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Unread 08/08/2009, 08:56 AM   #1
Reverend Reefer
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all i wanted was a pepsi, just one pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me!

a lot of the reef keeping resources out there are dedicated to keeping corals.

in my 2.5 yrs of reef keeping (very little experience), i have been able to keep various corals (mainly softies and lps) relatively easily. maybe i have a green thumb for coral, i dunno.

HOWEVER, for some reason, i have not been able to keep any larger fish alive.

i currently have 1 ocellaris, 1 chromis, and 1 yellow diamond goby.

these suckers have survived everything.

but everytime i try to keep any fish larger than the goby, they just don't survive! i don't know why!

what's the trick to keeping larger fish? i know im not overcrowding. i just want one larger fish! just one. i'm not a greedy reefer, honest.

i QT everything for at least 2-3 weeks. i drip them everytime in the QT (slowly adding a cup every hour from the DT) before adding them. i only add one fish at a time.

my parameters are perfect. the fact that the smaller fish are alive and the corals are thriving is just one indicator. however, i had my water checked by LFS when i doubted my own test kits, same results, perfect water.

all i want is one larger fish. i've tried:

1. foxface rabbitfish, twice,
2. powder brown tang, thrice,
3. long nosed butterfly fish, once,
4. coral beauty, once
5. juvenile blue tang
6. sailfin tang

anyone have any advice?

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things i've tried:

i've tried all sorts of things to try to address this problem which i can't wrap my head around.

1. different feeding habits (feed more, feed less, different types of food: mysis, cyclops, purple seaweed etc.). the fish that die are eating in QT before i put them in DT.
2. different LFS
3. added aeration (although the fish clearly aren't gasping for air but i added one anyways)
4. very slowly lowering and/or increasing temp by 1-2 degrees (current temp range is between 79-81)

none of this has worked. i just lost another foxface last night and i just can't sleep!

any advice would be much appreciated. i'll try almost anything.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:05 AM   #2
Sisterlimonpot
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My advice would be the acclimation and qt. 3 weeks in a QT isn't long enough you might as well not do it or go the full 6-8 weeks.

Where they dying in the QT or the transfer from the QT?
Were they eating well in the QT?
And how are you acclimating them from the QT to the DT?


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:08 AM   #3
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Get a yellow tang if you want a tang. Very hardy. The tangs on your list are very sensitive. I also wouldn't add anything new for a bit. Let your tank settle in for a couple months.

Going too fast in this hobby is a sure fire way to kill a lot of stuff.

Anything short of 6 weeks is way too short. Increase your QT time. Also, how big is your QT? You may be putting undue stress on the fish if they are in too small of a tank.

Just looking at your sig, I wouldn't recommend a tang in a 65. Too small. (they are the 3ft tanks, right?)

WAY too small for a sailfin, blue or powder brown. If you really want a tang, go with a tomini. They stay relatively small and are fairly hardy.

HTH,


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:12 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sisterlimonpot
My advice would be the acclimation and qt. 3 weeks in a QT isn't long enough you might as well not do it or go the full 6-8 weeks.

Where they dying in the QT or the transfer from the QT?
Were they eating well in the QT?
And how are you acclimating them from the QT to the DT?
thanks for your help in advance.

1. not dying in QT, dying in DT after a couple weeks. the transfer process seems fine. the last attempts have been herbivores and they clearly show grazing behaviour and appear to be fine. after at least a week or two in DT, they suddenly hide and then die.

2. yes eating in both QT and in DT after transfer

3. acclimating process: i take a cup out of QT and put a cup from DT in. over the course of several hours or so.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:21 AM   #5
Sisterlimonpot
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I've had tangs in my 72 but they outgrew it in no time. And it wasn't until I put them in the 125 did I notice that they weren't happy. But to each their own. If you want them in your smaller tank then go for it.

