My 55 Gallon FOWLR HELP :(

[Loverotties]

Put some power heads in to help with flow.

[EnZo]

I'm using two Hydor Koralia 4's. Those are efficient enough right? The Octopus BH-800S is gonna get to my house on the 5th. So no filter system until then... :| I guess if my live rock counts i have that... Should I am my power heads on the LR or just at the top of the water to create a current? Thanks.

[Fat Tony]

What are using for top off water? Tap, RODI, Distilled?

You have an algae or bacterial bloom going on there and need to run some carbon and do some hefty waterchanges to help clear it out.

One of the major issues I see is that you have two rather healthy eaters in you tank a puffer and a huma huma. The tank is really too small for both of them, and is really too small to begin with for the trigger. You pretty much have maxed out the bioload of that tank with the two fish you have in there. The protein skimmer will help, but you aren't going to be able to put anymore fish in that tank for the most part.

[ericgreg]

I agree with Tony. I would go so far as looking to get those fish out of the tank asap. Is there another store near you, that you could make a trade for? I don't know that I'd go back to the guy that sold you the fish in the first place. He seems to have missed some serious/obvious signs that your tank was not ready for these fish.
Once you get the fish out, do a massive water change using RO/DI water only, and specific gravity of 1.025-1.026. Put that skimmer on, and leave the tank alone for awhile. In 10 days, I'd take measurements for the following: ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and specific gravity, again. In the meantime, skim wet.
I'm sure you already have heard this before, but reefkeeping is an extremely slow process. I have been in the hobby for approx 3 yrs, and still a novice. I cut my teeth on a nano, and now have moved to a 55. I had this tank for approx 1 month before I put anything alive in it. Today, I have an extremely light bioload, and still do 20% bi-weekly water changes. And, I still get algae blooms, BUT, no deaths.
Good luck, and go slow!

[EnZo]

Thank you both for replying!

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

What are using for top off water? Tap, RODI, Distilled?

You have an algae or bacterial bloom going on there and need to run some carbon and do some hefty waterchanges to help clear it out.

One of the major issues I see is that you have two rather healthy eaters in you tank a puffer and a huma huma. The tank is really too small for both of them, and is really too small to begin with for the trigger. You pretty much have maxed out the bioload of that tank with the two fish you have in there. The protein skimmer will help, but you aren't going to be able to put anymore fish in that tank for the most part.

Currently I'm using tap water because I don't have another option. I was considering get the RODI system setup but is distilled water a good option? I'm definitely going to keep up with the water changes. I scrubbed the glass and did a good sand clear out yesterday and already the tank looks a lot cleaner. Strangely enough, the filter turned back on today so I changed the media in it and put some carbon in there so hopefully that helps clear things up. As far as the fish go, I'm definitely not going to add any more fish for a long time just for sake of the fish and well if I've already maxed out my bioload I suppose I shouldn't be in a hurry anyway.

Originally Posted by ericgreg

I agree with Tony. I would go so far as looking to get those fish out of the tank asap. Is there another store near you, that you could make a trade for? I don't know that I'd go back to the guy that sold you the fish in the first place. He seems to have missed some serious/obvious signs that your tank was not ready for these fish.
Once you get the fish out, do a massive water change using RO/DI water only, and specific gravity of 1.025-1.026. Put that skimmer on, and leave the tank alone for awhile. In 10 days, I'd take measurements for the following: ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and specific gravity, again. In the meantime, skim wet.
I'm sure you already have heard this before, but reefkeeping is an extremely slow process. I have been in the hobby for approx 3 yrs, and still a novice. I cut my teeth on a nano, and now have moved to a 55. I had this tank for approx 1 month before I put anything alive in it. Today, I have an extremely light bioload, and still do 20% bi-weekly water changes. And, I still get algae blooms, BUT, no deaths.
Good luck, and go slow!

Yeah, I'm actually pretty upset with the LFS because they kept telling me I was okay to go early on in my tank setup even though what I read online was the complete opposite. My salinity level is right around 1.025 and I aim to keep it right there so I'm glad you've recommended that level. I'm going to be checking all the levels closely over the next few weeks to make sure nothing goes wack and will do more water changes.

[EnZo]

How often do you think I should feed the porcupine puffer and humu trigger? I was feeding them daily but I heard I should cut down to every 2-3 days. I feed them shrimp pellets. Around how much should I feed them too? I don't want to overfeed which I think I was doing in the first place :|

[EnZo]

Update: I did a water change yesterday and my filter turned on today which It wouldn't before and the tank has cleared up nicely!
I did some tests, here are my results:
Salinty 1.024
pH 8.2
Ammonia (trace)
Nitrite .1
Nitrate 10
Alkalinity 252

[schmnr]

That great, hope everything works out for you, keep an eye on the ammmonia. I use water from walmart, the big Culagan dispensor thing, alot of people say not to use it, but it keeps my alge down. I have never had either of those fish, but I like to feed my fish frozen foods, you should be able to find frozen bags of krill, probably better then the shrimp tablets, but until the tank finishes cycling let them go on a little diet. less food = less poop

[unboundmind]

i wouldn't think so in and of itself

[EnZo]

I just got my Reef Octopus BH-800S skimmer today and it probably came with the worst instructions I've ever seen... I've read online about a few people complaining about that too. If anyone is familiar with this skimmer please drop me a line on how to properly set it up and if you have pictures that would be fantastic, thanks

[EnZo]

Here's a picture of it if you are experienced with skimmers and can just tell me what I need to do.

[Schreff]

Hang it on the back... plug it in, adjust your air tube so your geeting good bubbles and let it do its thing...

[cutietwo]

sounds like the tanks going through a cycle?..yet you have fish so maybe not. How long has the tank been set up? With the clown dying, having a humu and puffer as tankmates may not be the best idea. I do water changes every two weeks, about 13 gallons out of my 46. Remember slow is key for a great marine tank.

[cutietwo]

I have the octopuers bh-2000 hang on back skimmer. Love it but yes instructions were scarce Just hang it on the back, fill the intake chamber with water and plug her in, May have to make some minor adjustments. That one may take the siphon start though so it could be different. Call the company if you have to they are always happy to help

[EnZo]

Well it's been a bumpy ride but I think I'm already about to exit my adventure in the salt water world. I've spent too much money to be having the results I'm having. Today I did my regular water change and the all the parameters were fine and my porcupine puffer died and I don't know where my trigger is (he's small). I'm assuming it died too and it's in the rocks somewhere. Maybe this hobby isn't for me. I just can't for the life of me understand why this is happening. Like I said the water levels are fine.. The only thing I can think of what might of done it is a change in temperature in the tank. That is possible because I don't have a heater to watch over that stuff. Needless to say, I'm very sad and I don't want to 'torture' anymore fish.