Beth191987

I have been having trouble. I just recently lost two green chromis, whether it is from bad environment or the blue velvet damsel killing it I don't know. But I am just having to do a lot of work because I am bad and don't have all the stuff I need and don't have the money to get it. So I am going to be giving the three fish back to the fish store soon. I don't want them to suffer. Maybe some time down the rode when I have an awesome job to support my expensive hobby hehe. But for now I am going to keep my 8 baby moons and only them and whenever there time is up I will probably take a break. But you never know how long those cute babies will live so I might not be sad because they will keep me company!
Thank you for everyones help and Good luck!!

capekate

Hi Beth,
Im so sorry to hear your trouble with the SW tank. I wish I can offer some solutions for you, but I only have FW tanks. Tho I have lost fish and I certainly can understand your frustrations. The money and expertise that is required of a SW tank has kept me away from starting one, tho I really do love the SW fish. They are so beautiful, nothing compares to them.
I was looking at your aquarium info, and was wondering if that 76* was a little too cool for SW fish? I dont know.. just wondering about it.
Well, at least you have your FW fish tank.. and I wish you the best of luck with it.

~ kate

Beth191987

Yes SW fish are so beautiful and full of life. Yes they like more around 80 degrees. Our apartments heat doesn't work so we were running on electric heaters so the heater in the tank was having to work some over time just trying to keep up but it has been around 80 degrees for awhile now since it is getting warmer.

Gozer_1

Aww, I'm sorry to hear it. SW is most certainly an expensive hobby. I hope you change your mind and decide to give it one more go. There were times when I'd look at my tank and think, "Why am I doing this?". lol It's an impressive amount of work. If you don't have the time (who ever does really) to spend on a fish tank, it gets really hard to keep up. Summer is a nightmare for me. I'm gone before the lights ever come on and home after they shut off. makes day time feeding kinda difficult. Think about it for awhile before you give up. Give it a couple more weeks and see how you feel. You've come this far. OK enough with the pressure. Good luck with what ever choice you make. If you feel the fish will be happier with another owner then it is very good of you to see to it. Absolutely the best thing to do if you can't keep them.

I hope your other fish live forever so you never get out of the hobby. HAha, you're stuck with fish addiction FOREVER. No break for you.

sirdarksol

I'm with Kate on why I don't have a marine tank. I really really really want a moray eel, but if I'm going to bother to set up a saltwater tank (particularly with the rock formations an eel needs), I want to go all the way, get live rock and live sand, and maybe even put a few soft corals in the tank. I just can't afford to do this, and, from my experience with my FW tanks, I need to become more disciplined in caring for my tanks before I can start one up. (Okay, it helps that my wife would kill me if I suddenly brought home hundreds of dollars worth or rocks )

I fully understand the sentiment of not wanting the fish to suffer and applaud you for making that decision. So many people wait until all of their fish are dead before making a call like that.

If you want to work your way up to a full saltwater tank, you could set the 55g up as a brackish tank. There are a number of neat fish that live in brackish water.

Hope things go well. Let us know if you have any questions.

Scooter

Sorry to hear about your troubles. If this is what you feel is best, you are making a good decision for the fish and their health.

But if its not too late...
You said your heat doesn't work so your using an electric heater for your apartment. I have read many places that the most important thing about the temp of your tank is to make sure it stays constant. My 12gal is about or just under 74. It may seem low but the fish are doing fine. By keeping it at this temp during the winter in Montana 3 don't have much change based on the weather outside and the tank heater doesn't have to work so hard to keep up.

As for the equipment
You said you didn't have, please explain. If you have a FO tank, I am sure you have the basics like filter, heater, light, and maybe a powerhead or two to move some water. It may seem like you don't have all of the gadgets but you really don't need them for FO. Just keep a closer eye on your water quality and weekly maintenance. In my 12gal Fowlr eclipse, it only has one pump to move water across a mechanical/chemical filter then through a biowheel.

So there is my 2cents I was saving for my next sw purchase that will now have to wait till next month. I wish you luck in what ever decision you make.

Scooter

agsansoo

Beth, If it's not too late, try leaving the light on longer and covering the top of the tank more completely. This will cause a greenhouse effect, keeping the warm air in the tank longer. Causing the temp to raise.

PS - I would take back the damsel. When I first started my tank, one killed two clownfish and tormented the rest. My .

Beth191987

Yeah I noticed when i left the light on the temp was higher. I am not having that trouble any more since it has warmed up but thank you.

You really think I should get rid of my blue velvet damsel? I love him but I think he is the one who killed the other fish. Ok well I think i will do that first and see about getting more of the fish that he killed and go from there. Sad but maybe that way I could get some other cool peaceful fish. The thing is he gets along so well with my clown it is weird.

I will let you know what i do soon. And i really do appreciate your two cents!!

agsansoo

Keep us posted !

Beth191987

I have a question. If there was one piece of equipment that I could buy that would help my tank and make things easier on me when it comes to water changes what would you suggest? I actually bought a syphn thing but well it wont reach my kitchen sink so that kind of made me mad. But I was think of something different then that, something that is in the tank all the time.
Or if you have any suggestions on something you think I should have that will help me out big time. But lets keep this to one thing right now, the thing you would suggest the most.

agsansoo

For me it was my RO/DI unit. I just turn a couple of valves, fill a five gallon bucket, add salt and stir with powerhead and heater. Wait a 24 hours. Take five gallons out of my display tank, replace with new saltwater. Finished.

Fill 5 gallon jug with RO/DI freshwater for one gallon daily top-off water.

needabiggertank

Hi Beth
I'm a new comer to fishlore but i have had my tank for almost three years. My two cents for you is...... your doing something right if not everything if fish are living in your tank and i agree with what someone else said on here, I cant find the post at the moment but if a fish is getting picked on the stress will be the death of them. Damsels are quick and pick at slower fish. Chromis can move but are so peaceful and don't fight back. They get bullied to death. I hope you keep going. Your saltwater fish will fall in love with you as you did with them.
p.s. protein skimmers help with maintenance if you don't have one. And fish like swimming in currents and you have a FO tank so you can put a hydor coralia 3 power head in your tank it would be good.

Beth191987

Ok I will surely take back my damsel. I was looking up those three things you have told me to look in to getting. But I was wondering if you would give me a web page address of the certain product you think would be best. The three things suggested where RO/DI system, protein skimmer, and the hydor coralia 3 power head.

needabiggertank

petsolutions.com has a pic of the hydor Koralia sorry i spelled it wrong earlier. But check out the LFS before buying on line. Protien skimmers are also on there i have a coralife needle wheel. It was easy to set up and cleaning is also easy. RO/DI units can be purchased at Costco if you have one near you. Do you have fish only?

Beth191987

Yes I have fish only but I am wanting to put some live rock in. No coral or anything though.

Beth191987

i am loving this website you gave me thanks.

needabiggertank

With only live rock and fish you can have alot of current i would go with the powerhead first Your very welcome

JVzer0

Make sure to cure the live rock before adding it!