Myers71

Ok, so i am a habitual lurker, not big on the social medias. Figured it was time to contribute to the greater good. I have learned alot from the members / posts here and on RC and thought i could share my experience (read mistakes) and help others avoid them in the future! Long story short back story. I have had a 55g standard for probably 12 years which had african chiclids up until about three years ago when i made the switch to saltwater. Got sand, some rock from a LFS and a pair of b&w ocellaris (still with me, tough little buggers) and off i went. I have gone from hang on the back skimming, to variations of sumps in the stand to my current set up which is a plumbed basement sump room (corner of the laundry room actually - i cant get authorization for a whole room I was very proud of my little sump room set up. And that is where my problems started. Started having issues with inverts (snails, crabs, worms) and my couple of attempts to add some hammers. Nothing stayed alive long. The corals slowly receeded and died over time. Snails and crabs started lasting a day or two after being added. But my tank was sparkling clean! No algae, clean white sand. Then the cyano started taking over, everywhere. I was stumped. Richard at ERC even tried to help (we are neighbors) but no luck. I eventually ordered up a testing kit from Triton labs. I suspected copper, but wasn't sure. Well, i got the results back and it was copper and zinc, here were my results. So the lightbulb went off after i got these results. I know there have been mixed reviews on Triton Labs, but have to say it did what i expected it to and confirmed my suspicions. I had plumbed a brass gate valve in my return line from the sump room. #Hasbrown NewbMistake #1. Brass = copper & zinc, and um corrodes in saltwater. Needless to say was pretty pissed at myself for basically nuking the tank. I figured my sand and rock were pretty much ruined for a reef tank at this point. So time to hit the reset button and might as well go bigger, right

Two oc clowns, one flame angel, one six line wrasse and one algae blenny all love it. They all find something diff they like. Except for the clowns, they would eat a shoe if I put it in the tank.so no prob for them. The female takes the biggest piece she can find and carries it around for a while. The flame was really picky when I first got him but now is right at the front of the glass with everyone when I get home and it's feeding time.

Nitrates are zero. I am going to wait it out. Doesn't seem to be getting worse, maybe a little better tonight. Behavior is fine, very active and inquisative.

Thanks that's where I was leaning. The lips thing I have seen come up in other forums sounds like it has been more common lately. But no definitive answers.

Need help with diagnosis. Have a new flame since last Friday. Generally doing well, eating mysis, grazing and just today saw it eating my lawnmowers poo ! I have been seeing some white discoloration, its lips and on one side. See pics below. Any ideas? Trying to figure out if i try and move it to QT or ride it out. It is in my DT (see my previous thread for tribulations adding new fish). Pics today (best i can do with point and shoot Sony): Pic from Friday

It must have known I was talking about it. Sitting on the couch reading forum posts and I hear a flapping sound coming from the tank area. My wrasse decided to carpet dive! Somehow it made it out of the 1" gap between my screen and the back of the tank. Got it back in and now its in hiding. Hope it's ok.

Lutz I tried it all. In bag, drip, etc. this last time with the wrasse I dripped it over 30 to 45 min. Still doing well. Thanks

All I can say is wow! This was a perfect way to kill four hours in dr waiting rooms today. I am all caught up. Thanks for sharing and I hope you get there soon would love to see it in action. I am inspired to finish my little basement sump room project now. Or maybe I can talk the wife into another addition

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I took many of them and happy to report that I added a six line wrasse Friday afternoon and it is doing very well so far. None of the signs the previous additions were showing. Got it from one of the LFS were I have had the best luck. Salinity there is right on so not as much acclimation issues. It looks good and has been eating since an hour after being added. Everyone appears to be getting along. So not sure if it was something in the water that I was able to clear or just better luck this time. Regards

Ok last thought. Could it be the bleach I use to clean my filter socks? Maybe i am using too much or not getting it out appropriately. I soak in bleach / water mix then rinse and soak in clean water and amquel. I am not always scientific about how much bleach I use. Was looking at the tank now and thinking that could also explain why it is so clean looking. Could my clowns and blenny acclimate to higher levels do chlorine, high enough to kill new additions? I just added amquel to the dt and a poly filter as coral hind suggested. Will that get it out of my rock, if that is the issue?

Hey Morgan. I feel my turn is good. Two koralias in the dt and my return from the sump is a sicce syncra 3.0. Zygote I wouldn't think pathogen given how well my current residents are doing and how quick the deaths occur for new additions. Got my sailfert ph and ammonia test kits today. Reading 8.0 and 0 ammonia. I also tested for voltage and current and read 3v and 0 current (on my fluke 77III). At my wits end here. I am ready to just start over except for the fact that I don't know what the H-E-double hockey sticks is going on and my current residents seem to be doing so well.

I am waiting on a sailfert ph test kit coming tomorrow. My last attempt was with 2 pajama cardinals from LFS, acclimated over 45 min then introduced into my dt. Same result. I have forgone the qt for the last few thinking the same thing you are.