new to this and we really need some help

DjwCjd · 04/20/2010, 10:35 AM

hello my girlfriend and i have just started a 75 gallon saltwater aquarium and we think we are beginning to see that a few of our fish might be getting sick. We were thinking that we should get some one over to show us what we should do so we dont kill them. Have looked online to find someone that does matainence on tanks or whatever but can not seem to find much. any help

phenom5 · 04/20/2010, 10:38 AM

Well, you are in the right place for help.

First off, we'll need more info.

When was the tank set up?
How is it set up? (equipment, etc)
What are the fish?
Water parameters?

DjwCjd · 04/20/2010, 10:43 AM

75 gallon
35 lbs live rock
carpet anemone
salfin tang - has ick or something
two maroon clowns- i dont know but looks like velvet on the smallest
two bangi cardinals
firefly gobbie
two yellow tailed damsel
coral banded shrimp
two turbo snails
t5 lights&setup
40 lbs of live sand
located in Wilmington Nc

lucidheights · 04/20/2010, 10:46 AM

how long ago did you setup the tank ?

DjwCjd · 04/20/2010, 10:48 AM

i think its been about 2 months

davidtsx · 04/20/2010, 10:50 AM

When did you start the tank? Did you let it cycle before you added fish?

Did you add all of the fish at once?

The anemone needs a established tank 6 months old or longer.

Do you have a test kit? What are your readings?

Mr. Brooks · 04/20/2010, 10:53 AM

When was the tank set up? Was the livestock added over time? Did you put everything together yourself? Are you taking over for someone else? Do you have a protein skimmer? When's the last time you did a water change? Has the temperature been stable? What are the nitrate levels? Are there any power heads in the tank? Is there enough flow? Whats the last thing you did or added to the tank? You really need to give us some more info.

DjwCjd · 04/20/2010, 10:56 AM

we let the tank cycle for 2 weeks before adding fish and the fish have all been added at different times. i really dont know anything about the testing stuff though. i know the hydrometer is reading green and my temp is staying around 76-78 f

IridescentLily · 04/20/2010, 10:57 AM

First tell us what the following parameters of your water are:
Ammonia
Nitrate
Nitrite
Temperature
Specific gravity

You've had the tank set up for two months. What time frame did you add the fish?

IridescentLily · 04/20/2010, 11:00 AM

Oh you beat me to it. :-)
You "don't really know about the testing stuff"? Do you mean you don't have test kits, or you can't tell what the readings are on the strips?

chubby hugs · 04/20/2010, 11:05 AM

I had started posting similar questions on the thread these guys opened in the "new to the hobby" forum. I will keep an eye on this as it seems to have more responses going from people with more experience than me.

Drewbaby · 04/20/2010, 11:08 AM

Take a sample of your water to your local fish store and ask them to test your water because somethings wrong in your tank. A 2 week cycle is pretty quick but not uncommon. I cycled one of my tanks in 3 weeks, but cycled my other for 3 months before adding stock. It could also be the fish store your getting you livestock from that introduced the disease. My lfs has ick frequently and doses copper for it in the tanks with only fish, but I quarantine ALL new dish that I get for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to one of my main tanks.

TotalVapor · 04/20/2010, 11:11 AM

Depending on where you got your rock and how fast you added your fish, it sounds like you did not let the tank cycle long enough before you started adding everything.

Have you done any water changes lately?
Are you using RO/DI water and mixing salt yourself?
Are you buying pre-mixed water from your local store?
Have you tested your water lately?
If you take your water to a local fish shop (lfs) they will test it for you in most cases.

What kind of filter(s) do you have set up already?
Do you have a UV filter? If you do or have access to one set it up as clarify mode by adjusting the water flow through it. This will keep the ich from reproducing. You will have to keep it on your system for several months (it does not hurt to just leave it on to clarify) as ich will live in the sand and you can only see them when they are breeding (if I remember right). Make sure you do your homework when using this.

Without knowing everything I would do a 30 gallon water change with Ro/DI water, mix the salt myself, and once the temp of the new water is the same as the tank you are able to do the water change.

Now go have the water tested and see what is out of whack. In most cases to get a tank stable I have found it takes a good 6 to 8 months. Some get it sooner some take longer. It all depends how much time you spend working at it.

Feed the fish food with garlic mixed in it. Most pellets and flake food have it now a days but check the label to make sure. If they do not you can use garlic extract by Kent found at most lfs. A drop or two works just fine. If you cannot find it you can get mashed / paste garlic at your local food store and mix that with the food. Just make sure you can mix it and let it sit to soak into the food.

HTH

Mr. Brooks · 04/20/2010, 12:16 PM

In my experience, garlic and UV sterilizers will not do much. Ich is generally a symptom of poor water quality and stress. Get your water quality up and your tank stable. Nature will take care of the rest. People are going to disagree on this subject. I've tried it all and this is what's worked for me. Just focus on giving your fish the best possible environment to get healthy.

IridescentLily · 04/20/2010, 12:27 PM

Oh you beat me to it.
You "don't really know about the testing stuff"? Do you mean you don't have test kits, or you can't tell what the readings are on the strips?

