WTF do I do now ???!!!????

[wiggy]

OK so in my previous posts it has been well proven that I am over stocked.

I go to another marine shop today and ask for a water test..here are the results.

NH4 = NIL (HOORAY!!)
NO2 = 0.3
NO3 = 80
pH = 7.6
KH = 4
PO2 = 0.5
Ca = <450 (HOORAY)

A grand total of 54% via aquatest.net

The bloke enquires about our filtration and tank size (Volume: approx. 70 litres , JUWEL Filter System: Compact ) The bloke could not believe we have been so badly advised on the filtering and stock level.
Apartently the sponge Juwel internal filters just ain't supposed to be used in marine set ups.

And he now advises me that the tank is 100% unaccetptable for a marine setup.
(I got a yellow tang, 4 coral cats, two clowns, feather duster and two cleaner shrimp all the stock is feeding and nothing has died )

Apparantly this 70Lt tank is very difficult to maintain as a marine setup...

So we are going to move this tank into the kids room as a tropical set up and get a 22x22x19 inch (142 lt) tank with a protein skimmer. internal power heads and filters with a stand alone lighting system for £595.

This must be a more accetable set up..I would like to have a coral set up.
How many fish would be acceptable in this tank???

What do I do with all my current stock ???

 

[fishdudein]

Hi wiggy! Is it a possibility that the shop you are dealing with would take your stock back and give you credit towards any live corals you will be buying?

Actually, the only fish that I would think you might need to trade in would be your coral cats. Yellow tang is almost a requirement (algae grazer), and the clowns, shrimp and feather duster would all work very well in a reef (coral) tank. Hopefully your LFS warned you when you bought these, if not please be very careful with your coral cats. Their fins have spines that can inflict a nasty poison. As they get larger they tend to eat most things that you would pay good money for to put in your tank (example: cleaner shrimp), so I wouldn't advise keeping them around (as fun as they are to watch swimming in unison). Remember that in a reef tank, fish are kept to a minimum and are considered secondary to the corals.

Not sure what a "stand alone lighting system" is. Did your LFS explain to you about the lighting needs of corals? Critically important to their well being. I would not go with anything less than compact fluorescents if you are planning on keeping soft corals; VHOs or metal halides for the stony corals.

Hope this helps.

 

[wiggy]

Sorry I forgot the name of the lighting. The tank has no cover and the lights are suspended from the ceiling...they are not flourescents and the guy said they are designed for corals.

I don't realy want to go back to the offending LFS..bad advice and all that.
The new LFS says he doesn't want the stock as the water quality is so bad.

 

[Great Lakes]

I would keep just the clowns.
The tang is just too much of a swimmer to be happy in a tank under four foot.

We could discuss your water parameters, but as you are going to switching tanks, it is a moot point.

GL

PS. I would check around your area for a local reef club. Someone might be willing to trade you your fish for live rock or some coral frags. I would if you were in my area.