oh no!

S

squishles

I have a 15g tank that HAD a red crab (somebody said strawberry but doesnt quite look right from google), a damsel, a lot of live rock, a lot of snails, and various other critters. Also some beginner corals.

I had a mass snail die off a month ago or so- had the water tested and all was good. Now this week, I have lost everything else except the fish and 2 snails (the kind that live under the sand). I keep leaving the vacation feeders in the tank, could this be causing a problem?

I was warned when I wanted to get a 15g that it was hard, and I quit. I want a bigger tank. I also would like to keep everything I have alive while I get a new one set up. Any suggestions on a good place to go get a bigger tank? This one was given to me so I didn't have to seek out a good deal.

While I'm at it, I'm guessing that moving this tank wouldn't be hard since it's so small, but any suggestions in that area? I know, empty it and take the fish out- how empty does it have to be and do I have to find the snails too?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions at once!
 
Sorry to hear about the losses. I would review the Sell/Trade forum for used tanks. Depending on how large of tank you are moving to, you would just acclimate the fish / inverts to the new home. Where are you located?
 
@squishles wrote:
I keep leaving the vacation feeders in the tank said:
An auto-feeder or the little pyramid kind of things that sit on the bottom and rot? Could be causing issues, but we will need additional descriptor of what this is.

@squishles wrote:
I was warned when I wanted to get a 15g that it was hard said:
Smaller tanks require a bit more adherance to a maintenance plan, and they do react "quicker" to negative conditions (less water to buffer a chemistry problem) but with a bit of experience it is not all that difficult to maintain the smaller systems

@squishles wrote:
While I'm at it said:
Moving the tank to another location? Depends on type of tank. If you can support the bottom evenly you can move it with some water and sand still in it. Just have to be careful not to allow it to twist, etc..
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
pyramid thing- they rot??? that would explain it. no more of those!

i still want a bigger one :) and might keep the smaller one going too- good to have a backup. i hate that i dont right now.

type of tank? i dont know what you mean. i could get most the water out, i just dont want to deal with removing the sand. im not going very far- white rock lake to richardson.
 
Just drain the water to 5G buckets, put the fish / inverts / live rock in there. You should be able to move the tank with the sand in it.

A 15-gallon would make a nice refugium for a 30-40 gallon tank...
 
@squishles wrote:
type of tank? i dont know what you mean. i could get most the water out said:
A standard rectangular glass tank can be moved with some sand / water left in it - usu without too much concern, but again you want to keep it fairly level and lift by the bottom etc.

Some of the all-in-one's (like JBJ) are more risky to move with any sand / water in them. Been my experience anyway
Click to expand...
 
I would keep the smaller setup for a quarantine tank, I am in the process of gettin one right now. Would have been a good thing to have when i started my main tank.
 
I think Q-tanks are very valuable, however, 15G is a bit on the small side. Most likely more benefit for a refugium for the next setup. Just depends on the next larger tank.
 
Can someone point me to an article bestowing the benefits of a refugium? I have located an 85g tank that I am going to try and convince the fiance that I need and hopefully the 15g will fit under it. Why am I doing this? And why is 15g too small for a quarantine? (Or maybe I'm just used to smaller fish in the 15g?)
 
I did a presentation on this topic back in May. Grab the preso here:
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=46704

The top level benefits that I identified:
Nitrate and Phosphate Export
Denitrification / NNR (Natural Nitrate Reduction)
ph balance
Increased stability
Food growth
Toxin uptake
Detritus sink
Emergency 'neutral corner'
Dosing / water change location
 
ahh! it blocked it- ill check it out at home tonight- thanks though! sounds worth it. i can get the new tank going and set that up and be occupied for quite a while! and this time i get to have more than one fish!!!
 
I've got a 17 gallon tank set up, no really big losses, I have a huge bio load as well and also just went up to a large tank.
My 17 gallon is full of bristleworms and spagetti worms not to mention pods. I also have a cpr 2 skimmer. little tanks can be fun, I have had a blast with it. When I upgrade to the 37 I plan to transfer alot of the worms.
The 17 gallon tank is gonna be a shrimp tank when its all said and done.

JM
 
thanks for your help. i got the tank moved today. no casualties that i can tell, just a hazy mess so far. hopefully it clears up tomorrow. i think spike might need some new friends now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top