tank And A Poorly Clown Fish...

[Ryefish]

Water changes... Work out about 30% or so. I have to put two buckets of fresh water in every four days or so because of evaporation. Ive been doing water changes once per week, two buckets of fresh and two buckets of salt. Remember this is all dechlorinated tap water (CRINGE). If the salt is low for any reason i pull a bucket of water out, add salt and leave it to dissolve and then put it back in the tank.

Im testing the water twice or three times per week if i get chance but only ph, ammonia ,nitrite and nitrates.

Think i am going to visit my friend next weekend and get a full range of tests done. See where abouts we are.

Clown fish - still swims around, goes mad in the current, eats like a frenzied beast. He hasnt changed in himself. I hope he will be ok until monday i have a gecko being looked after at the vets this weekend, shame i couldnt drop the fish off too lol


ETA: its just dawned on me that i have no idea what the tap water tests as. #41####! I am fighting a constant battle with aptasia aswell (not sure how thats spelt) which sucks

 

[lljdma06]

Water changes... Work out about 30% or so. I have to put two buckets of fresh water in every four days or so because of evaporation. Ive been doing water changes once per week, two buckets of fresh and two buckets of salt. Remember this is all dechlorinated tap water (CRINGE). If the salt is low for any reason i pull a bucket of water out, add salt and leave it to dissolve and then put it back in the tank.

Im testing the water twice or three times per week if i get chance but only ph, ammonia ,nitrite and nitrates.

Think i am going to visit my friend next weekend and get a full range of tests done. See where abouts we are.

Clown fish - still swims around, goes mad in the current, eats like a frenzied beast. He hasnt changed in himself. I hope he will be ok until monday i have a gecko being looked after at the vets this weekend, shame i couldnt drop the fish off too lol


ETA: its just dawned on me that i have no idea what the tap water tests as. #41####! I am fighting a constant battle with aptasia aswell (not sure how thats spelt) which sucks

Ah geez, this is with tapwater?! You may well be fighting a losing battle. Poor you, I'd be cringing too. I'd go get the full range of tests done. Have them test your tap water too, so you know what you're up against. They do sell distilled water at the grocers. I'm wondering if you couldn't do a gradual replacing with RO or distilled water?

If the clownfish is behaving ok, he should be fine until Monday. I'd worry if he wasn't swimming or eating.

Aiptasia, I think, is the spelling. I have the occasional one that I need to zap, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Ryefish]

yes.. tapwater I can get hold of 5gallons of R.O water for £2, and even my own unit for £65. I have no idea how i would go about getting it plumbed in though, because we don't even have a hose pipe connection in the building! (filling a stacked system of tanks is a complete nightmare)

If i can get to using R.O water, should i gradually perform a 100% water change?
I am wondering if i could get away with just completely moving everything to a brand new tank, one that is possibly 20 litres bigger and has a hood already fitted.

The other technician at my work (shes on maternity leave atm) was told by a lecturer once - about 2 years ago - that the tap water in our region was completely fine to use in marine tanks, so the buying of R.O water was completely ditched and hasn't been reconsidered again since.

I am writing an email now to my manager to try and discuss this whole thing.

 

[lljdma06]

yes.. tapwater I can get hold of 5gallons of R.O water for £2, and even my own unit for £65. I have no idea how i would go about getting it plumbed in though, because we don't even have a hose pipe connection in the building! (filling a stacked system of tanks is a complete nightmare)

If i can get to using R.O water, should i gradually perform a 100% water change?
I am wondering if i could get away with just completely moving everything to a brand new tank, one that is possibly 20 litres bigger and has a hood already fitted.

The other technician at my work (shes on maternity leave atm) was told by a lecturer once - about 2 years ago - that the tap water in our region was completely fine to use in marine tanks, so the buying of R.O water was completely ditched and hasn't been reconsidered again since.

I am writing an email now to my manager to try and discuss this whole thing.

Well, the way I see it. This is a Marine display tank at a LFS or pet store, am I right? I may be wrong. You are ultimately selling a product. I hate saying that, but it's true. Nobody's going to buy your marine products if the display tank isn't up to snuff. You're manager better get with the program and give you what you need to create a viable system that looks good and sells stuff.

This means a healthy system that's running the proper circulation, lighting, and using the good Marine techniques that you can relay to your patrons. You're doing the best you can, Ryefish, I know you are, but they gotta help you out here.

Water quality can change in 2 years. If this where me, I'd start fresh and do a tank on your terms. You know what you're doing and aren't afraid to ask questions and have good regard for the health of the animals in your keep.

 

[Ryefish]

This is technically a display tank, at an educational establishment rather than a shop. Its meant to be used as an educational tool, teaching people how to care for a marine system and also giving them the chance to work on one when they most likely otherwise wouldnt get the chance. I have been asked to teach a module on Aquatics which i imagine would require some work on marine aquariums, with a terrible example of a marine tank lol

 

[lljdma06]

This is technically a display tank, at an educational establishment rather than a shop. Its meant to be used as an educational tool, teaching people how to care for a marine system and also giving them the chance to work on one when they most likely otherwise wouldnt get the chance. I have been asked to teach a module on Aquatics which i imagine would require some work on marine aquariums, with a terrible example of a marine tank lol

Well, there ya go, if you are educating, the tank needs to reflect certain standards.

Ryefish have you read through my Caribbean journal? It's a 36g bowfront, but with a 40g you could do something similar and it would be a very cool system to keep? It also makes less heavy demands on equipment.

L

 

[Ryefish]

No, i havent had chance to look through any journals yet. I will take some time tomorrow to read yours and a few others. Im using my phone atm which doesnt agree with this forum all the time haha

 

[lljdma06]

No, i havent had chance to look through any journals yet. I will take some time tomorrow to read yours and a few others. Im using my phone atm which doesnt agree with this forum all the time haha

Oh goodness, don't I know it. All the mod mistakes I make on this forum are made when I'm using my iPhone.

