Tank Full?
- Thread starter nanocubeking
- Start date
The June FOTM Contest Poll is open!
🏆 Click to vote! 🏆
Lynden
a "fish hater"
Typically, distantly related individuals can be mixed without problem.
OP
OP
nanocubeking
Fishaholic
well i would to musho so thats why im getting one tommorow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeeeeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
OP
OP
nanocubeking
Fishaholic
i got my pistol shrimp this afternoon. im not sure what kind he is. ill put pics up later.
Tommy Gun
Fish Crazy
Alright....let me preface this by clearly stating that I am intending no offense to anyone or anything, especially Lynden, even though I realize I am quoting his comments. In fact, I am only doing so within this reply because I feel this is very dangerous advice, and can be misleading, especially in SW, but much of this can apply to any tank I suppose.
First, let me just say that there is not as much 'myth' behind the whole 'bioload' topic as some may think. True, it makes a ton of logical sense (which I say only because I am not prepared to back this statement up scientifically right now) to say that the population of beneficial bacteria in our tank(s) is directly affected by the amount of available food (e.g. ammonia, nitrites) since obviously, without enough food, some of the population would die, or 'move on' (whichever you prefer). HOWEVER, what I think is being forgotten here is that these bacteria generate nitrates....which are are are are are (without a doubt) toxic to our fish -- which I might add, is compounded in saltwater tanks for a few reasons:
1.) Many forms of marine life take in a great deal of their surrounding water into their bodies - perhaps the best example of this are some corals and anemones since much of their mass is water (in fact, when an anemone is not happy with the water chemistry - among other reasons - they will expel that water....which is why I am sure we have all read a few posts on forums which ask why his/her anemone has shrunk all of a sudden). That being said, nitrates can have more impact on these sorts of SW livestock because, rather than being introduced into the body in small amounts, are being 'ingested' and retained in relatively high quantities.
2.) Osmosis, osmosis, osmosis! Do fish drink water? Maybe not by the exact definition of the term, but yes they do -- however, for different reasons. For example, freshwater fish, because the water they retain inside of their bodies has a higher concentration of salt than the water they live in, they need to keep water out of their bodies since that water would dilute the salt they need to retain (more or less....I am not biologist, obviously). Conversely, because the water outside of a saltwater fish has plenty of salt in it, and seeing as how they need the water, they strive to keep the water that is ingested inside of them -- in fact, some of marine fish cannot produce, or can only produce minute quantities of urine. To the best of my understanding right now, this means that saltwater fish are more sensitive to toxins in the water because they try to retain that water (minus the salts)....which can help to explain why we are often suggested to perform much longer, more intense acclimation procedures when adding marine livestock versus freshwater livestock (although, I believe both types should be handled in much the same way)
3.) Nitrates......Ok, I completely understand that nitrates can be reduced via water changes, however...this can be a slippery slope for many of us because, unless diligent, it is rather easy to create rapid changes in water chemistry (e.g. salinity) -- which can be detrimental to some fish, but probably a much higher number of inverts (including corals). So, unless those are fake corals in your tank right now, you may be best served by trying to maintain your current water change regimen rather than relying on performing water changes 'as needed'. Additionally, as pointed out already, nitrates bolster the growth of algae...which I agree, can be remedied by performing water changes - however, one lesson I learned recently (the hard way, of course) is that we cannot and must not forget that, after taking measures to eliminate algae, we have to remove the algae from the tank since, as it dies, it becomes decaying organic matter, which in turn, becomes part of that nitrogen cycle (aka, potential nitrates). If using filtered water such as RO water like I do, we also have to be diligent with changing the filter media before we inadvertently begin to add what could amount to tap water. Lastly, assuming those are real corals and an anemone in your tank, your ability to allow nitrates to safely build up over time is highly reduced by keeping these sensitive types of life for the same reasons I already brought up, among others.
Now that I have that out of my system. I do agree that adding those 'clean-up crew' type inverts like shrimp usually do not 'count' when we are considering stocking and bioload, but my reasoning for bringing these items up is simply because those same inverts could be greatly effected by not accepting the fact that bioload does matter, and is not a myth that we should simply forget about...especially in saltwater tanks. IMVHO, to suggest otherwise is really irresponsible.
On a more upbeat note though, if you haven't already seen this cool (IMO) and educational video on pistol shrimp, click HERE!
nitrate is not toxic to fish until it reaches somewhere in the hundreds of levels, its different for corals and anemones yes, those are more sensitive, but its the DOC that is in the tank with a high nitrate that is more damaging than the nitrate itself.
Lynden
a "fish hater"
Once again Tommy, you are not really disagreeing with me.
Tommy Gun
Fish Crazy
I thought that would be the case....but, of course, was compelled to add my input anyways.
Of course, at the time I was really only focused on the nitrate topic...of which, DOC can become a further source of. I could also have made a great case for phosphates being not only of benifit to algae, but damaging to corals as well.
Hopefully everyone can understand my intent here....I am simply trying to express a few, of many, reasons why we should not only avoid overstocking, but why stocking lightly can be much easier on our livestock, which is not to mention easier on us. Of course, there are further methods to getting around this opinion of mine, but I am speaking in relatively general terms.
Lynden
a "fish hater"
Do continue. It really helps elaborate on the issues I allude to.
OP
OP
nanocubeking
Fishaholic
well unfortunately i think cleaner wrasse died. so ive got three fish in the tank what fish are possible now?
OP
OP
nanocubeking
Fishaholic
i would stop there if i were you, not that you cant get more fish, but..... I wouldnt want to have my tank on the edge.
Hows your pistol, i just got my pistol and goby this tuesday
just great they paired up and the've made burrows all throught the back wall and in the rock structure. its fun to wacth them when you feed the tank. the pistol has his particular spot and you put food and then these two claws come out of the rock as he nips and pops at the flakes.
OP
OP
nanocubeking
Fishaholic
thats all you really can do. but it sucks for me because they always dig there holes in the rock.
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
431 -
272 -
224 -
210 -
209 -
199 -
182 -
162 -
129 -
122 -
116 -
110 -
92 -
91 -
86