My 90 Gallon Tank

Just a little update on how my tank is moving along. I have, unfortunately, had a casualty due to the way the overflow and protein skimmer are set up. You can't really tell from the picture but the overflow box has a "direct injection" into the protein skimmer and the cleaner wrasse decided it would be fun to go for a ride through the system....he made it through the protein skimmer safely the first time he did this and I found him just hanging out in the sump when I got home from work. The next day, however, he wasn't so lucky and got stuck in the control knob part of the protein skimmer.

Has anyone else had this problem with fish getting sucked up through the overflow boxes? If so, how did you prevent this from happening again?

On a brighter note, overall the refugium setup and protein skimmer are both working out very well and my water quality has indeed improved a bit.

Also, I have added a Hippo Tang and she is doing very well and eating everything in sight. I should note that my wife has insisted on naming all of our fish so I should disclose them so that in case I ever refer to them by their names you will know which one I am talking about.

Allen's Damsel - "Blue"
2 Ocellaris Clowns - "Nemo" & "Marlon"
Foxface Rabbitfish - "Roger"
Twin-Spot Goby - "Spot"
Yellow Tang - "Bubbles"
Flame Hawkfish - "Sparky"
Blue Hippo Tang - "Dori"

Cleaner Wrasse (deceased) - "Nibbler"

 

sorry bout the wrasse, nice lookin set up ya got there, i like the fuge, i need one of those

 

Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

So for Christmas my brother-in-law decided to buy us a new fish, the problem was he doesn't really know anything about fish and was relying solely on the LFS to steer him in the right direction. He did his part by telling them the size of the tank, the current stocking, reef safe etc.

Anyway, the person selling him the fish flat out lied to him and talked him into buying a Rock Beauty Angel. They told him the fish was "chill" and would get along with everything and not bother anything, they told him it was reef safe and they even told him it wasn't even an Angel!! So obviously given my current stocking this fish just wasn't going to be a good fit.

To make a very long and complicated story short, my brother-in-law couldn't remember where he bought the fish and even threw away the receipt so I had to spend all morning trying to find someone to take this fish. I eventually found a store that was willing to work with me and offered to buy this fish or do some kind of trade.

After a couple days of stressing out, for both me and the fish, and an hour long drive this morning we were able to trade him for a Lawnmower Blenny and a Sand Sifting Star, not exactly equal trade but one I was more than happy to take given the circumstances and limited options.

My brother-in-law definitely has some fault in all this but I am still outraged by the irresponsibility of that salesperson to have completely taken advantage of someone who truly needed their advice. It's a real shame what people will do just to make a sale.

Anyway, attached are pictures of the new additions. "Benny the Blenny" and "Patrick".

And unfortunately more sad news to report, "Spot" went MIA the other day and, as you can see in the pic of patrick, we really miss his presence on that sand bed. I'm not sure what happened, he looked really healthy and would even eat frozen foods, so I am perplexed as to why he died.

 

At least you got the situation worked out. I like "Patrick" lol. Does somebody watch spongebob?

 

lol....yeah my wife loves Spongebob

 

Lol, I have 4 kids that love Spongebob. ;D The show is annoying at times, but bearable.

 

I enjoy watching spongebob!

You have a nice family and the LFS stinks. Sorry about the extra hassle that you had to go through.

Do you know whats causing the diatoms? Did you add any new equipments?

 

Sorry I didn't answer your question sooner, I didn't realize there was another post. Anyway, I think the Diatom problem has to do with the fact that I was using tap water (I know, I'm ashamed and embarassed lol). The picture of "Patrick" with all the diatoms was maybe a day or two after I just did a water change and everytime I would do one I would get an outbreak of diatoms so I am guessing it was because of the excess nutrients in the water.

Anyway, you will be happy to know that last week I finally got my RO/DI system and have begun changing out the tap water with the RO/DI water. I have changed out about 20 gallons and didn't have the typical diatom outbreak that I have been accustomed to, so I am hoping that this problem is a thing of the past.

 

The problem should be a thing of the past. You don't have to change out the tap with RO/DI like you are doing. The diatoms go away on their own even with tap water after they use up all the silicates are used up. RO/DI water shouldn't have silicates, so now when you do water changes, no more diatoms.