Office salt water aquarium

Question
Hey, Scott. Thanks for writing back so quick. I appreciate your opinions and knowledge. Out of the 4 guys I have access to in this area, 2 won't talk to me because of each other, 1 shop owner is never there, and the other shop owner is very closed-mouth when it comes to suggestions. I don't know very many knowledgeable aquarists. Anyway, I do have a UV sterilizer in line with the wet/dry. It's a DoubleHelix 80015 18 watt; however changing the bulb has not done since it was installed in April, 2002. Should it be replaced? I did buy some carbon recently, and have read an article in Julian Sprung's "The Reef Aquarium" Volume 1, about it's use. What's your favorite method and term of use? The book mentioned a few different things.  Following your suggestions. Thanks.  Joyce Jones
Followup To
Question -
Hello, again, Scott. I wrote to you a couple of months ago about my red Basslett (Big Red) who had the injury or growth protruding from under his gill. He recently lost his battle because he just couldn't eat anymore. Tears were shed. Still have no clue what it was, but I lean towards an injury rather than disease. I recently bought an Emperor Angel who has developed a cloudy eye, and I need your advice again. He lived fine at the pet store for a month b/f I brought him here. When this has occurred before I have used EM tabs, but I've learned the dangers of killing my good bacteria by using this in the tank, so .... I laced the food w/Neomycin for a little over a week, to no avail. I consulted a local dealer and he suggested using Melafix, as it had worked for him recently, but took 7 days. I switched to feeding EM laced food and treating w/Melafix daily. I did this for 1 week and did a 20% water change. It's now been 2 weeks since the water change, and I'm still treating w/EM food and Melafix daily. I'm ready to do another water change Sat. Although the Emperor's eye is some better, it's not all better and about a week ago my Hippo Tang started exhibiting spots, which I'm sure is also bacterial, as I've seen him do this before (they are not getting worse). Should I switch to another medication. Is using Melafix now a good idea for so long a period of time. I have Neomycin and Furacyn on hand. I have not moved the Emperator to ICU; the last 2 fish I moved there died so I'm scared of it now. Our community tank is a 125 gal. w/a 300 Aqua Clear wet dry, a SeaClone 150 skimmer, 2 AquaClear 4000 power heads, and a Supreme Mag-drive utility pump Model 12 - 1200 gph. I have rock (not live) and coral skeltons for aquascaping, and about 4" of live sand. pH is w/n normal ranges. Temps about 78. Salinity is 1.021. I seem to have more than my share of bacterial infections; any clue why? I also have trouble with the U-shaped tubes that suck the water out of the clear plastic box in the tank and down into the filter. I can only keep 1 running at all times. The other slows and stops about every other day. Both tubes are the same length. Would lowering the box down further have any effect? I haven't tried that yet. Any advice or opinions are appreciated. Joyce Jones
Answer -
Joyce,
Glad to hear from you again, I'm just sorry it's under such terms.  I guess that comes with the territory though.  People only contact me when they have problems.

Since it's fresh in my mind, yes, the overflow box can be lowered into the water to allow both of the U-tubes to operate properly.  I think this additional flow to the filter will be better for you in the long run.

I love Melafix for external bacterial infections and have had a lot of success using it on cloudy eye, etc.  My suggestion is going to sound odd, but I say treat only with the Melafix.  All the other meds in the tank can only cause additional stress on the animals as clearly seen by your Tang.  Do the water change, throw in some carbon to remove the meds and on Monday start the Melafix only treatment.  One thing with it.  Since it's a freshwater plant extract the protein skimmer will pull it out of the water.  Shut the bubbles off in the skimmer for the first 3 to 4 hours after you add it to the tank.  After that time it tends to nutrilize from in the salt water anyway.

My second course of action can help presently but can also work well in the future... lower your salinity to like 1.018 during your next water change.  A lower salinity tends to help remove and prevent bacterial infections because the water isn't salty enough for the bacteria.

Also, it might not be a terrible idea to look at a UV sterilizer to put in line from the wet/dry filter.  It will limit bacteria and parasite populations as well as keep a lot of algaes at bay.

Best of luck with the tank!

Regards,
Scott Johnson
Aquarium Crazy Fish
www.aquariumcrazyfish.com

Answer
Joyce,
UV bulbs should be replaced at once a year, and I strongly recommend every 6 months.

As for carbon use... I recommend using it for like a weekend a month to help remove any excess organics, stains and odors.  The whole trace element thing is really only a concern in reef aquariums since the inverts and corals are more dependent on them than the fish.  Don't get me wrong, fish use them too, but by the time the carbon gets to them, most usable trace elements have already been absorbed.  It never hurts to supplement trace elements between water changes.  I like Kent Marine's Trace Elements or Two Little Fishies Combisan for fish only systems.

Regards,
Scott Johnson
Aquarium Crazy Fish
www.aquariumcrazyfish.com