Point in the right direction...PLEASE?!

Hi all,

Im new to 3reef.com, saltwater, and fishkeeping in general but could do with some advise

I have posted a few bits and pieces of information on 3reef now, I’m not too sure that I have posted things in the right places but here goes!

My Intro - http://www.3reef.com/forums/say-hello/h-e-l-l-o-121614.html
My Tank and Spec - http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/individual-tank-pic-specs-all-one-thread-53606.html
My tank build pics - http://www.3reef.com/forums/members/mrk82-albums-building-my-first-reef-tank.html


Once my tank cycled I added a few fish (2 common clowns, 1 x Butterfly (aptasia eater), 2 x Green Chromis, 2 regal Damsels, yellow tang, Toadstool Mushroom, GSP and a bubble tip Anemone). All these have now gone and I’m not too sure why, I think there are 3 major causes

1. I think I got a bad chase of Ich when I introduced my last fish which was the Yellow Tang (in hindsight I think any tangs are too big for my setup)
2. I also fragged my bubble tip anemone over my main display tank during the same week
3. I didn’t really appreciate the importance of acclimating my fish correctly (I put the bag with the fish and LFS water into my tank till same temp then splashed the whole lot into my tank!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t know which of the 3 things had the biggest impact but the ich really did finish everything off Toadstool Mushroom and inverts, even my GSP died and the purple matt turned to a paste??.??.??

I am going on holiday next week but when I get back I’m hoping to add some more coral and maybe try a couple of clowns and a RBTA (adding them VERY SLOWLY this time tho). By the time I get back off my hols the tank will have been without any fish for just over 5 weeks. I now have a drip acclimation tank setup (I don’t have the room or money for a QT tho. Please can someone advise as to some small fish and easy to keep corals would also be appreciated. I live between Liverpool and Manchester in the UK and trading / buying / swapping frags etc would also be FANTASTIC!

 

First, I believe you added to many fish in the tank at the same time.

Second, if you leave the tank fish less for the next month it will do away with the ich.

Three, Never Ever put the LFS water in your tank. Not saying all LFS water is bad but if their system is infected, then you will infect your own system.

Four, It says you have a 30 and 135 gallon tank. I am assuming they all went into the 135. If not then water parameters killed your fish.

 

+1
Also some fish stores treat their tanks for Ich with copper. You never want to put any copper in your reef.

Your tank contains many types/strains of bacteria which break down toxic wastes. There must be a balance between these bacteria and your bioload (amount of waste). When you add fish, you upset this balance. There is now more waste than the bacteria can handle. You must wait for the bacteria to multiply and reach equilibrium with the amount waste before adding more fish. By adding too many fish at once, the waste quickly turned to ammonia which is toxic and killed everything.

I would not recommend a butterfly fish with a bubble tip anemone. Aiptasia is an anemone so your BTA will quickly become a meal.

You stated your tank is too small for the tang. You are correct.

What are your water parameters now? You don't want to add anything else until you know your water parameters are correct.

 

Hi Reefburh, My spec and tank are on the last page at the bottom. here is my spec.
Hardware
Display Tank (30Gallon (L30” x H18” x W15”))
Sump (13 Gallon)
LiveRock (35lbs)
Cruched Coral substrate (50lbs)
Lights (TMC Aquabeam 600 (Reef White 14K & 50K))
T5 Twin (2 x 22” High output Marine White)
Protein Skimmer (TMC V2 Skim 400)
Heater (1 x 150w Neoheater & 1 x 150w Glass Heater)
Water Pump (Eheim 1250 Universal)
Power Head (Hydor Koralia Evolution 2800)

Coral
1 x Toadstool (Sarcophyton)
1 x Colony Polyps (Zoanthus Coppingeri)

Inverts
2 x Red Legged Hermit Crab (Paguristes Cadenati)
1 x Electric Blue Hermit Crab (Calcinus Elegans)
1 x dwarf Yellow tip Hermit Crab (libanarius SP.)
2 x Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
1 x Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata Wurdemanni)
2 x Turbo Snails (Turbo fluctuosus)

Water Testing
D&D Refractometer (Salinity)
Thermometer (Temperature)
API Master Test Kit (Calcium, Nitrate, Phosphate, KH)
PH Test kit (PH)

Sorry about that....

 

Im doing weekly 30% water changes and my perameters are:

Calcium 420
KH 13Dkh
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
Phosphate 0.02
PH 8.3

Too much too soon! I just want a couple of small fish. I want 2 clowns but not really interested in too much more than that. Im more interested in the coral!!
I think im ready to start again now, or I will be when I get back from my hols

Thanks again!!

 

In my opinion, too many fish too quickly. actually, too many fish in general for a 30. I also think it is too early to add an anemone. you still have some ups and downs to go through. i wouldn't add the anemone until your params have been stable for 6 months at a minimum.

 

A) ich doesn't affect corals
B) I'd guess something went wrong fragging your nem and the resulting problems messed up the water quality and killed the corals. It just happened to be the same time the ich was taking out the fish.

 

I bought myself a 900l per hour (mini) circulation pump yesterday which has completely changed the flow in the tank! I am much happier now. I am now wondering if I have enough light now tho......any thoughts?

 

Your kh is high. You want to keep that between 9 and 11. With that high kh will burn the tips of your hard corals.

 

how do I reduce my KH? i've heard about adding club soda????? any ideas?