It seems like you’re doing everything else right. Maybe your acclimation is too long from the QT to the DT. If you use your old tank water from the DT and put it in the QT then all you really have to do it acclimate to the temp of the DT and let the fish go. I don’t know what else to add.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:29 AM   #6
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I don't quaratine.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:32 AM   #7
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Glad you fixed that

Heck, I've got two tangs in my 75G now. A yellow and a blue. I rescued both fish from a guy that was getting out of the hobby, and was going to flush them.
Are they both happy in there? Probably not. But they are happier than being flushed down the toilet. I've actually been trying to get the blue tang into a 180, but haven't convinced the guy yet.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:34 AM   #8
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edit


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:35 AM   #9
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i really can't figure this out.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:39 AM   #10
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Great, now I'm going to have that song in my head for the rest of the day....

The tangs you list, as mentioned, aren't the hardiest. Coral beauties can be hardy, but it really depends on where they are imported from. The foxfaces -- how large were they to begin with and in what condition? Which species?


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:40 AM   #11
Sisterlimonpot
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I got it too. You shouldn't have to justify yourself to anyone. But be ready to take some criticism, and then take that with a grain of salt.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:42 AM   #12
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the fish i get really don't seem to be dying because they are too big for the tank but what do i know?

the wifey just told me our tank is 75G so i changed it. but i really feel like its a 65G. anyways, she got all defensive about it after reading her some posts. so i changed it (but i just changed it back now that she's left looking over my shoulder as i post). either way, 65 or 75, the fish i bought weren't oversized.

i really don't want to go that route but if the majority of you think the reason why these larger fish are dying are because my tank is too small then i guess i'll just have to accept that.

i guess i just don't feel like these fish im buying are really all that big. and its not like im buying 2 at a time. the last foxface rabbitfish lo was small for foxfaces. and the powder brown tangs are supposedly ok if you have just one that is young.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:47 AM   #13
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plus the coral beauty. i thought was a pretty hardy fish. didn't last very long at all either. the clown, goby and chromis are very small and very young. i guess the main thing that boggles my mind is that there are no other signs of stress from any coral or these fish. i have coralline growing everywhere. i have a fuge with 2 mangroves, cheato, DT has 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 blood shrimp. everything is alive and thriving. its just the larger fish i add. and they aren't even that large to begin with, at most 3.5 inches.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:52 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by Elysia
Great, now I'm going to have that song in my head for the rest of the day....

The tangs you list, as mentioned, aren't the hardiest. Coral beauties can be hardy, but it really depends on where they are imported from. The foxfaces -- how large were they to begin with and in what condition? Which species?
the foxface rabbitfish is the one with the spot on it. supposedly the smaller species.

its not even like im an impulsive buyer when it comes to fish. i do research them before i buy fish (with coral its another story...). that's also the reason why i keep buying the same ones.

the powder brown tang is the smallest nice tang that i could put in there. i was just reminded that i also tried a yellow mimic tang that also didn't survive.

the fish are all fine in QT, colourful and eating. maybe im not QT long enuff but i thought 2-3 weeks was enuff. i guess i should try longer but it doesn't seem to logically make sense to QT longer if they seem fine after 3 weeks.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 09:56 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by flamron
Get a yellow tang if you want a tang. Very hardy. The tangs on your list are very sensitive. I also wouldn't add anything new for a bit. Let your tank settle in for a couple months.

Going too fast in this hobby is a sure fire way to kill a lot of stuff.

Anything short of 6 weeks is way too short. Increase your QT time. Also, how big is your QT? You may be putting undue stress on the fish if they are in too small of a tank.

Just looking at your sig, I wouldn't recommend a tang in a 65. Too small. (they are the 3ft tanks, right?)

WAY too small for a sailfin, blue or powder brown. If you really want a tang, go with a tomini. They stay relatively small and are fairly hardy.

HTH,
the tank is a weird shape. its long and tall. the display is 4 feet long. i run carbon every once and awhile in a eheim cannister which is the only thing i can think of that most people might not like but i have some zoos and 2 leathers so thats why i thought to run carbon for a week at least once a month.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 10:06 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by flamron
Get a yellow tang if you want a tang. Very hardy. The tangs on your list are very sensitive. I also wouldn't add anything new for a bit. Let your tank settle in for a couple months.

Going too fast in this hobby is a sure fire way to kill a lot of stuff.

Anything short of 6 weeks is way too short. Increase your QT time. Also, how big is your QT? You may be putting undue stress on the fish if they are in too small of a tank.

