starting my tank again

[Rosa25]

50 gallon tank, 60 lbs live sand, 80 lbs live rock, 2 power head, fluval canister filter, instant ocean skimmer, 192 w compact flouresent.

In december all my livestock died, because I put coppersafe in my main tank, (petco recommeded). Anyway I did everything u guys recommended water change, poly filter, skimmer one more pwer head. Now Im ready to start again my water levels are awsome, the tank looks great. I will like to have two clownfish, yellow tang, skunk shrimp, fire fish,snails and hermits.

What should I do first?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

If you are using the same tank that was coppered in December, the first thing I would do is get a new tank.

I would also not use any sand or rock or any other equipment that was in the tank at that time as well. Since petco screwed up I would see if they would make it right.

 

[Rosa25]

Even thought its been tested for copper since december and the levels are 0? There are still hermit crabs and snails living in that tank since december my rock has coraline. I feed them krill.

 

[reefman]

copper will leech out over time.

 

[Breezp]

and dont bother with the fluval and skimmer, spend once, not repeatedly.

 

[steveo32]

I think starting from scratch is your best bet. I think you'll be happier and will sleep easier w/o having to worry about anything leeching out. But thats me

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

You could use it as a fish only tank and not put any corals in there.

 

[cali_reef]

You have live hermits and snails in the tank now? I don't see why you can't add fish to the tank.

BTW, "water levels are awsome" don't mean anything. I read that as you don't know how to test water perimeters.

 

[Awibrandy]

If you are using the same tank that was coppered in December, the first thing I would do is get a new tank.

I would also not use any sand or rock or any other equipment that was in the tank at that time as well. Since petco screwed up I would see if they would make it right.

Ditto if you plan to keep corals or inverts in there.
The tank, sand, rocks, and anything else you had in there can now be used for fish only tank. All is not lost.:flower: Now you can have those fish that you couldn't keep in a reef.:wink1: And the excuse to get a second tank for your reef.

 

[Rosa25]

I dont want to have any corals, like I said before I only want a couple of fishes and one skunk cleaner. I have check the water levels since december and I have no amonia, no nitrates, no nitrites, ph has read between 8.0 and 8.5 and alk 300 this is using my test strip kit (pentair aquatics). Plus I take sample water to a lfs and always all the levels have been great. I do have snails and hermits still in there since july 2006, they survived the december catastrophe. I came here to get advice from you guys because some lfs in orlando recommended the site to me, in december I came here and I took the advice many of you gave me and since then the tank has been great, the lfs say its ok to put fish in there , the guy wants me to start with green chromis wait a week, then add cleanning crew, then slowly start adding other fishes I want. I dont have enough money to go buying another tank , another fillter another skimmer I have to work with what I have and hope for the best, I love having a fish tank, it belong to my late fiance and I will like to keep it going he loved it so much. Thanks for the advice.

Johanna

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Ok to put it in better terms, You can use the setup as a fish only tank with no problems (probably) . Be prepared to have any inverts including that cleaner shrimp and that cleanup crew to pass on if the copper leaches into the water from the rock, aquarium seals, the filter hoses and the plastic trays in the filter as well. I would run carbon aggressively and pray.

 

[Volitan]

inverts !!

If the crabs and snails have been alive even thru the
copper dosing it could'nt have been that bad. Imo You can go ahead and add fish the copper wont hurt them and it is obviously not hurting the inverts that are already in the tank. I say take your time but go ahead and add livestock !!
AL

 

[Awibrandy]

Rosa, my 75 g tank is a fish only with live rock tank. This tank has had copper in it in the past.

As I said, once copper has been in the tank it is strongly recommended that you never place an invertebrate in it such as snails, crabs, shrimps, feather dusters, anemone, corals. A hermit crab did end up in my 75FOWLR by accident it lived in there for some time. I don't know that it is alive any more since I have not seen it for the past two weeks.
It is safe for you to keep fish that are NOT sensitive to copper. Yes there are some fish that are sensitive. You may need to do a little research to find out which are those rare and few fish.
And you don't have to start with chromis if you don't want to. Figuer out what fish you would like to keep in your tank that are comparable(DrsFostersmith.com had a compatibility chart, check and see if they still have it), then add 1 or 2 every two weeks. This will give your tank time to establish the good bacteria it needs.

Hope this helps hun! I'm sure you'll do fine. Just never let your self get tempted to put any inverts in that tank.

 

[Volitan]

inverts !!

She said she already has inverts in the tank if I read the post right !!

 

[Awibrandy]

She said she already has inverts in the tank if I read the post right !!

Yes she did!! And I stated in my response as follows;{"A hermit crab did end up in my 75FOWLR by accident, it lived in there for some time. I don't know that it is alive any more since I have not seen it for the past two weeks"}
Reason for including this statement was to let her know that they may die even thou they are in there. And she should not add any other inverts to a system that has had copper in it.

 

[Rosa25]

Thanks I will keep you posted on my results thanks.

 

[Volitan]

inverts !!

IMO if they have survived since Dec. the copper levels are not that high if any at all. Copper can be removed You don't scrap a whole system for that not everybody has money to throw away !!
SAhe said she is not putting corals in it. I think its alot of Drama for nothing put fish in the tank and enjoy !!!

Al

 

[Awibrandy]

IMO if they have survived since Dec. the copper levels are not that high if any at all. Copper can be removed You don't scrap a whole system for that not everybody has money to throw away !!
SAhe said she is not putting corals in it. I think its alot of Drama for nothing put fish in the tank and enjoy !!!
Al

You know what Volitan, no one here is creating a "drama" but you!

This person was told to scrap the set up before it was understood that she only intends to keep fish.
Since then she was adviced (by me that if the crabs & snails do end up dead, she should not add any more).

Why don't you re-read the post, and see that you are the only one that is getting upset by this thread you.

The person that started the thread seems to be appreciative of what has been said. I am sure that Rosa will take everything under advisement, and make her own decision.

As long as there is more then one person, there will always be more then one opinion.

This is not ment to be confrontational, but it is really upsetting that our happy little MR family is getting to be much like RC. Let us live, and let live with out the bikering please.

With much love,

Awilda

 

[kimoyo]

BTW, "water levels are awsome" don't mean anything. I read that as you don't know how to test water perimeters.

Lol! Man, I have to come over to see your new tank sometime soon.



Here's Rosa25's first thread.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/18747-please-help-dead-fish.html
I think drunktank had a good idea of what happened.



Rosa
Did you get new test kits? Those strips aren't very good. I would be careful using your rocks (and maybe tank) if you were ever going to add corals. Corals actually grow on the rocks and eventhough your inverts are straight with the water, your corals might have an issue with your rocks.

 

[Volitan]

Inverts !!

Excuse me for having an opinon I can see only Yours counts !! Oh yeah we could be hit by a comet SOMEDAY, the inverts are alive !! Get over Yourself !!