Waterbox 35.2 - Need a couple more fish ideas

[yambeezy23]

Hello!

I currently have a 9 month waterbox 35.2
It’s running really well but I’ve had some fish death and coral death here and there but who hasn’t!

I want to finish my stock list or maybe even let it be.

I ordered 3 cardinal fish and they were small when I received them. They all died within 1 day. I believe they were bullied from my other fish.

I currently have -

Mated pair of black ice clown fish ( added first )
Royal gramma ( added second )
Cleaner shrimp ( added second with royal )
Fire
Purple goby ( doa )
purple goby ( small ) died within a day, it was bullied by clown fish and royal
Lawnmower Benny ( added 4th) survived because I was sent a big boy
3 cardinal fish added yesterday. Didn’t survive a full day. All dead now.

Any recommendations on a bigger sized nano fish I can buy?

here are my parameters
Water changes every two weeks
Nitrates - between 5-10
Phosphates - .05 - .10
Alk - 7.5 - 9
Mag - 1450-1500
Cal - 450

 

[Formulator]

You need to stop murdering fish and figure out what you are doing wrong. Bullied fish don’t die in a day.

fish death and coral death here and there but who hasn’t!

Coral death, yes. Fish death, no. You cannot chalk repeated fish death up to bad beginners luck and somehow rationalize it by saying it happens to everyone because it does not.

I’m not trying to be a dick, but that’s the harsh reality. It can’t feel good on your wallet either, even if being a good conservationist is unimportant to you.

 

[yambeezy23]

You need to stop murdering fish and figure out what you are doing wrong. Bullied fish don’t die in a day.



Coral death, yes. Fish death, no. You cannot chalk repeated fish death up to bad beginners luck and somehow rationalize it by saying it happens to everyone because it does not.

I’m not trying to be a dick, but that’s the harsh reality. It can’t feel good on your wallet either, even if being a good conservationist is unimportant to you.

I can't find what I am doing wrong then. That is the only explanation that I can formulate.

Other than DOA. The fish that die lasta day.

I bought all my fish from Dr.Reef Quarantined fish. I follow the acclimation procedure to the tee. Instantly, I watched my clownfish and Royal Gramma chase the cardinal fish. Within an hour, two of the cardinal fishes lost both their tail fins.

My water is fine. I check parameters before a water change.

Would you think my other fish would have died if there was something wrong with my water?

 

[Formulator]

I could be wrong. It has happened before . But usually when fish are bullied it is a slower process. You could try using an acclimation box, but I would go with an inexpensive fish until you have figured it out. Blue chromis are nice and well suited to your tank size.

 

[805Reefing]

Hello!

I currently have a 9 month waterbox 35.2
It’s running really well but I’ve had some fish death and coral death here and there but who hasn’t!

I want to finish my stock list or maybe even let it be.

I ordered 3 cardinal fish and they were small when I received them. They all died within 1 day. I believe they were bullied from my other fish.

I currently have -

Mated pair of black ice clown fish ( added first )
Royal gramma ( added second )
Cleaner shrimp ( added second with royal )
Fire
Purple goby ( doa )
purple goby ( small ) died within a day, it was bullied by clown fish and royal
Lawnmower Benny ( added 4th) survived because I was sent a big boy
3 cardinal fish added yesterday. Didn’t survive a full day. All dead now.

Any recommendations on a bigger sized nano fish I can buy?

here are my parameters
Water changes every two weeks
Nitrates - between 5-10
Phosphates - .05 - .10
Alk - 7.5 - 9
Mag - 1450-1500
Cal - 450

I'd probably try and figure out what is causing the casualties.

 

[yambeezy23]

I could be wrong. It has happened before . But usually when fish are bullied it is a slower process. You could try using an acclimation box, but I would go with an inexpensive fish until you have figured it out. Blue chromis are nice and well suited to your tank size.

Acclimation box is a great idea. I never thought about it. I think I will go ahead and research that. I am at the point of calling it quits on getting more fish because of what happened yesterday and this morning. It's very defeating when I think I am doing everything right. I requested larger fish but I guess thats how big they come at Dr. Reef. They have been nothing but great helping me.

 

[yambeezy23]

I'd probably try and figure out what is causing the casualties.

I want to try and figure it out also. Thats why I'm here on the forum looking for help. Dr. Reef has a very specific acclimation process and I followed it to the tee. I really think its the tank mates. I feel like if my water is off, corals and fish would respond differently ( the alive ones).

 

[Formulator]

I want to try and figure it out also. Thats why I'm here on the forum looking for help. Dr. Reef has a very specific acclimation process and I followed it to the tee. I really think its the tank mates. I feel like if my water is off, corals and fish would respond differently ( the alive ones).

I agree the corals in there look to be healthy and the other fish are fine. Can you describe the acclimation procedure? I’ve never used Dr Reef so can’t comment on whether their acclimation procedure is any different than what is typically recommended.

