reducing bioload

[timmaakestad]

ok, ive been having some problems w my tank. 30 gallons. had 7 fish.1 died, singapore angel and i took 2 out. now down to 4. ive tested my water before. mostly ammonia. i didn't go full blown and test for every little thing. well, i think thats where my problems were. high bioload, i was using tap water, so my phosphates were high and my nitrates also. ive switched to using water from the safeway "sparklets" machine. and have added some phosgaurd and de*nitrate to help lower those readings. eventually, when i do take tests of all parameters and they appear stable i want to add another singapore making the bioload 5 fish. i briefly tried a mushroom rock didn't work got rid of it quick as well as my cleaner shrimp died. i was told the lesser readings like phosphate and nitrate can be adverse for invertabrates, especially corals, and to a degree, "shy" or tempermental fish. any replies to what all of you may think would be great. would 1 more throw me back into problems? by the way my fathead anthias is doing great now that there are only 3 other tankmates.

[bigfoot]

how mature is your tank? what do you have for filtration? lights? skimmer?

[timmaakestad]

2- 21/2 months, power filter w/ crushed lr in sash bag, reg lighting 30 watts? 50/50 daytime itinic, skimmer red sea prsim pro.

[bigfoot]

sounds like you have not cycled yet to me before any additions to the tank i would let all levels reach 0 then add 1 fish per month so the bioload doesnt cycle it again i let mine go 4 months before i started to really collect corals your lighting is not sufficient to keep much as far as corals go i would go vho or a small halide over a 30 gallon check out garf.org as they have some good info on lights and such i did see at wally world today that G.E. has a 6500k 48 inch bulb available and your tank is only 36in i have almost 400 watts of CF and NO flourecents on mine i could have gone halide cheaper but its a expierement tank with these lights

[TranZ]

Any LR? you might not have enough bio-filtration...how many times do you do a water change in a month? with that bio load you have to change your water frequently to keep the water clean.

[FishinInTheDark]

Singapore angels belong in a larger, well-established tank. They are generally hard to keep in aquaria and should only be attempted by the advanced.

I wonder: besides the anthias, what other fish are in your tank? While four fish are doable in a 30G, if you have some larger or messier of the breeds, you will probably have troubles continually.

GL,

[timmaakestad]

i have about 20-25 lbs live rock 3-4 in live sand, 1 perc clown, 2 green chromis, and the anthias. are there any angels that are good with this size tank besides the standard flame angel or potter's angel? ive also heard pygmy angels can be more tempermental than larger breeds.i change the water about every week and a half.

[FishinInTheDark]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=16

Here's a nice list of the dwarf angels. There are care sheets. Be sure to pick a centropyge that is rated "easy."

Also, be sure to wait until you have your water perameters in check. Your ammonia and nitrite must be zero. Nitrates need to be under 40 for fish and 10 for inverts.

GL,

[FishinInTheDark]

I just wanted to add that if you wait a few months after the cycle completes, and the tank remains stable with no deaths, you should have no troubles with a "moderate" dwarf angel.