Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Past couple of days my Starki Damsel has been hiding a bit. Yesterday I noticed he wouldn't eat but I thought it might've been the new food I tried feeding. Today I wanted to see him eat and tried all the foods he normally would eat, but he would only look at the food, not eat it. He's usually a greedy pig when its feeding time, and is normally out and about the majority of the time, so I'm now sure something is wrong The only other issue in the tank currently is my Blue Tangs whitespot, which seems to be going away. None of the other fish/inverts are acting any different or showing any signs of being unhappy (Yellow Tang, Blue Tang, Firefish, 2x Clowns & 2x Cleaner Shrimp) Checked tank params before: NH4 - 0 NO2 - 0 NO3 - 1.0 Tank is just starting the red cyano stage. SG 1.024 and temp 26 but gets to 27.8 during the day. I've had the Damsel for about 3 months, he was the first fish that went in. Has shown aggression towards the firefish and blue tang, but none of this seems to be happening now. The Blue Tang does flare up when it gets close so perhaps its bullying? I wouldn't think that would be the issue though? Anyone got any ideas? I dont really wanna lose the wee guy but at the moment its not looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Not sure what the problem could be without seeing the damsel, Best us to keep an eye on the tank and see if you notice anything, Pointless taking the damsel out as curing fish has less than 30% success rate. Just leave it and hope he pulls thru. The cyno is a bit of a problem as it means you have nutrients in the water, much be the clean CHCH tap water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Cyno is also a very common part of the cycling process, i'm only about 4 months in But yes I get your point, and I plan on getting an RO unit after Xmas I was planning on setting up a QT tank in the weekend to put my Blue Tang in due to it having whitespot (maybe dose something), and I think its bullying the damsel more than I realised. Or is there no point in doing this either? Bit concerned that if I do have a death, I'll have to pull all the rockwork out to find the body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 why do you have to pull out the body? it will be gone in a few days? crabs, snails etc will eat it, i never pull small fish out as they get eaten within a few days. I would say your tank is getting white spot because of the temperature flucuations, it is a problem as it is not even hot yet, Since your tang has white spot i would get him out with the damel and treat with copper in a bare tank/ best to do it early as it is easier to treat, All you need is a bare tank, air stone, heater and a few rocks. get cupermine a copper product fom seachem. Your tank is still very new so you do have to watch teh stocking levels, even if you put in live rock, I see so many hobbyist get live rock and think they can go and stock the tank uo with fish,. what normally happens is that they get diseases,. Hobbyist end up killingfish due to stocking to quick, seen it so many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 I knew the shrimps would have a go at the body, but the snails? I dont think i'd be able to catch the Damsel, he may be unwell but he's still bloody quick. The tang wouldn't be to difficult. It hides in a rock that I can get to Reef you'll have a good idea of whats gunna work. I was planning on puttng a couple of PC fans in to try cool it down. I'm only keeping LPS and soft corals but running 3x39w T5's and 2x18w T8's. To do it properly, I'd need to take out 1 of the T5's (which I spent quite a while changing the tank to put it in). Is that 3rd T5 going to make much difference? The tank gets HEAPS of sunlight during the day if that makes any diff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 So you want to remove 1x39w t5s? Do you have a photo of your tank? i cant fiind any? should be ok to remove the t5. I would also start the t5s say after 3pm to keep the heat down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Yep just 1 T5 to remove. Found lighting such a pain in a corner bowfront tank and spent so long finding a T5 bar to fit, and creating new cover panels to add a 3rd T5, but if its going to have enough light with the 2 T5's (i'm not planning SPS at all) then the health of the fish is more important than the extra bit of light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antipodes Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 A lot of individuals use chillers for cooling in the summer months. However I am using a heat exchanger using tap water for the cooling source. As I am using a aquarium computer, I have used that to control a solenoid valve which turns the water on and off. It feeds through alcathan tubing coiled in the sump through to the drains. Works well at the moment, but intend to make a stainless heat exchanger for better heat transference. As we do not pay for extra water charges in CHC, this seemed the best economical option for me. Chillers can soon rack up a significant amount on your electrical bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 To be honest i would keep the 3x39w t5s. Did you make your own the light