Hey Everyone! Need Advice!!

[DJ Mike Fury]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the hobby. I've been reading alot about SW tanks to the point where I figured I'd dive into it (not literally)! I bought a "plug-n-play" RSM 250 which I felt was alittle more my speed before I even think anything bigger down the road. I have a few questions, but I figure I'd give you some information about my tank which may help you answer my questions, etc. I put in 80 lbs of live sand (bahamas - fine sand if it matters any), 65 lbs of manmade cured live rock, and premixed SW. I ran it for a week with obviously no traces of elements since no bioload. I was told by a LFS to start putting a few critters in to move the cycling further. Since I heard about the nightmares with Damsels controlling your tank, I used a pair of black & white clowns. I also have some star polyps (yellow), zoos (red & blue eye), and blue-green mushrooms. I figured it was enough to get things going and from what I was told and read, they should be realtively hardy enough to go through the cycling. I have very little or no trace elements. I do have some brown algae growing on the substrate and rocks now due to overfeeding. Originally, the fish themselves did not cause the tank to cycle since they had little affect on the tank. The LFS said to over feed by giving a full cube a day to help cycle the tank. I have some inverts (4 snails & 12 hermit crabs) to help clean the tank. Hopefully this gives you some insight.

Here are my questions -

1) I know there were issues with the protein skimmer's sensitivity. One day, I'll have big bubbles and the next, I'll have microbubbles. I believe this correlates with my issue with main pump#1 from examining it. I have small bubble particles pushing out of the pump. If I were to shut off the skimmer, the bubbles don't get pushed out of Pump #1. What is weird is that I only had this bubble issue about the 3rd-4th week in. I think it may have to do with medicine that I'm putting into the tank this week for one of the clowns. I'm not sure though. Any input would help.

2) One of my clowns happens to have a little orange indent near his nostral. While it's a black & white clown, I know the species has little orange spots in the face, but gets fully black once they mature. However, this looks like almost like hold in the head. One of the LFS told me it could be a fungus after showing a picture, I've been putting the medicine in for 3 days now. I should have probably turned off the skimmer in the process. I just don't know how long I should have it off for though. I have a few pictures I can show you guys/gals. I want to make sure if it is any fungus that I'm treating it correctly.

3) Brown Algae - My tank is finally starting to cycle it seems. The inverts are doing their best to clean the tank to rid of this. The substrate is alittle more of an issue since the hermit crabs can only do so much. Now that it is cycling, I cut the feeding of the clowns to every other day starting yesterday, one cube and cut the light just for today to help the inverts clean more of the brown algae since it will limit the growth of the algae. By limiting the overfeeding and light, am I stopping the cycling process? I'm not sure where to go from here, because I do need light for the corals.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!

Mike

[inwha]

i dont know a lot since im new to the hobby but in regards to the clown you may want to think about moving him to a hospital tank.

im pretty sure bad things can start happening if he really is sick and left in the tank could possibly spread to the rest of the fish.

[warlord239]

Its not good to cucle with live animals, its cruel, i would be really surprised if things didnt start dying soon

[chad316]

Originally Posted by inwha

i dont know a lot since im new to the hobby but in regards to the clown you may want to think about moving him to a hospital tank.

im pretty sure bad things can start happening if he really is sick and left in the tank could possibly spread to the rest of the fish.

^^ This. You should never drop meds into your main tank. What are you putting in your tank to medicate? Please read all the stickies in the "new to the hobby" section.

1.Cycle your tank by ghost feeding (without livestock) use flakes or raw shrimp

2. Get test kits for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates (at least). Buy a refractometer for your salinity (1.025-6) Test and when you ammonia starts to rise your cycle has started. When ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, and nitrates are high do a water change. Should start seeing algae blooms by this point.

3. After water change add your CUC - e.g. snails, hermits, other inverts

4. GO SLOW!

However, since you have been medicating it is likely that you will have to empty the water, rock and sand from your tank and possibly start over depending on the medication. (not sure of fungus meds, so more experienced will have to pipe in here) Probably missed something, but I am not as verbose as others here >.>

[DJ Mike Fury]

Originally Posted by chad316

^^ This. You should never drop meds into your main tank. What are you putting in your tank to medicate? Please read all the stickies in the "new to the hobby" section.

1.Cycle your tank by ghost feeding (without livestock) use flakes or raw shrimp

2. Get test kits for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates (at least). Buy a refractometer for your salinity (1.025-6) Test and when you ammonia starts to rise your cycle has started. When ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, and nitrates are high do a water change. Should start seeing algae blooms by this point.

