Saltwater nub needs help !!!

[huxford88]

Hey guys am fair new to saltwater had my tank running for about
6 months i currently have a zebra eel and a cleaner wrasse and a bubble tip but that's all that seem to survive in my tank i have had blue tangs , copper bands, clowns, all die on me.

am running a 1800l power head (thats has sponge and ceramisub) and a smaller 700l power head with a tunze skimmer i have a t5 8 tube light
and a about 10kgs of live rock in my 4ft 200l tank i have being collecting water for the beach to do my water changes and have being changing 30l of water weekly to bi weekly depending on how slack i get.

someone please help me !!!!!!!

[Lucifer]

If you do not have a test kit yet, get one and test your water.

Tangs need good water. They stress out and die very easily. White spots is a usually sign of stress out fish.

Clownfish are more tougher.

How big is the eel? This might be the cause of your death.

[huxford88]

I have a test kit its a Api brand are they any good ?

the eel is a good 600mm

[wombat1100]

My initial thought would be that you are losing fish from stress, are they injured at all when they die?
a 600mm eel sounds huge , and he could be scaring/chasing the fish at night causing them to stress out and die, if he's not eating them of course!
Also , your supply of fresh sea water, are you sure its clean? if you are getting it from any where near a storm water outlet it could be contaminated

[huxford88]

so wat do u guys think is the best way to source saltwater from ?
and when doin water changes do u add any sort of chemicals to the tank

[Lucifer]

If your collecting, then collect as close to the open ocean as you can.

Collect only at high tide.

Collect where there is less traffic like boats and swimmers.

[huxford88]

cheers for the info guys does any one have any suggestions wat i should keep with my eel then ??

[Lucifer]

Try triggerfishs or dogface puffers. Carefull what you choose for your size tank. Do some research because I no eel expert.

[Drew]

Sounds like you may be having problems to do with taking water straight from the beach. I tested water i took off the beach and it wasn't good.. and after leaving it for a while it settled into layers (clearly making polution visible).


I take the boat out way past the heads to the open ocean and take water from there, either that or go to your LFS and they will most likely sell clean ocean water for about 35-45 cents a litre.

[huxford88]

maybe i should go back to buying the water just seams like a rip when i live
so close to the beach i was think about getting a trigger fish but the lfs told me they may nip the eels fins witch but me off.

thanks for the advice guys

[Drew]

My initial thought would be that you are losing fish from stress, are they injured at all when they die?
a 600mm eel sounds huge , and he could be scaring/chasing the fish at night causing them to stress out and die, if he's not eating them of course!



You have a zebra Eel. Zebra morays have molar teeth and only like to eat crustaceans as they can't physically rip apart another fish nor would they have any intention to.

They are the most docile of all morays. and would ignore the other fish you have in the tank. I have seen people hand feeding their zebras.

I don't think you need to get rid of him. But just test your water and see what the problem could be. There are always ways to fix it!

[huxford88]

Thanks for all the info guys !

[accurist85]

Get the test kit, test water.. if you havent done it yet
Sometimes it is to blame LFS.... i've seen one they have no idea what they are doing...
Sometimes the fish origin may be a problem with sudden death

Many times the owner themself...

But yeah do alot of research on salties! I've been keeping marine since 14 and now 24.... still studying and learning!