 

[yambeezy23]

I agree the corals in there look to be healthy and the other fish are fine. Can you describe the acclimation procedure? I’ve never used Dr Reef so can’t comment on whether their acclimation procedure is any different than what is typically recommended.

Salinity Acclimation (For Fish Only)​

We generally ship fish at sg 1.021-23, in some fragile fish we do ship at much lower salinity at 1.018.

NOTE: We ship fish with medication in shipping bags to keep stress and ammonia at bay so do not mix fish with inverts and keep them separate.​

No matter what the salinity is on the incoming fish, have 2 buckets ready, 1 bucket of saltwater at 1.023, and second empty.​

When you receive the fish, temp acclimate them by floating in a sump or tank in bags for 20 min.

If the fish are delayed skip the temp acclimation and go to salinity acclimation directly.

After temp acclimation, release all the fish into the empty bucket with bag/transport water and wait 10-15 min.
DO NOT USE AIRSTONE​

After 10-15 min, scoop all the fish out and release them into the bucket of 1.023 water.

Wait 10-15 min, Now simply scoop all the fish and release them into the tank.
Tank must be dark (no lights on for at least 6 hrs)

 

[jbannick22586]

I lean towards aggression. Def possible for quick deaths in a nano. Some fish can be relentless IE clowns; while the Gramma might not be physically aggressive it would push a peaceful fish back out of its territory. Based on your dimensions and aggression you might be maxed on peaceful temperament fish or you can try acclimation(I haven't had luck with mirrors, breeder box etc long term in a nano). A free swimmer might work like a six line where they can also match the temperament of the tank and hold their own. Also I've never seen aggression towards a Mandarin in any of my larger nanos over the years.

 

[Tamberav]

Idk if they were Bangaii but those should be in mated pairs anywho.

Even if they were big, they are fairly passive defenseless fish who could get the crap beat out of them by a smaller fish.

This is a challenge with cube tanks, look at your rocks, there isn’t really any territory or area. The scape is pretty simple and not much to break up line of sight of the fish or create territory.

Definitely stop buying passive easily bullied fish.

Might be best to wait till the sps and lps grow into something. As colonies, they provide more territory and hiding spots.

Personally I would add more rock and connect those back two islands and give the rock work a little more height. Then move the corals around so they have more space, doesn’t look like they have much room to become showy colonies. I am going off on a tangent…

But it would help create some more area for fish.

Maybe a jerk fish like a six line but then no more. These are not friendly fish and I can’t promise you the six line wont lose his **** someday and kill one of your resident fish.

 

[yambeezy23]

I lean towards aggression. Def possible for quick deaths in a nano. Some fish can be relentless IE clowns; while the Gramma might not be physically aggressive it would push a peaceful fish back out of its territory. Based on your dimensions and aggression you might be maxed on peaceful temperament fish or you can try acclimation(I haven't had luck with mirrors, breeder box etc long term in a nano). A free swimmer might work like a six line where they can also match the temperament of the tank and hold their own. Also I've never seen aggression towards a Mandarin in any of my larger nanos over the years.

Thank you for your input. I am leaning towards max out now as well. I don't want to lose a fish again. It sucks. I know six line wrasses are aggressive. I would hate to lose my mated clowns and royal to a new addition!

 

[yambeezy23]

Idk if they were Bangaii but those should be in mated pairs anywho.

Even if they were big, they are fairly passive defenseless fish who could get the crap beat out of them by a smaller fish.

This is a challenge with cube tanks, look at your rocks, there isn’t really any territory or area. The scape is pretty simple and not much to break up line of sight of the fish or create territory.

Definitely stop buying passive easily bullied fish.

Might be best to wait till the sps and lps grow into something. As colonies, they provide more territory and hiding spots.

Personally I would add more rock and connect those back two islands and give the rock work a little more height. Then move the corals around so they have more space, doesn’t look like they have much room to become showy colonies. I am going off on a tangent…

But it would help create some more area for fish.

Maybe a jerk fish like a six line but then no more. These are not friendly fish and I can’t promise you the six line wont lose his **** someday and kill one of your resident fish.

They were Bangai, very small ones also.

Thank you for your input on my rocks. I like the openess of the rockscape. I added more rocks a couple months ago so I can add more coral

Thanks for your input on everything else as well. I am leaning towards ending the stock list of the WB 35.2. I dont want to risk more fish in an acclimation box then loosing them after a month or so.

I'm not risking my clowns and a royal to a new sixline resident !!

Thanks again!

 

[Tamberav]

They were Bangai, very small ones also.

Thank you for your input on my rocks. I like the openess of the rockscape. I added more rocks a couple months ago so I can add more coral

Thanks for your input on everything else as well. I am leaning towards ending the stock list of the WB 35.2. I dont want to risk more fish in an acclimation box then loosing them after a month or so.

I'm not risking my clowns and a royal to a new sixline resident !!

Thanks again!

No problem, if you like the minimalist scape, I say keep it then and skip more fish.

You may need a bigger tank if you get more coral though or a second tank