| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
09-27-2006, 04:20 PM
|
#1
|
|
Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,756
|
Watching for the signs
Most of us who have been in this hobby for a while have developed a sixth sense about our fish and coral. We can tell by the smallest sign when something is wrong and some can even figure out the exact problem by the sign alone.
I would like to hear some of the things you look for without testing and the results you have found. we all know that algae is a result of phosphates/ nitrates... so lets hear the stranger ones. 
PE
Skittish fish
hiding
behavoir changes
eating changes
coloration
etc...
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
__________________
I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 04:27 PM
|
#2
|
|
clown fishy
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: sunny southern california
Posts: 597
|
little dead brittles everywhere=sg change(saw a million little brittles like a quarter inch after adding too much fw.)
ill think of better ones
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 04:46 PM
|
#3
|
|
Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,756
|
that is a good start though... you can tell a lot by the dead fauna in the tank/LR/Sandbed.
__________________
I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 05:01 PM
|
#4
|
|
Stinky Slimey FEESH
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,907
|
Things I have noted recently when water conditions haven't been great:
1. Corals/zoos/polyps not opening or looking "burnt" and shriveled
2. Shrimp, crabs and snails not moving, or moving slowly.
3. Fish swimming very slowly and not picking or trying to eat anything.
4. Absence of any coraline algae.
HHC
__________________
You can't kill a fish born to hang.....
135-gal Oceanic reef, MH, PC, Lunar
12-gal Nanocube
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 07:37 PM
|
#5
|
|
Noo Doot Aboot It!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Prince George
Posts: 2,768
|
Coralline die off, no polyp extension and anemones shrivelling up= w/c or carbon replacement to me or Ca problems |
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 07:40 PM
|
#6
|
|
Noo Doot Aboot It!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Prince George
Posts: 2,768
|
Sound of dribbling water is definately a leak  |
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 08:41 PM
|
#7
|
|
Human grounding probe
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,803
|
When my skimmer freaks and the carpet looks freshly vacumed I know my wife used carpet fresh.
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 08:50 PM
|
#8
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toledo OH
Posts: 4,889
|
I mostly just watch my zoos or polyps. they seem to be the first when something starts to get off......they don't open like they normally do!
__________________
Nano reef in the works
TIM MADE ME DO IT, Yet Robert made him do it, yet Casey made him do it!
Yet the voices in all their heads made them do it (skeety)
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 08:56 PM
|
#9
|
|
Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,756
|
I found a really good one with my tank collapse... when the algae dies off for no reason... then you have a really bad problem! 
__________________
I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 09:05 PM
|
#10
|
|
It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
|
keeping an eye on the amount of surface scum on the tank.
keeping an eye on the colour of the water is a good thing.
G~
__________________
Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 09:11 PM
|
#11
|
|
Shark
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York City area
Posts: 2,758
|
Listen for noises obsessivly to see if something is malfuncting, check for excess bubbles, polyps extension, fish respiration, and overall color of the animals/ enviroment
__________________
J
|
|
|
|
|
09-27-2006, 11:14 PM
|
#12
|
|
Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,756
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff
keeping an eye on the amount of surface scum on the tank.
keeping an eye on the colour of the water is a good thing.
G~
|
I really like this and do it every day. Color is great for the overall water health (fish don't like swimmin in their own pee) and the scum on the surface is good to tell about amount of solids that are not being skimmed out as well as a lack of water movement.
__________________
I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
|
|
|
|
|