 

[Ryefish]

Back at work today so time for an update:

The clown fish is looking a hell of a lot better for no reason at all

Water tests:

Tap water:
PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 5.0


Tank as of 5minutes ago:
PH: went straight to 8.8 and that's the highest that the card reads, so god knows
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 20

I turned the skimmer off on Friday so it hasn't been running all weekend. My powerhead is doing a fantastic job without the skimmer moving water around. Nothing else seems any different

I sent an essay to my manager the other day so I will try and catch up with her about that later today after the mad rush of students has been and gone.

So, the problems currently are the PH and the Nitrates.


Any ideas??

 

[Ryefish]

I forgot...
According to a broken hydrometer

Salinity: 30 - SG: just above 1.022

 

[lljdma06]

Back at work today so time for an update:

The clown fish is looking a hell of a lot better for no reason at all

Water tests:

Tap water:
PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 5.0


Tank as of 5minutes ago:
PH: went straight to 8.8 and that's the highest that the card reads, so god knows
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 20

I turned the skimmer off on Friday so it hasn't been running all weekend. My powerhead is doing a fantastic job without the skimmer moving water around. Nothing else seems any different

I sent an essay to my manager the other day so I will try and catch up with her about that later today after the mad rush of students has been and gone.

So, the problems currently are the PH and the Nitrates.


Any ideas??

The Nitrates aren't that bad from the tap, I expected worse, tbh. Something however is causing, besides fish waste, an accumulation of nitrates in the tank. With the water changes at 5ppm, even with reset, you shouldn't really have 20ppm. You've already brought that 20ppm down from what, 60? With the amount of waterchanges you are doing, something, IMO is amiss. For the pH...

What salt are you using?
What's the substrate again?
What pH test kit are you using?

I forgot...
According to a broken hydrometer

Salinity: 30 - SG: just above 1.022

Bleh, next item on your list, a refractometer. You are maintaining their tank, the least they can do is give you the proper equipment to measure specific gravity. Tell them they are being cheap and you won't get good results until you get a refractometer.

Poor you, I give you hugs! You're doing a good job for what you've been given. Glad the clown is on the mend.

L

 

[Ryefish]

haha thanks! atleast someone understands the work going in to this!

The nitrates were brought down from 60-ish but it has taken weeks. Ive removed the internal filter that was in there which i thought would be a nitrate harbourer. The only other thing in there with foam is the bubble remover (?) from the skimmer.

PH test kit is an API test. I've never seen the packaging like it before though so it could very well be out of date. The thought of this makes me want to cry.

Sand... just some coral sand i presume. Its been in there the last ...2 and a half years ive seen this tank.

Salt - Red Sea salt. We have loads of tubs of the stuff. I am not 100% sure but the packaging looks like this:

I THINK it is this... We always put the smaller buckets of it in to the bigger bucket because the lids easier to get off on the big bucket


I will price up a refractometer on Saturday. I need to try and get a new filter for my turtle pond aswell I need to do some money raising i think

 

[ALW]

Back at work today so time for an update:

The clown fish is looking a hell of a lot better for no reason at all

Clean water!

 

[Ryefish]

The clown hasn't even got a mark on him today.

I was talking with my co-worker and she really thinks that I will not be allowed to buy R.O water and there is nowhere to plumb a unit in. I explained how there should be a significant difference in water evaporation if we get a hood on this tank. We shall see, but i am starting to doubt it all

I carried out a water change today. Figured i may aswell since i had to top up 2" of the tank anyway through evaporation. Haven't done any tests on it though.

How often should you carry out a waterchange on a marine tank?

I try and do weekly changes on my freshwater tank at home but have no idea about marine tank w/c's

Info i found out today:
Apparently the internal filter i removed had a cannister filled with a phosphate remover (if i remember correctly) but was more than likely inactive by now.

And.. the last time there was a nitrate problem more live rock was added to sort it out. Are there not easier and cheaper methods than this?

The PH apparently normally reads 8.8 but i believe it is higher because thats as far as the PH test goes so we can't say for sure it is 8.8

 

[lljdma06]

The clown hasn't even got a mark on him today.

Yay!!! woohoo!

I was talking with my co-worker and she really thinks that I will not be allowed to buy R.O water and there is nowhere to plumb a unit in. I explained how there should be a significant difference in water evaporation if we get a hood on this tank. We shall see, but i am starting to doubt it all

BOO!! Wish your co-workers would reconsider. The system will never reach its potential if it's continually hindered by a lack of basic equipment.

I carried out a water change today. Figured i may aswell since i had to top up 2" of the tank anyway through evaporation. Haven't done any tests on it though.

How often should you carry out a waterchange on a marine tank?

I try and do weekly changes on my freshwater tank at home but have no idea about marine tank w/c's

I personally do much larger water changes than your average Marine hobbyist. My 36g gets 10g every 2 weeks. My picos get about 50-65% water changes 2x a week. Others, with much larger systems can keep very fine systems with about 20% a month. Really depends on the size of your tank, whether or not you skim, do you have a refugium, and what kind of organisms you keep, so it's not as clear-cut as it seems.

And.. the last time there was a nitrate problem more live rock was added to sort it out. Are there not easier and cheaper methods than this?

More water changes.

The PH apparently normally reads 8.8 but i believe it is higher because thats as far as the PH test goes so we can't say for sure it is 8.8

Meh, the pH shouldn't be reading 8.8. That's too high. Something's up, or it's the tap water kicking it up. It should be about 8.2-.8.4