Starter saltwater tank 55gal...need help?

Question

I had started with a 33 gal tank and had that for 2-3 months, then decided to upgrade to a 55 gal tank. I transfered all of the water from the 33 to the 55 gal, then filled the rest with water. Almost everyone has died since "the move".

I now have about 40 lbs of live rock, 5 hermit crabs, 1 carmel shrimp, snails, 4 damsels, a lemon peeel and a blue tang.

I am hoping to aventually turn this into a coral reef/fish tank (but that is for later)

Anyways, my Tang doesn't seem so happy, he seems to be rubbing against the rock.

any advice??

Answer 1

Did you have substrate, rock, and a filter from the 33 that you added to the 55 as well? That's where all the bacteria that cycle the wastes of the fish are located. Just moving the water does nothing to establish the new tank. Without the bacteria, the ammonia and/or nitrite may have climbed to levels that are fatal to your fish.

It's also possible that you introduced something along with the live rock that's causing their deaths. Even live rock (especially if you added water from the store's tanks) without a quarantine of several weeks has the potential to introduce parasites and bacterial diseases. It sounds as though your tang is showing signs of developing marine ich or marine velvet. I'll post a link at the end where you can get more info on these.

Besides the potential of pathogens, some organisms on the live rock will almost surely die whenever it's moved, so it's best to wait and test the water, and only add the fish once the ammonia and nitrite from the death of organisms on the live rock have been converted to nitrate. Then do a water change to reduce the nitrate level before adding a few fish. It will still take a few weeks before the new rock is cured and the tank cycled.

At this point, if you didn't use the old substrate, rock, or filter media, any bacteria on it may have died without a constant source of ammonia (and if it hasn't been kept wet and in oxygentated water). You may need to move either the rock and inverts (shrimp, hermits, and snails) or the fish back to the first tank while treating the other (once you've identified wat's happening with your tang). Medicating in the tank may harm the bacteria or the invertebrates. If you do this, the contents will have to stay separated for at least a month to give any parasites time to die for lack of a host.

See this link to try and identify what your tang may have - especially if you see any spots or grayness to the skin/slime coat: http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/disease.html Any name in red is a link to a page with more information about that condition. You might also try a freshwater dip to temporarily relieve any parasites, but if the fish goes back into the same tank, any in stages in the water may reinfect that or another of the fish - so all fish and the tank will need to be treated.

Answer 2

well blue tangs need about 70gals of really good water by there self. So the tang is not really a fish you want to keep in a 55 gal tank .
With the live rock you probly only have about 40gals of water so your really going to have to keep that in mind when you pick your stock.
Now to the rubing on stuff.
this time of year when it starts to get cold the temp change will some times trigger ich the first signs of ich is when your fish start rubing alot. So keep a close eye for ich.
Make sure you keep up on your water changes the tang will thank you for that.

Answer 3

pretty much u through off the cycle it goes though to get the right amount of bactira and u added another 20 gallons of water which really through it off thats why when u first start a tank u suppose to wait at least a few weeks b4 adding fish i would use purple stress coast bottle which u cant kill ur fish if u put the whole bottle in u can never put to much but on other stuff u can although other things u can and look for some dry bractira that ur local pet store might sell which work really good good luck.

Answer 4

You want this tank to be changed into a coral reef tank? Change the whole aquarium. Your tang dosent seem happy? Its probably because of depression because you only have 1 tang.

Answer 5

Sterilize the destination before the transfer next time. Also, let the water sit 6 days before adding to the tank and adjusting saline levels.

Answer 6

4 clown fish with 2-3 damsel fish or both because i have a 100 gallon tank. welc

Answer 7

Tangs are picky.Why would you move a tank?If you wanted a bigger tank,fine,why disrupt an established tank?You dug your own grave here.Good Luck.

P.S. If you want a reef tank,buy a new tank...don't disrupt another established tank.....AGAIN!