3. After water change add your CUC - e.g. snails, hermits, other inverts

4. GO SLOW!

However, since you have been medicating it is likely that you will have to empty the water, rock and sand from your tank and possibly start over depending on the medication. (not sure of fungus meds, so more experienced will have to pipe in here) Probably missed something, but I am not as verbose as others here >.>

1) Normally I'd agree with you regarding meds. I was told by the LFS that these are Reef & Fish friendly as indicated on the bottle as well since its apparently natural. I don't think that is an issue since I throroughly asked about that.

2) I have test kits. How else would I know that there are little or no trace elements. I have a hydrometer and it's where it should be. My chiller keeps the temp where it should as well.

3) As far as algae bloom, I have mostly purple algae at this point if that what you mean. I just had some brown along the sand in one area on the bottom. I would assume purple is what you want.

4) My intentions are to go slow. I wasn't planning on adding anything until the LFS said to start it up since they said my cycling is fast since all my rock is cured, using live sand and premixed SW. They said my cycling is particularly fast.

[DJ Mike Fury]

Originally Posted by warlord239

Its not good to cucle with live animals, its cruel, i would be really surprised if things didnt start dying soon

Well I got that advice from one of your moderators who referred me to this site. He works at Aquarium Village in Carle Place, NY.

[chad316]

Originally Posted by DJ Mike Fury

1) Normally I'd agree with you regarding meds. I was told by the LFS that these are Reef & Fish friendly as indicated on the bottle as well since its apparently natural. I don't think that is an issue since I throroughly asked about that. Okay, I wasn't sure what meds you were using. Generally I wouldn't get into the habit of putting meds in your DT is all.

2) I have test kits. How else would I know that there are little or no trace elements. I have a hydrometer and it's where it should be. My chiller keeps the temp where it should as well. "Trace elements" is broad to me...have you finished your cycle? e.g. could you list your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels?

3) As far as algae bloom, I have mostly purple algae at this point if that what you mean. I just had some brown along the sand in one area on the bottom. I would assume purple is what you want.

4) My intentions are to go slow. I wasn't planning on adding anything until the LFS said to start it up since they said my cycling is fast since all my rock is cured, using live sand and premixed SW. They said my cycling is particularly fast. Live rock can make your cycle faster, but without knowing how far along you are I assumed you put livestock in "during" the cycle.

I suppose some clarity with regards to where you tank is currently at would suffice. I generally assume the worst when I see "still cycling" and "my fish" in the same sentence...sorry for that. I would post pics of your sick clown in the disease and treatment forum. Do you have a QT for him? Also, as you have probably read, hydrometers generally aren't very accurate, so eventually I would try to invest in a refractometer.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by DJ Mike Fury

Well I got that advice from one of your moderators who referred me to this site. He works at Aquarium Village in Carle Place, NY.

There are some knowledgeable people who work at LFSs. But, they are few and far between, IMO. Years ago, the LFS was THE source for good info, not anymore. IMO, in this hobby, there is no such thing as the perfect source for info & answers. Our forum is an exchange of ideas, opinions, and experiences. Nothing more and nothing less.What works for some folks may not work for you. IMO & IME; the way to succeed in this great hobby is to do a ton of reading and research before making decisions. Cycling with live fish hasn't been the norm for years, but you're doing it and that's not the end of the world---it will work. Fungal infections are rare in fish; IMO,no meds should be given in the DT (except Prazi-Pro). LR & substrate absorb medications and make proper dosing impossible. The one thing any good LFS should advise you to get is a quarantine tank. A QT, and a proper QT regimen is vital for success. I'd suggest you get a QT set up and cycled, then go from there. Also, until you're comfortable, never rely on any one source for "what to do' info. Learn the "whys" of doing things too. One more thing: the term "reef friendly meds" should always send always trigger a warning signal---there are very few of them. For now, I'd just get the clowns into a QT and get back to us, we'll help all we can.

[tangs_tank]

DJ Mike, one week is a little short to get any results. Using live sand to start cycle is gonna be a slower process IMO. Im not sure what kind of skimmer you have if its a submersible or hang on back, but the bubble issue could be caused by water level. But need more info on your setup. Next get a QT tank and put your fish in it. Medicate it there according to disease type. As for the algae just let it be until you have finished cycling, algae has its phases. Good luck.