walter

2 words. Sea Hare

from another thread I thought so too, so I checked them. Well at least the known culprits. Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0ppm, Nitrates=~20-30ppm, Phosphates=0, chlorine=0, ph is 8.2, alk is good Im using DI water only (A. Calfo uses it too so dont bash). Maybe its the nitrates. Time for a water change. My friend keeps telling me to wait till they get a little higher like 40ppm, but every time I test its around 20. Im building a sump/fuge so I can make that my water change. I hope to add some chaeto too. just a quick look on the internet..Nitrates = food for algae. I need to get it down to less than 5. Could this be the problem? Why had i not did a water change before? Well because I thought my tank was still cycling. Nitrites would go down, but ammonia would go up slightly. So I waited. Well I guess I can say my tank has cycled. sort of update or question. Saw this on wetweb media. Is it true? I use api test strips (I know, there are more accurate tests) <nitrate can be measured as nitrate-nitrogen or as an ion. The actual nitrate level on most test kits is a multiple (4.4) of your given reading. As such, your 25 ppm is actually over 100ppm. You have hardy creatures, however, and have noticed that things are relatively fine for now. However, many inverts and some fish such as the Angels, butterflies and tangs will almost suffer certainly in time from exposure. Do aim for under 10ppm> I also feed everyday. I should switch to every other day? Another quick question. Im using a filter sock. Does this make the nitrates high too. I try to change them every 3 days, but honestly its more like 1/ week

I thought so too, so I checked them. Well at least the known culprits. Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0ppm, Nitrates=20ppm, Phosphates=0, chlorine=0, ph is 8.2, alk is good Im using DI water only. Maybe its the nitrates. Time for a water change. My friend keeps telling me to wait till they get a little higher like 40ppm, but every time I test its around 20. Im building a sump/fuge so I can make that my water change. I hope to add some chaeto too. just a quick look on the internet..Nitrates = food for algae. I need to get it down to less than 5. Could this be the problem? Why had i not did a water change before? Well because I thought my tank was still cycling. Nitrites would go down, but ammonia would go up slightly. So I waited. Well I guess I can say my tank has cycled. sort of update or question. Saw this on wetweb media. Is it true? <nitrate can be measured as nitrate-nitrogen or as an ion. The actual nitrate level on most test kits is a multiple (4.4) of your given reading. As such, your 25 ppm is actually over 100ppm. You have hardy creatures, however, and have noticed that things are relatively fine for now. However, many inverts and some fish such as the Angels, butterflies and tangs will almost suffer certainly in time from exposure. Do aim for under 10ppm> Ill start a new thread. sorry to the OP

Not the OP but how do you know when you need new lights? I heard they last 2 yrs. truth? I just bought the lights from a member at was told that they have at least 5 more months left. Im starting to get green algae on the sand and rocks. Had PC before but had to keep the lights to a 2-4hr photo period because it was getting bad. I thought the new lights would fix this. Sorry to threadjack but I had t5 questions too.

is that light spillage on the right wall? How do I get rid of it? Thats wasted light right?

Im not the OP, but I would think fish wouldnt be surviving 6 days after adding them if they were in shock. I usually float the bag for 30m then add a little tank water for 5 min then dump them in. All have survived.

Josh, Take a look at this. http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/weekly/aa101602.htm Stray Voltage in Saltwater Aquariums two line from the article # Sudden Death of Tank Inhabitants - Many aquarists have tested for voltage leaks in their tanks after experiencing a sudden and otherwise inexplicable loss of fish in their tanks and found that a faulty appliance used in conjunction with their tank was the cause. # Unusual Behavior of Tank Inhabitants - When continuos strange behavior such as a rapid and jerky swimming pattern or frequent quivering of tank inhabitants is observed, many aquarists have discovered that the cause was stray voltage. Worth a check

Thanks. That thing was a pain to move behind my tank. Lets just say everything I could have done wrong with setting up my tank I did. Outlet in the middle of the tank, Tank really close to wall, no stud above the tank, vent about the tank, Structure a little taller than I needed it to be, etc. But like you said it did work out. Your project turned out fantastic too.

I actually got it to work. The problem was that the light was too heavy and would cause the virtical pole to bend. I simply attached a eyehook behind it at the bend and attached a metal wire to the pole and the hook. Problem solved.

I tried this and it didnt work. My Tek 6 light is too heavy. I need to find either another option or something to brace the vertical PVC. Cant find a stud near my tank. Afraid of the lights coming through the drywall into the tank. Any suggestions?

How do clean light reflectors

What size is that pvc? 1/2"?

Going to get a light set, but there are no studs over the tank. So I dont want to put them in the drywall and have it come through. I was thinking about building a pvc hanger of sorts, but dont know if that will work. Can anyone give suggestions on how to hang lights without being able to put them in the ceiling? maybe something like this:

Ok so some of you might remember my post about a month or so ago about me buying 2 clowns, a peppermint shrimp, a turbo snail, and cerith snail, and a few hermits. Anyways within 2 days both clowns died to trama, the turbo and the shrimp disappeared from the tank all together. I moved rocks and still nothing. So I chocked it up as them dieing and ...i dont know what. My ammonia never spiked so I counted it as good bacteria countering it. Well about 2 weeks ago the turbo snail shows up. Im like WOW there you are. Then I get hope from the shrimp. Side question: Are snails usually this sediment? They seem to find a place and stay there for days on end. Their alive because when i try to move them, they are stuck (holding onto the glass or rock). Back on topic: Anyways about 3 days ago I see this white blob on the left of my sand. Im like what is that? I poke it with my net and it rips open and I see what looks like crab claws and a crab face (eyes and tentacles). I shed a tear and get scared again because of the clown incident. I remove it from the tank and check my ammonia level. Went from 0 to .50 from the day before. The next day I see another blob in the same place. Just more of the same. I assume its from the same animal (although i dont see any empty shells other than the ones i put in there). I scope it out and dig around the sand to get any pockets of dead animal out. Well here is the kicker. This morning I go to look at my tank and I see what looks like the peppermint shrimp I put in there about a month ago. Its in the same spot as the decomp bubble. Full body intact (but dead). The antenna are moving but I think its the current. Crabs and snails are near it. snails are having a good ol time. It looks translucent other than the tail. Check ammonia levels and its between .25 and .5. I will leave the carcass in there for the mean time. So this brings me to the question at hand (yeah I know i could have just asked). Anyways. I have read about 3 month molting stories. Is this a shell molt or the deceased resident? Why show up now? Did I crush it when I moved the rocks? Do peppermint shrimps hide in the sand? I thought they hid in rocks. Can I leave it in there for food? Anyways. I have since the original incident got 2 true clowns, a cleaner shrimp, many snails and crabs (thanks again trockafella). Other than one of my chromis doing the out of tank dive (still think the clowns made it do it (they took the chromis hiding spot)) Every thing is alive and playing nicely. The clowns are even letting the shrimp clean it. I have also somehow got a pod colony going. Food for everyone Thanks for answering my questions and putting up with my LONG story and (side notes)