Sad Sad News

[Nick]

If you don't mind water changes to keep waste in the puffer-acceptable range, go ahead and use a cannister instead of a skimmer. But after a half a year, that gets way more expensive than the skimmer. Skimmers remove dissolved waste. Filters can never do that, they're not a substitute, they only trap particle waste. 30 years ago, cannister filters were a good idea for salt water tanks. Skimmers and live rock are the new way it's done for most hobbyists, as they usually don't like to change a lot of water in a salt water tank anymore.

[edmlfc1]

First let me say I'm very sorry for your loss. I know how much it hurts to loose a porc. I lost mine today.

Nick, that's a great explanation. I don't think anyone has every put it to me that way. Now I truely understand why you shouldn't use a canister on saltwater. I learned something new today. I seriously thought about taking down the sump and putting a canister back on my tank. I'm glad I read this, I'm going to leave things as they are. It really makes sense to me now. Thanks Nick.

Btw: Happy, when I moved my tank, I left just enough water to cover the sand. I didn't touch the sand. I probally kept about 10% of the water. Just enough to move the fish. I had a mini cycle for about 2 days. No ammo. just nitrite (.25). Everything turned out well. This was on a 90 gallon tank. It made the tank a little heavier for the move but it all turned out ok. Good luck on your next move.

[recombinantrider]

I'm so sorry about your loss. I can't even imagine losing a porcupine puffer Be strong.

[Happy_Puffer]

edmlfc1 I'm so sorry about your puffer, I know how hard you worked to save her . I bought the canister filter since my boss told me it was better. Thank you Nick for telling me that, but I had 2 filters running on my tank and everyone was fine so I think I will be ok. I don't mind doing water changes and I do them all the time anyway. I want another puffer but I know I have to get a bigger tank first. I will miss her though, I just sit and stare at an empty tank. My nitrates are still high but everything else has gone down so I think I'm gonna do another water change and see how things are and maybe put some more fish in there by Wednesday. Thank you guys for being so helpful!!

[t1gerbee]

Please don't put more fish in there yet.

you really need to be patient now, or you could end up with the same situation all over again.

please listen to me about this, you've lost alot of fish in a short period of time and your porc also had ich for a long time...

now you have no fish, you need to leave the tank EMPTY of all fish for 8 weeks, that is the only way to starve the ich parasite, otherwise it will just infect any new fish you have...

the ich parasite is still alive and well in your tank, even if you can't see it... it needs to be starved of fish for 8 weeks to die....

8 weeks, no fish, just keep the bacteria fed with ammonia ( a bit of fish food) keep up 10% water changed weekly to keep the nitrates in check and allow the tank to re-settle now, to stabilise, to mature...


please be patient, you've lost alot of fish in not alot of time, use the next 8 weeks to look at protein skimmers, fish size/compatibilty and work out a good stock list for the size tank you have..

then in 8 weeks, you'll be ready to add one fish ....

then a few weeks later add another, nothing should happen quickly with marine tanks, it's a slow build up that will have a lasting result...

please....

[Happy_Puffer]

I don't think anything lived the move. I know the puffer had ich but no one else did, and she actually got rid of it just before the move. I heard to leave the tank empty for 2 weeks and then if the levels are good then I can add fish. I already bought a porc to replace the one I lost since it wasn't mine but I haven't picked her up yet. I am gonna let my friend get her on Wednesday since his tank is fine and all fixed now. My boyfriend and I agreed that we are only going to buy 2 fish for the tank since we have to move it again in a short time and I don't want to lose all my fish again. My boss said that I could bring the fish to the store when I move so just in case that happens again. We have a salt water molly in there now to help with the cycling process and its almost done. I bought a canister filter and I don't think I am going with the skimmer. I didn't have one before and I have been talking to a lot of people that say they have never used one and have no problems. Next time I move the tank I am going to leave the sand and move it on a board so that I don't have to move the sand again. Thank you for the help and I am going to take it slow but I didn't even wait 8 weeks when I started the tank and if its cycled then I want to put something in there I know I might be stupid but it worked last time and I know that nothing survived the move since it started to recycle. Thanks for the help and I'm not going to put fish in till I know they will be ok. It has been a week and the levels are looking good so I think things are going well for now!

[Nick]

The salt water ich parasite may take up to 8 weeks to be totally clear of the system at full salinity, from when the last fish died, that's why everyone is saying to wait that long.

[t1gerbee]

if nothing lived through the crash, your tank will need to re-cycle from scratch.. being a salt water tank, this takes a number of weeks, not a few days...

if the cycle bacteria is still alive, then so is the ich parasite....

again, 8 weeks needed...

It will be worth it, losing another porc through impatience is not a good move...



I do not understand why you ask for advise and then ignore it all, we are trying to help here.

[pufferfreak]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=136531

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=139738

read these post on natural tanks. i find them very effective. with my old puffer hero i had this setup.

[t1gerbee]

if you had $$$$$ of live rock and loads of flow, and kept the tank understocked it could work...

[cobra1713]

guys the BEST skimmers for a 100 gallon tank are what 250% thats what 5 buckets of salt do the math

with skimmer
20-30% every two week
25gallons salt mix/water change
150 gallons of salt per 50$ bucket
52 weeks per year/ 26 water changes per year
650 gallons of salt per year= ~4 buckets= 200$~

without skimmer
25% weekly
25 gallons salt/ water change
150 gallons salt per 50$ bucket
52 weeks per year/ 52 water changes per year
1300 gallons per year = 8.5 buckets = $425

so if you did proper water changes on each tank for one year you just paid for your skimmer just in salt! so why not have a healthier tank and just buy a skimmer!!! canister filter are just a big trap for nitrates! unless you can fill them with live rock.

[recombinantrider]

You have a very good point cobra1713! It sounds like it eventually saves you time and money! Something to think about for my babies in the future.

[t1gerbee]

agreed... skimmer all the way...

[Happy_Puffer]

Well the tank is still empty except some shrimp just to see if I can have life in the tank. Thanks for the help I am going to keep the tank empty since I am gonna start another one with just corals later on so I am saving up for that, but I think it will have to wait till I move.