need help with my new fishes

junchenhundan · 09/03/2012, 01:09 AM

Hi every one, good to be here. This is my first post, I hope there isn't too much rules for posting.

I really need help on my 55 gallon reef tank(4 months). With live rocks my water is good (tested by Petco saltwater specialist). Anyway, I just bought a dogface puffer three days ago, and a mid size snowflake eel the day after. But after three days, my dogface puffer is scared almost all the time. I would see my puffer swim around for couple times, but most of times he's hiding on the top of my powerhead, and it turns very dark. The eel is hiding too, but most of time is swimming around and looks like wants to escape from my tank. It's really sad to see my puffer hiding and being scared. What can I do to help them? of maybe to put both of them in the same tank is a mistake? I don't have another tank to put one of them. is it possible that after couple days they would be used to each other?

thank you for your help.
not English speak, my post might be hard to read. sorry about that.

TjwBlake · 09/03/2012, 06:13 AM

While I don't have experience with either of those fish, I will say that you need to post a few things to get good advice.
You will need to list ALL your parameters (you cannot just say they are all good because someone says so)
Also, what kind of water flow
lighting (not likely the issue, but it is good to have i think)

Are these the only animals in the tank?

bnumair · 09/03/2012, 06:46 AM

i agree this is not enough information to make a judgement. please post parameters flow equipment info and maybe a pic.

billsreef · 09/03/2012, 09:18 AM

Not unusual for fish to be somewhat reclusive like that when they are first added. They usually settle in after a couple of weeks

The bigger issue will be having added those two fish at the same time in a 55. Watch for ammonia spikes due to the increase in bioload.

Denbf58 · 09/03/2012, 09:31 AM

first go and get your self some test kits for ammonia,nitrite,and nitrate you should also have ph, refractometer to ck salinty

junchenhundan · 09/03/2012, 09:45 AM

thank you for your reply here are the parameters, salinty:1.023（not sure IT is 1.0023 or just .023, but IT is in the safe zone） nitrade:0 nitride:0 dont know about ammonia. 2 t5 light with one White and one blue,high output. there are 3 small damsels and one small blenny scooter. some hermit crabs and snails, dont have exact number about how many there are. two pepermint shrimps and one Emerald crab. that would pretty much all the info i can give

disc1 · 09/03/2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junchenhundan

some hermit crabs

Quote:

Originally Posted by junchenhundan

two pepermint shrimps and one Emerald crab.

But not for much longer with a moray I would think.

billsreef · 09/03/2012, 09:54 AM

Ammonia is the one you really want to keep an eye on. Between the Dogface and Snowflake, the shrimp, crab, hermits, and snails will be eaten in fairly short order.

junchenhundan · 09/03/2012, 10:42 AM

sad story, my eel jumped out of the tank last night, there is a 1 inch gap on the top of my tank not covered just for filters. my new question is is dagface puffer and valentini puffer save to be together?

btw my dogface puffer looks like is being scared of me. every time when i walk close to the tank the puffer will stop swimming and get back to the top of powerhead

09/03/2012, 01:09 AM	#1
junchenhundan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 7	need help with my new fishes Hi every one, good to be here. This is my first post, I hope there isn't too much rules for posting. I really need help on my 55 gallon reef tank(4 months). With live rocks my water is good (tested by Petco saltwater specialist). Anyway, I just bought a dogface puffer three days ago, and a mid size snowflake eel the day after. But after three days, my dogface puffer is scared almost all the time. I would see my puffer swim around for couple times, but most of times he's hiding on the top of my powerhead, and it turns very dark. The eel is hiding too, but most of time is swimming around and looks like wants to escape from my tank. It's really sad to see my puffer hiding and being scared. What can I do to help them? of maybe to put both of them in the same tank is a mistake? I don't have another tank to put one of them. is it possible that after couple days they would be used to each other? thank you for your help. not English speak, my post might be hard to read. sorry about that.

09/03/2012, 06:13 AM	#2
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	While I don't have experience with either of those fish, I will say that you need to post a few things to get good advice. You will need to list ALL your parameters (you cannot just say they are all good because someone says so) Also, what kind of water flow lighting (not likely the issue, but it is good to have i think) Are these the only animals in the tank? __________________ Current tank: JbJ Nanocube 28. 1 Falco Hawk, zoas, cabbage leather, trumpet coral, GSP, mushrooms, CUC Current Tank Info: JbJ Nanocube 28

09/03/2012, 06:46 AM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	i agree this is not enough information to make a judgement. please post parameters flow equipment info and maybe a pic. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

09/03/2012, 09:18 AM	#4
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Not unusual for fish to be somewhat reclusive like that when they are first added. They usually settle in after a couple of weeks The bigger issue will be having added those two fish at the same time in a 55. Watch for ammonia spikes due to the increase in bioload. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

09/03/2012, 09:31 AM	#5
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	first go and get your self some test kits for ammonia,nitrite,and nitrate you should also have ph, refractometer to ck salinty __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

09/03/2012, 09:45 AM	#6
junchenhundan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 7	thank you for your reply here are the parameters, salinty:1.023（not sure IT is 1.0023 or just .023, but IT is in the safe zone） nitrade:0 nitride:0 dont know about ammonia. 2 t5 light with one White and one blue,high output. there are 3 small damsels and one small blenny scooter. some hermit crabs and snails, dont have exact number about how many there are. two pepermint shrimps and one Emerald crab. that would pretty much all the info i can give

09/03/2012, 09:54 AM	#8
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Ammonia is the one you really want to keep an eye on. Between the Dogface and Snowflake, the shrimp, crab, hermits, and snails will be eaten in fairly short order. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

09/03/2012, 10:42 AM	#9
junchenhundan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 7	sad story, my eel jumped out of the tank last night, there is a 1 inch gap on the top of my tank not covered just for filters. my new question is is dagface puffer and valentini puffer save to be together? btw my dogface puffer looks like is being scared of me. every time when i walk close to the tank the puffer will stop swimming and get back to the top of powerhead