New 60 Gallon FOWLR - Trouble with Angels

[Digital Man]

Hello all,

I have followed AA for about six months but just recently joined as a member. Overall, I have found AA a great resource. With that said, I could use a little advice.

I started out with a freshwater tank eight years ago (first 20 gallons and then moved up to 45 gallons) and finally added a FOWLR tank this past November. Its a 60 gallon cube tank with a sump and protein skimmer and I utilized fully cured live rock and sand to start. So far, so good. Since the end of November, I have added two clown fish, five snails and a chocolate chip sea star. Ammonia and nitrites are zero with only trace amounts of nitrates. My only problem has been my attempt at adding an angel. I added a bicolor angel two weeks ago and it died after a week. I went back to the LFS and they gave me a flame angel at a discount a week ago and now it also died after a week. All other inhabitants are fine and I was under the impression angels weren't that difficult to maintain. Any insight? I keep the tank at about 78-79 degrees and specific gravity is at about 1.023 and 1.024.

Any other suggestions for stocking the tank?

Thanks!!!

 

[Psychocircus91]

flame angels are not the hardiest. i know that much. What is your water source? Dwarf angels are not tolerant of copper. If you're using tap copper could be in the water. There's always a possibility that it's just a coincidence, but hard to say.

What is your pH?

 

[Beengirl]

Sorry about your fish. Angels can be difficult to get them eating at first. Were they eating? Did you give them algae sheets? Might want to try a different LFS?

 

[Digital Man]

Thanks for the replies. Ph is about 7.9 and I am using tap water with the conditioner. They seemed to be eating, primarily brine shrimp. I didn't try algae wafers - perhaps they werent eating enough. Thanks.

 

[Hocky puck]

Ro/di is highly recommended by prolly everyone. I would ask how did u acclimate the fish? And were they eating at the store? Because flame angels are popular fish and to have. I find it odd they would discount the angel

 

[Beengirl]

Thanks for the replies. Ph is about 7.9 and I am using tap water with the conditioner. They seemed to be eating, primarily brine shrimp. I didn't try algae wafers - perhaps they werent eating enough. Thanks.

Also, angels need some spirulina or algae sheets. Brine is fine, but shouldn't be the only food offered, because its not all that nutritional. I give my angle about 1/8-1/4 sheet per day of algae. And he tears right into it, loves the stuff.

 

[Psychocircus91]

I would say its your water . Any idea on the tds? I agree on the more nutritional diet, but don't see them dying in under a week if they were eating.

 

[Digital Man]

I am not sure on the tds. I will have to get something to read it. Just learning more now about the need for rodi. I was originally under the impression it was better but not a necessity for a fowlr tank.

 

[Psychocircus91]

i agree it is not necessary for a fowlr, but i still would not use tap.

distilled, reverse osmosis, purified. anything like that would be fine for a fowlr.