help with fish poop

reefrider · 01/21/2012, 11:17 AM

I purchased a blue eye tang about a week ago and the fish is awesome. Except one little thing, he poops in a dead area of the tank. in the corner there is little circulation, and he has made it like a kitty litter box. any suggestions of inverts to use or sand sifting fish?

philipph · 01/21/2012, 11:30 AM

even if he made the biggest poop on earth for a fish I don't think you should bother doing anything

disc1 · 01/21/2012, 11:48 AM

It probably doesn't matter where he poops, it's the flow that's pushing everything to that spot. Fix your flow so that you don't have a dead spot.

ezerasurfr · 01/21/2012, 11:49 AM

what are you using for flow?
are your power heads aimed directly at each other?

I would first try and position your power heads so flow is reaching the corner. if youre looking for inverts to help sift sand you can get nassarius snails, or even a sea cucumber or 2. If you have room for a fish, you can get a sand sifting goby.

SushiGirl · 01/21/2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disc1

it probably doesn't matter where he poops, it's the flow that's pushing everything to that spot. Fix your flow so that you don't have a dead spot.

+1

reefrider · 01/21/2012, 12:11 PM

i have an amp master 3600 with 4 returns. the place i am having a problem the outflow is a 120 degree. no power heads. i have thought about placing a rock there

SushiGirl · 01/21/2012, 12:13 PM

Then the rock will get covered in detritus, trust me, I have that rock in that area of my tank LOL.

reefrider · 01/21/2012, 12:17 PM

just trying to get him to poop somewhere else!!! not worried about the poop, just the location. such a weird problem to have in a fish tank.

cherubfish pair · 01/21/2012, 02:21 PM

If altering circulation and blocking with rocks doesn't work, suck it up with a turkey baster.

Fish4Me2 · 01/21/2012, 03:14 PM

Eh, I'd say take advantage of this fact, and siphon up all the poop at once when you do your water changes. Consider this motivation to do them on a regular basis, because it's easier to get the fish poop out.

Playa-1 · 01/21/2012, 03:29 PM

I agree with adjusting the circulation to fix the dead spot.

00Warpig00 · 01/21/2012, 05:07 PM

Yeah... He's probably not even pooping there. It's just accumulating there because of a flow issue.

aleonn · 01/21/2012, 05:30 PM

There's a dead spot in the corner of my tank that accumulates fish poop (even with two Vortech MP40's). Plus I've seen a couple my tangs purposely go to that spot to relieve themselves as well.

I've noticed my fighting conchs (I have 3 in my 180 gal) are often hanging out in that area, doing "vacuuming" work in the morning. When I'm home in the evening, the mound of detritus/poop is decreased or gone. I'd leave that stuff to my CUC, and I'm too lazy to siphon it out regularly.

01/21/2012, 11:17 AM	#1
reefrider Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: myrtle beach, sc Posts: 270	help with fish poop I purchased a blue eye tang about a week ago and the fish is awesome. Except one little thing, he poops in a dead area of the tank. in the corner there is little circulation, and he has made it like a kitty litter box. any suggestions of inverts to use or sand sifting fish? __________________ Inspiration comes from others, but motivation cames from within! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, 2-175w 14k MH 2-110w VHO, Dolphin ampmaster, refugium, SPS, LPS, Clams 6g Nano

01/21/2012, 11:48 AM	#3
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	It probably doesn't matter where he poops, it's the flow that's pushing everything to that spot. Fix your flow so that you don't have a dead spot. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

01/21/2012, 12:11 PM	#6
reefrider Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: myrtle beach, sc Posts: 270	i have an amp master 3600 with 4 returns. the place i am having a problem the outflow is a 120 degree. no power heads. i have thought about placing a rock there __________________ Inspiration comes from others, but motivation cames from within! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, 2-175w 14k MH 2-110w VHO, Dolphin ampmaster, refugium, SPS, LPS, Clams 6g Nano

01/21/2012, 12:13 PM	#7
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Then the rock will get covered in detritus, trust me, I have that rock in that area of my tank LOL. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

01/21/2012, 12:17 PM	#8
reefrider Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: myrtle beach, sc Posts: 270	just trying to get him to poop somewhere else!!! not worried about the poop, just the location. such a weird problem to have in a fish tank. __________________ Inspiration comes from others, but motivation cames from within! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, 2-175w 14k MH 2-110w VHO, Dolphin ampmaster, refugium, SPS, LPS, Clams 6g Nano

01/21/2012, 11:30 AM	#2
philipph Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 299	even if he made the biggest poop on earth for a fish I don't think you should bother doing anything

01/21/2012, 11:49 AM	#4
ezerasurfr Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 663	what are you using for flow? are your power heads aimed directly at each other? I would first try and position your power heads so flow is reaching the corner. if youre looking for inverts to help sift sand you can get nassarius snails, or even a sea cucumber or 2. If you have room for a fish, you can get a sand sifting goby.

01/21/2012, 02:21 PM	#9
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	If altering circulation and blocking with rocks doesn't work, suck it up with a turkey baster. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

01/21/2012, 03:14 PM	#10
Fish4Me2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TwinCities Posts: 650	Eh, I'd say take advantage of this fact, and siphon up all the poop at once when you do your water changes. Consider this motivation to do them on a regular basis, because it's easier to get the fish poop out.

01/21/2012, 03:29 PM	#11
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I agree with adjusting the circulation to fix the dead spot.

01/21/2012, 05:07 PM	#12
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	Yeah... He's probably not even pooping there. It's just accumulating there because of a flow issue. __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

01/21/2012, 05:30 PM	#13
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	There's a dead spot in the corner of my tank that accumulates fish poop (even with two Vortech MP40's). Plus I've seen a couple my tangs purposely go to that spot to relieve themselves as well. I've noticed my fighting conchs (I have 3 in my 180 gal) are often hanging out in that area, doing "vacuuming" work in the morning. When I'm home in the evening, the mound of detritus/poop is decreased or gone. I'd leave that stuff to my CUC, and I'm too lazy to siphon it out regularly.