Just looking at your sig, I wouldn't recommend a tang in a 65. Too small. (they are the 3ft tanks, right?)

WAY too small for a sailfin, blue or powder brown. If you really want a tang, go with a tomini. They stay relatively small and are fairly hardy.

HTH,
i think i will try the yellow tang again. only tried once and after reading more about them just now, seems like they are hardy enuff to give it another try. thanks. back to the drawing board....


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Unread 08/08/2009, 10:26 AM   #17
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If you're trying to put these fish in a 65 gallon tank that's filled at least 1/3 of the way with rocks and sand and has other fish in residence, I think this may simply be an issue of stress from too crowded/confined conditions.

And I haven't heard anyone quote Suicidal Tendencies since I was ollying off a launch ramp in 1986.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 11:20 AM   #18
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All you wanted was a Pepsi! ;-) What about a Coffee Crisp chocolate bar. They don't sell them here in the USA.

Good luck in Toronto! Go Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, and Molson.

May I suggest getting the fish from a different LFS? The problem might not be your tank, but where you are getting the fish from. But 65 or 75, I'd have to agree is small for some tangs.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 11:40 AM   #19
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I have had a yellow and clown tank in a 120 and they were happy until i took them out when i moved.

Oh, Molson and Maple Leefs are yucky. Go Labatt's and Red Wings.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 11:45 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally posted by FirstContact
May I suggest getting the fish from a different LFS? The problem might not be your tank, but where you are getting the fish from.
+1 I would try a different LFS.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 11:58 AM   #21
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hmm, well in toronto, i've tried 4 LFS sources.

the tank is filled to the brim. i know tangs are a little hard to keep and need big tanks but that's why i chose the ones i did, because online it says you can keep these in the size of tank i have. that said, i have tried butterflyfish and the one angel (coral beauty), still no luck. i think the mimic tang isn't even a tang. anyways, i will try the yellow tang next.

is there something else im missing though? one person suggested i might have a predator and might need the help of arnold schwatzenwhatever. but you'd think the other fish would be dead by now if that was the case. although the clown and chromis don't swim in the rockwork like the other fish i bought. the goby is always underneath tho.... i dunno.

seems like the fish i get have suicidal tendencies!


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Unread 08/08/2009, 12:02 PM   #22
Reverend Reefer
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i posted this awhile back last time i lost a fish but are fish harder to keep than corals? i woulda thought the opposite tho, since most people start with fowlr tanks before getting into corals. seems like corals are more robust than fish.

am i cooking my fish? someone noted that my temp goes up to 81 in the summer (like now) and maybe the dissolved oxygen is less but i do have a bubble maker thing and the rest of the fish are not up at the top gasping.....


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Unread 08/08/2009, 12:09 PM   #23
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Even juveniles of some fish need a little more room than you might think. Stress is a big killer.

Fish are generally easy when provided when their basic space and territory needs are met. Without that, no amount of good water quality or feeding can save them. 81 degrees should not be a problem.


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Unread 08/08/2009, 12:14 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally posted by seapug
If you're trying to put these fish in a 65 gallon tank that's filled at least 1/3 of the way with rocks and sand and has other fish in residence, I think this may simply be an issue of stress from too crowded/confined conditions.

And I haven't heard anyone quote Suicidal Tendencies since I was ollying off a launch ramp in 1986.
Agreed with above...Take some of that rock work down. They need alot of space to swim around or just invest in a bigger tank. Trust me i know how you feel i started with a 46 gallon tank. Ending up getting a 120 gallon right now and planning on getting something even bigger. Always go big and get the best skimmer you can afford. Suicidal Tendencies roxxxx's....IM NOT CRAZYYY...hahaha


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Unread 08/08/2009, 12:39 PM   #25
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Who are you using in TO? I live here as well and know of a fair number of the retailers here and even know some of the staff personally.

Quote:
Oh, Molson and Maple Leefs are yucky. Go Labatt's and Red Wings.
HornetMech242 I will agree with you on the Labatts... as for the Leafs... thems fighting words
Although you have to tell me how an American knows Canuck beer


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