265 Gallon Salt

[thisissimple]

there is the possibility that if excess amquel was used that it is still binding all the available nitrogenous compounds - I don't think we have a micro algal bloom yet as the tank is too new, possible, but I think unlikely yet.

What worries me about the amquel is that unless those bound nitro compounds are removed via filtration, they could feasibly rear their ugly heads again as the amquel breaks down. Regardless, when it runs out (if this is what is happening) the tank wont have the capacity to handle this load. Hopefully it wears out slowly and the bacteria develop accoridingly.

I recommend lots of redunant testing for now, at least once a day. We'll need to see when the amquel wears out. Keep up water changes, and clean out the first canister. You can (and probably should) clean these on different intervals.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

I got the skimmer setup. It wont fit under the stand and not able to hang it on the side unless someone can give me an idea on how to do so. I had to get a valve because the cup was filling up with water. The video I posted has water in the cup which isnt supposed to be there correct? I turned the valve down so the cup wouldnt fill up and overflow. I know it will take a few days to break in but when it starts to skim all the junk will it all just fall in the cup? Will the cup fill up with water as well?

Here is a video of the setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9PY4N1bzpI

I have another 125 salt setup but only with 1 Emperor 400 and a sump rated for 125, will that be sufficient?

 

[sbuse]

not sure on the skimmer as i have never used one. i have an 'overstocked' salt tank aswell. i have a bio-system75, a regent 200 or 400 i don't remember, and a powerhead that is somewere in the range of 125gph. 25lbs of live rock and 20lbs of agragite reefsand. i aswell have picture perfict water.

they say with enough sand and live rock a system can thrive on flow alone. just monitor your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. adjust your filtration and flow as needed. go alittle slower on the stocking to give the system time to adjust and go from there.

i am not going to dis on you as i also make my own rules to fish keeping and have strong healthy fish to show for it. the fish shouldn't be scraping like that though.

one thing is that you should go easy on the prime as to much prime can kill your fish. i don't remember the name of the chemical in it that dose the killing, but it will.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

I think the issue with scratching is high metals in my water. I live in an apt and when the water goes down the drain after a period of time you will see a orange and blank ring around the drain. I did some reading about fish scratching and this is one of the causes. I dont see ich on my fish.

 

[sbuse]

could be. i also live in an apt with simmilar metal heavy water and drain rings. i might have just enough to leave the rings, but not enough to make the fish react. idk i haven't read that note before or i did and just don't remember it. if it is the metals you shoould get a metal remover and try it.

 

[FLESHY]

If you think its the metals, its time for RO/DI filtration.

 

[spotfin]

I think the issue with scratching is high metals in my water. I live in an apt and when the water goes down the drain after a period of time you will see a orange and blank ring around the drain. I did some reading about fish scratching and this is one of the causes. I dont see ich on my fish.

Request a report from the town/city water department. They should be testing the public water supply several times a year and are required to make this information available to the public.

On a side note, I think you are eventually going to run into big problems with your livestock. Where did your purchase all these fish from? Judging by the size of most of them, they most likely came from another hobbyist.

 

[FLESHY]

Request a report from the town/city water department. They should be testing the public water supply several times a year and are required to make this information available to the public.

Good place to start, we have had this done twice...because we have well water we just took a sample to the local university for testing.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

Heres an udate on my fish

I moved all the small fish to the 125 which are:

1 Banded Cat Shark
2 Zebra Moray Eels
1 Maroon Clown
1 Blue Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Kole Tang
1 Clown Tang
1 Saddleback Butterfly
1 Emperor Angel
1 Huma Huma
1 Fumanchu Lionfish
1 Naso Tang
1 Goatfish
1 Regal Angelfish

Stock in the 265:

1 Orbiculate Batfish
1 Yellowbar Angelfish
1 Stars and Stripes Puffer
1 Durgeon Trigger
1 Tesselatta Eel

I moved the small fish in the 125 because I found this eel and had to have it. I'm impatient to wait for fish to grow and want them big now.

I did lose some fish which are:

Goat Fish - Replaced
Copperband Butterfly - Will get another one soon
Bi-Color Angelfish - Cant get another because of other Angelfish
Engineer Goby - Will not buy another one

These fish died not because of my water but because one of my puffer ate them. Even with all the live rock one of them managed to get them. So I traded in the Porcupine for some new fish and live rock and a skimmer. The Stars is looking for a new home and once he is gone I'm getting a Golden Puffer.

I added:

1 Skimmer rated for a 150 Gallon Tank to the 125
1 Wet/Dry rated for a 150 Gallon Tank to the 125
1 Skimmer rated for a 400 Gallon Tank to the 265
1 Wet/Dry rated for a 500 Gallon Tank to the 265

On the 265 Im changing the cup 1 - 2 times each day, I have yet to change the cup on the 125 as it is still new with small fish. I had a 700 GPH pump that was used which died on me and upgraded to a 1200GPH pump on the 265. Since I cant put the sump under the tank because its to tall or hang it on it's still on top of the glass lids.

I added another blue light to the 265 which makes it look a lot better without the cloudy look. Also removed the heaters in both tanks and put them in the Wet/Dry and removed the Air Stones.

I will post pics/videos or the weekend.

 

[FLESHY]

Removed the airstones completely?

I would replace them.

You now have a terribly overstocked 125g.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!