up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 sorry mate, no sump to work with in this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 hope the tang gets better soon hes a cool fish how often do you see the Damsel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Make my own light hood up u mean? Yeah pretty much. I purchased one of the Arcadia T5 "I" Bars which fit in place of the original T8 lights that came with the tank, and then pissed around for ages with black acrylic to cut out new covers to fit another light in. Was hoping for 2 more lights but there just wasn't any room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 I'll see the Damsel everytime I goto the tank. If I wait around for a few minutes he'll normally come out to see whats going on. Its the non eating thing which has me worried though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 The PC fan cooling idea does make quite a difference in the heat fluctuations. My partner made me a fan for my tank using a 12volt power supply and a computer fan for $3 from the shed. i run the fan all day when i'm at work, today was pretty hot and when i got home at around 5 the temp was 25 degrees (prior to the fan it had reached 28 degrees on days that weren't so hot) so i definitely recommend getting your fan done asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 What size is the fan? I've got a few that i've pinched out of dicky powersupplies at work, they're about 80mm, and i've got 1 decent sized 120mm one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 ill have to get a fan as well then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 I'll flick you whatever ones I dont use Wilson, I've got about 5 and i'll prob only need 2 or 3, and theres always more turning up at work haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 i'd say 10cm, its attached to plastic struts. i have a juwel tank so what i do is remove one of the flaps and position it so that it spans the gap between the flaps and points down towards the wate surface Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 You should be able to run a chiller with out a sump if you had to, water goes out of the tank into a pump and the pump pushes the water thru the chiller and back into the tank, so no chiller required. Wish could have a chiller, my power load is at its max in my room so i cant get a chiller going. lucky that my aquarium computer turns off my halides if the temp goes over 28c. great computer, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 However I am using a heat exchanger using tap water for the cooling source. Very innovative idea Antipodes, although I doubt you will get a tick from the water conservation board! Just wondered how effective it would be during summer, when tap water can get reasonably warm itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Just wondered how effective it would be during summer, when tap water can get reasonably warm itself? just use the cold tap :lol: it warms up a bit but not alot where i am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Chiller isn't an option, I'll work out something with fans. Good news aswel, Damsel ate something this morning. Bad news, Blue Tang looking worse. I'll sort out a QT tank tonight and try to catch it. White and brown spots now. Still very active but not looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Blue Tang looking worse. Get that temperature down asap. This whitespot thing is something that crops up every year at this time as temperatures go up. Even my yellow tang was flicking yesterday. An ugly but cheap as quick fix is get a small household fan from somewhere like the Warehouse, and an electric household timer. whole deal less than 50 bucks. Or to spend a little more get a pc style fan a big one though, which will be tidier. Time it to come on through the danger peroid, and point the fan, at a slight angle, right at the water surface, enough strength to cause decent surface agitation. Sooner the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Get that temperature down asap. This whitespot thing is something that crops up every year at this time as temperatures go up. Even my yellow tang was flicking yesterday. An ugly but cheap as quick fix is get a small household fan from somewhere like the Warehouse, and an electric household timer. whole deal less than 50 bucks. Or to spend a little more get a pc style fan a big one though, which will be tidier. Time it to come on through the danger peroid, and point the fan, at a slight angle, right at the water surface, enough strength to cause decent surface agitation. Sooner the better. I've just plonked a giant office fan in the corner of my room to blow the hot air out into the hallway - seems to keep the tank below 28 degrees, which is better than the 31-32 is was hitting a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Lights are off for today until I can get home and start my fan creation. I was going to setup a QT tank, but do you think theres no point in this for WS? My Yellow Tang is good as gold which is confusing, though it is about twice the size of the BT. Got 4x 80mm & 1x 120mm of these waiting at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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