04/20/2010, 10:35 AM	#1
DjwCjd Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7	new to this and we really need some help hello my girlfriend and i have just started a 75 gallon saltwater aquarium and we think we are beginning to see that a few of our fish might be getting sick. We were thinking that we should get some one over to show us what we should do so we dont kill them. Have looked online to find someone that does matainence on tanks or whatever but can not seem to find much. any help

04/20/2010, 10:38 AM	#2
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	Well, you are in the right place for help. First off, we'll need more info. When was the tank set up? How is it set up? (equipment, etc) What are the fish? Water parameters? __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

04/20/2010, 10:57 AM	#9
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	Re: new to this and we really need some help First tell us what the following parameters of your water are: Ammonia Nitrate Nitrite Temperature Specific gravity You've had the tank set up for two months. What time frame did you add the fish? __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

04/20/2010, 11:00 AM	#10
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	Re: new to this and we really need some help Oh you beat me to it. :-) You "don't really know about the testing stuff"? Do you mean you don't have test kits, or you can't tell what the readings are on the strips? __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

04/20/2010, 12:27 PM	#15
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	Re: new to this and we really need some help Oh you beat me to it. You "don't really know about the testing stuff"? Do you mean you don't have test kits, or you can't tell what the readings are on the strips? __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

04/20/2010, 10:43 AM	#3
DjwCjd Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7	75 gallon 35 lbs live rock carpet anemone salfin tang - has ick or something two maroon clowns- i dont know but looks like velvet on the smallest two bangi cardinals firefly gobbie two yellow tailed damsel coral banded shrimp two turbo snails t5 lights&setup 40 lbs of live sand located in Wilmington Nc

04/20/2010, 10:46 AM	#4
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	how long ago did you setup the tank ?

04/20/2010, 10:48 AM	#5
DjwCjd Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7	i think its been about 2 months

04/20/2010, 10:50 AM	#6
davidtsx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 272	When did you start the tank? Did you let it cycle before you added fish? Did you add all of the fish at once? The anemone needs a established tank 6 months old or longer. Do you have a test kit? What are your readings?

04/20/2010, 10:53 AM	#7
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	When was the tank set up? Was the livestock added over time? Did you put everything together yourself? Are you taking over for someone else? Do you have a protein skimmer? When's the last time you did a water change? Has the temperature been stable? What are the nitrate levels? Are there any power heads in the tank? Is there enough flow? Whats the last thing you did or added to the tank? You really need to give us some more info.

04/20/2010, 10:56 AM	#8
DjwCjd Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7	we let the tank cycle for 2 weeks before adding fish and the fish have all been added at different times. i really dont know anything about the testing stuff though. i know the hydrometer is reading green and my temp is staying around 76-78 f

04/20/2010, 11:05 AM	#11
chubby hugs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 136	I had started posting similar questions on the thread these guys opened in the "new to the hobby" forum. I will keep an eye on this as it seems to have more responses going from people with more experience than me.

04/20/2010, 11:08 AM	#12
Drewbaby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: FL Posts: 874	Take a sample of your water to your local fish store and ask them to test your water because somethings wrong in your tank. A 2 week cycle is pretty quick but not uncommon. I cycled one of my tanks in 3 weeks, but cycled my other for 3 months before adding stock. It could also be the fish store your getting you livestock from that introduced the disease. My lfs has ick frequently and doses copper for it in the tanks with only fish, but I quarantine ALL new dish that I get for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to one of my main tanks.

04/20/2010, 11:11 AM	#13
TotalVapor Moved On Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 94	Depending on where you got your rock and how fast you added your fish, it sounds like you did not let the tank cycle long enough before you started adding everything. Have you done any water changes lately? Are you using RO/DI water and mixing salt yourself? Are you buying pre-mixed water from your local store? Have you tested your water lately? If you take your water to a local fish shop (lfs) they will test it for you in most cases. What kind of filter(s) do you have set up already? Do you have a UV filter? If you do or have access to one set it up as clarify mode by adjusting the water flow through it. This will keep the ich from reproducing. You will have to keep it on your system for several months (it does not hurt to just leave it on to clarify) as ich will live in the sand and you can only see them when they are breeding (if I remember right). Make sure you do your homework when using this. Without knowing everything I would do a 30 gallon water change with Ro/DI water, mix the salt myself, and once the temp of the new water is the same as the tank you are able to do the water change. Now go have the water tested and see what is out of whack. In most cases to get a tank stable I have found it takes a good 6 to 8 months. Some get it sooner some take longer. It all depends how much time you spend working at it. Feed the fish food with garlic mixed in it. Most pellets and flake food have it now a days but check the label to make sure. If they do not you can use garlic extract by Kent found at most lfs. A drop or two works just fine. If you cannot find it you can get mashed / paste garlic at your local food store and mix that with the food. Just make sure you can mix it and let it sit to soak into the food. HTH

04/20/2010, 12:16 PM	#14
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	In my experience, garlic and UV sterilizers will not do much. Ich is generally a symptom of poor water quality and stress. Get your water quality up and your tank stable. Nature will take care of the rest. People are going to disagree on this subject. I've tried it all and this is what's worked for me. Just focus on giving your fish the best possible environment to get healthy.