Questions on T5 and UV sterilizer

[jlschweda1971]

Just got back from one of the largest and best saltwater stores in Michigan. The manager of the saltwater dept was the one that was helping me. I explained to him how much I dislike the AL LED lights and that I wanted to got with t5 either with/without MH lights. He showed me these Kessil led pendants. Now I'm wondering if I should even bother with LEDs again...I don't want to be disappointed again. He was just pointing out that the electricity and the cost of the bulbs compared to LED, but he said that t5s are proven to work. Just wondering if anybody else is having or had a similiar situation or if they've had both t5s and LEDs and what the experience was like.

Also, I picked up a Scopas Tang from them. He was eating like a pig at the store, which is good because it seems the tangs I've lost I never see them eating, but can't say this is the reason they died. I've placed him in the QT with my pair of Snowflakes in a 20 gallon treated with cupramine. I have the lights off and the tank covered. I want to do everything right this time, because I have not been able to determine the deaths of my previous tangs. 2 were ordered online from different places and did not look good upon arrival. The Powder Blue Tang seemed to last the longest and that was before I had a QT set up, so he went right into the DT.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated. My water is good and they always seem to be ok at first, but right around the 2 wk mark they take a turn for the worse. I do the weekly water changes also and have try every type of food for Tangs.

Thanks for any input!

[gone fishin]

since you placed the tang in QT with the other fish your QT clock will start over for all the fish. You do not give much to go on saying water is fine doesn't tell much or tank size. FWIW I use T5's and I do not have any problems. Lighting is a personal choice some people prefer MH, T5 or LED. You just need to get the appropriate size light for your tank.

[MrTuskfish]

Putting any fish into a QT with a full dose of copper is risky. Copper should be brought to the treatment level of copper over several days; despite what most copper directions say. You can't tell for sure that your DT is ich free because the tang was added without the benefit of a QT. I wouldn't add any fish to the DT with the PBT for at least 6 weeks after he was put in. Ich can easily take this long to show itself. I have a lot of tangs, all bought online. I know i haven't lost one since moving and restocking in 2005-07. Tangs usually ship and acclimate very well; and I prophylacticly all fish with copper.

+1 on gone fishin's light comment. I'm using all LEDs now and love them. So do my power and lamp replacement bills. Purely personal preference.

[MrTuskfish]

Putting any fish into a QT with a full dose of copper is risky. Copper should be brought to the treatment level of copper over several days; despite what most copper directions say. You can't tell for sure that your DT is ich free because the tang was added without the benefit of a QT. I wouldn't add any fish to the DT with the PBT for at least 6 weeks after he was put in. Ich can easily take this long to show itself. I have a lot of tangs, all bought online. I know i haven't lost one since moving and restocking in 2005-07. Tangs usually ship and acclimate very well; and I prophylacticly all fish with copper.

+1 on gone fishin's light comment. I'm using all LEDs now and love them. So do my power and lamp replacement bills. Purely personal preference.