billy

75 gallon (US)
20g sump w/15lbs LR, DSB and macro (bubble caulerpa and halmeda)
crushed arag sub
powersweep for circulation in addition to return diffuser
65lbs LR in display
6x65 10,000k daylight PC
2x65 actinic PC

SG 1.022 (coralife deep six)
temp 79-82d F (no chiller) (electronic guage)
ph 8.2 (Red Sea)
alk normal (red sea, lousy test, I want numbers, dammit <g>)
ammonia 0.25 hmmmm
phos 0.1 hmmmm again
nitrate 0.0
nitrite 0.0


Trace of ammonia and phos surprised me, I will address it.

Critters
six-line wrasse
spotted mandarin goby
arrow crab
green brittle star
small ricordia mushroom
6-inch pink\green polyp colony
assortment of snails and hermits.

Trouble is, added fish do not thrive. Latest additions a week ago
were the polyp colony, arrow and a juvenile Regal Tang. Both critters
seemed great in Q, arrow is still fine. (polyps seemed to have
suffered a bit in transit, hope they're ok) After a week of apparent
happiness in the display tank, eating well, shadowing the six-line,
watching me watch him, the tang began to look emaciated. Disappeared
within 2 days after I noted the distress. I have had this same
experience with a false Perc and a Yellow tang, and refuse to buy any
more fish until I solve the issue.

many thanks in advance


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billy
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maddie

I've had similar experiences with an algae blenny, a hi fin blenny and a
coral beauty. I'm wondering if my green brittle star may not be the
culprit....although I think that a yellow tang would be too big to be
suitable prey for a brittle star. Anyway, I'm getting rid of mine before I
add more fish.

billy

| I've had similar experiences with an algae blenny, a hi fin blenny
and a
| coral beauty. I'm wondering if my green brittle star may not be
the
| culprit....although I think that a yellow tang would be too big to
be
| suitable prey for a brittle star. Anyway, I'm getting rid of mine
before I
| add more fish.
|


I researched quite a bit and talked to many star owners before adding
the star. I'm convinced that a brittle will not catch and eat a
healthy fish. I theorize that since they are scavengers, they get
caught red-handed with the body. "Honest Officer, he was dead when I
got here!!!" I have watched my goby actually perch on the star
without any response. That said, the brittle was added only 2 months
ago, after my perc and Y-tang losses. They didn't just dissapear
unexpectedly, they became ill and then died, and I asume the star
and\or crabs did their job and disposed of the corpses. Before and
after all deaths, I've pored over parameter results, and have not
found anything compelling to indicate the cause of this.


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maddie

Thanks Billy. I was thinking of bringing my brittle star back to the LFS
today; but maybe he's been framed.

barry manners

We had similar problem a few months back. It seemed every thing we
would add would start off great and then go down hill quickly, then die
or disappear. Water was fine. Finally traced the problem to a bad
power head. Found out because I moved the power head to another tank
and the problem followed...

I assume there was a grounding problem with it. If your problems
continue, you may want to start swapping out your electronic devices
that come in contact with your water (power heads, pumps, heaters). You
could also try a grounding rod.

This may not be your problem, but it's worth investigating.