asking for input

[devgru]

hello all.im new to the marine hobby(13yrs oscar breeding),and im looking for input concerning my 6mo old 55gFOWLR setup.i have a magnum350 canister(w/o bio's)using seachem MATRIX/emporer280(carbon)/penguin350(carbon)/perfecto lighting hood's(came w/tank)penguin1140 pwr hd/maxijet600 pwr hd/seioM820 pwr hd/ 20# sand and roughly 60# LR....NO sump/refug/skimmer....etc

my inhabitants are 2 percs/1 snowflake/2 peppermints/1 horshoe/several ea. BL leg/RD leg/scarlet's/BRN leg/astrea and 3 bumble bee's/1 feather duster.


water quality has been crystal since the cycle finished, except when i stir the sand before h2o changes(5% x2 a week).

ph/spec grav/ammonia/nitrate/nitrite/phos all test within limits.

1st problem is temp.house AC is always on and cool(tank is in liv rm/game rm).tank temp stays between 79.5-81.6 i heard this is high?

2nd, i use purple up to no avail.LR had some on it when purchased but will not seed elswhere.

3rd, my hermits are cannibals,eating each other(i supplement them with raw shrimp every 2-3 days(sml pcs left over from the eel feedings)

4th, ive lost fish before and after the eel was introduced.1 was my newly added bl tang and i also lost a lg diamond watchman goby(i meen i havent seen him in 1 week)eel?

my wife and i are upgrading to a 125g+ shortly.will be using the 55g as sump(modified of course with chambers for diff media).building DIY skimmer/kalk doser/phos reactor/co2 reactor/refugium(w/ macro)/detrius filter.......i enjoy building things and take great pride in them when they work.

any AND all input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mogurnda]

Problem 1: Not a problem. 80 and below is preferable, but my tank currently runs at about 82 and everyone is quite happy. For a while, there was even talk that higher temps were better. If you want to lower the temperature, have a fan blowing over the surface. That will shave a couple of degrees from evaporative cooling.

Problem 2: You really need to measure your calcium and alkalinity (essentially carbonate) levels to get an idea of whether the conditions are good for coralline. When you dose Purple Up without measuring Ca and Alk you have no idea of whether you are supplementing enough. Phosphate also inhibits calcification. When you say within limits, what is the actual value for PO4?

Problem 3: Feed the crabs more. In my experience, scarlets will not cannibalize, but I don't know anything about brown legs. They may also be murdering each other for shells; have you added extras for them to change into?

Problem 4: WHat kind of tang did you lose, and how did it die? Lots of things can kill fish, including things that happened before they reached your tank. Tangs are particularly sensitive, and I wouldn't add one until the tank has been settled for several months, and you are certain it is a healthy specimen.

Good luck.

 

[MonoSebaelover]

I agree with Dave, I keep my saltwater tank at 81-82 degrees, the fish respond to it better and the majority are warm water. Just remember that at higher temps you need more water flow to provide more oxygen. I would doubt the SFE would get the Blue Tang, guess it depends on the size of both, but the Eel is more than likely the culprit in the Gobies disappearence. Gobies are the perfect meal because they are long and slender so the eels can eat them. Anyway hope this helps and good luck!

 

[devgru]

thank you for your input

#1 OK temp is fine then,i had just heard that 74-78 was ideal

#2 im out of tests for PO4 but will pick more up on my usual weekly run to lps.

#3 the tang was a blue tang(sometimes called a hippo? i think)he was an inch long and fed the day i introduced him, he even picked out a favorite hiding spot/sleeping bed in a part of LR.the SFE is approx. 13-15" long and hasnt been agressive for the most(i hand feed him shrimp).in fact he only comes out from his den when hes hungry.i have 1"h x 3" x 3" rock adhered to the bottom of my tank and the LR placed on top of it.this gives him a place to burrow out himself.the watchman goby was pretty large and havent seen him for awhile now.the tang is M.I.A. no signs anywhere(his 1st day he swam too close to the m820 and was stuck for several minutes(i turned the pwr hd off to free him).

thanks to both of you for your fast response.i wasnt expecting anything for several days...kudos.again i will retest shortly and inform you....thanks again guys