24Hrs New Tank -Still Cloudy?

[chris5]

Hi to all....
Just started my tank up yesterday afternoon at about 2pm and everything is running great, minus the problem that its almost 24 hrs later and the tank cleared somewhat but not crystal clear, (from the sides is still really cloudy to see to the other end) is this normal?? :help:

 

[horace]

the exact same thing happened to my 35 it will be gone atleast by 3 days taht is whta happened to mine keep us updating on how its going

 

[reefnut]

Welcome to SWF.COM Chris5
Is the cloudiness from the sand?? If so, it could take a while for everything to clear up.
You could run some carbon... that would help clear it up.

 

[chris5]

Its probably from the sand is what i am thinking too, and it didnt help that i was messing with it to make it even alittle while ago but its def a slow process right now, i was wondering if there was any way to speed it up?
I have live sand covering the bottom and 1 fiji rock to start.....Biowheel filter and power sweep current maker.....and of course light is on temp is about 79-80

 

[g-dude]

Yeah you just need a bit of patience but it will become clear.

 

[us~^>shark]

Started mine last weekend. Same thing happened. Slowly cleared in about 2-3 days. Added LR and stirred things up again yesterday and it cleared by this morning, so it is getting better. Like all newbies, I am learning patience.

 

[chris5]

Ok tanked cleared, and got some fish to celebrate.....
2 Black and white Damsels
2 Clown Fish
2 Pink Tip Anemies
The problems:
1 Clown fish died not even 24 hrs later
The other clown is hanging out by the heater and wont leave
Damsels are doing great
Anemies are doing good as well
I don't get it

 

[drew2005]

Originally posted by Chris5
Ok tanked cleared, and got some fish to celebrate.....
2 Black and white Damsels
2 Clown Fish
2 Pink Tip Anemies
The problems:
1 Clown fish died not even 24 hrs later
The other clown is hanging out by the heater and wont leave
Damsels are doing great
Anemies are doing good as well
I don't get it

Did you cycle your tank for at least 4 weeks? What are your water parameters? You need to cure that live rock and make sure your water parameters are perfect before adding any livestock.

 

[nm reef]

Sounds a bit too much a bit too soon...have you checked your ammonia/nitrate/nitite levels. Often times in a newly established system ammonia and nitrite can reach toxic levels. Normally folks wait until the cycle completes and stabalises before adding livestock. Sometimes a damsel or two is used to initiate the ammonia source for the cycle...but even then the livestock can be adverselyaffected by the levels of ammonia and nitrite.

 

[druid1547]

I did the same thing rushed too fast and lost a lot of money. Now I have been taking things slow. Had the tank with live rocks circulating for 2 months, now I put in 2 damsels. They are cheap and will help get the system going. This week I added some snails and very small hermit. Now I will stop adding live criters. I did buy some dried corals from this same message board. I will wait a month before adding anything else.
It takes time.
Don't give up, a lot of good information and stuff to buy here.:happyfish

 

[trainfever]

For a tank that small, you should have only started with 2 fish at first and then add maybe 1 or 2 fish a week after that to let your bacteria build up to the new bio-load.

 

[druid1547]

I was told to start with some live rocks and a damsel or two. then wait a month or more and check my water. Do you have any live rocks?

 

[chris5]

Yea i think i rushed into it alittle to soon, damsels love the tank though thats the funny part but i think the clowns are alittle to sensitive as well as the anemie, good thing the clowns weren't that expensive to begin with but how long is long enough for the tank to cycle? first signs of bacteria/algae? Or when the water parameters read 0's .....(being a newb i havent even checked that so dont hate to much, still learning) :nervous:
Heres why i thought i could get away with it,
Setting up my tank i used my friends fully cycled water change water (about 50 % filled my tank) than i added water as needed, yes i did everthing right and now have 3 fiji rocks in the tank with live sand and my livestock, did i let it cycle before the fish, not really about a day or two...but again i have no visible algae or bacteria yet....i did add bio-sphere to get the tank ready though .....does that count?

 

[druid1547]

Hi, just like you I am learning too bad I did not see this message board. I could have saved a lot of money. Right now I give it a month and test the water. I have some algae in my tank that was why I purchsed some snails and small hermits.
I know there are others that can help you more. One thing do you have any LR in your tank? If not you might want to get some they help establish your tank system.

 

[druid1547]

sorry did not see the rest of you message. You should have given it a month before adding so much. I would have started out with a damsel after three weeks or more of the tank with LR cycling.
Don't worry I did the same, it is so much fun seeing beautiful colored fish in the tank versus just rocks.:happyfish

 

[puffer32]

I think you added anenome way to soon, they only go into established tanks I believe. And you have to have at least dgood PC lighting, what do you have?

 

[chris5]

What a turn around, Update # 3
Put my light on a timer so that it wouldnt be messed up by my school schedule and that worked out great, after 24 hrs of madness with the 1 clown fish dying and the baby clown not leaving the heater area and the anemie's not flourishing like they should i thought all was lost
minus the damsels which loved the setup
Got home today to find the anemies in full bloom!
And to my suprise the surviving clown fully introduced into it!!!!!
remember that i used almost 60% of my friends tank water fully cycled for a year (his water change water)
We'll see what happens from here
What do you guys think about adding another clown to acompany the baby now?

 

[bjgwilliam]

You need to be careful when it comes to adding another clown. They are very teritorial fish. In other threads that i have read other posts that suggest that you add clowns at the same time into their new enviroment. If you add another clown now, be sure to monitor them closely. I have personally seen both clown lock jaws and fight when a new one is added.

 

[jedi]

well here I go....
Welcome to the forums.
You need to SLOW DOWN. way to much added to the tank. way to fast.
This hobby, or the succes of the hobby, depends greatly on patience. You will end up loosing everything in that tank.(except the Damsels).
Any Anemone needs to be added to an "established", not just "cycled" tank.
I understand the excitement and desire to "get the tank looking good" but you are definatly headed for heartache and frustration if you continue to rush things.
This is not intended to offend or flame you, just some experienced opinion.
Jedi

 

[chris5]

Thanks for the support but one question still lingers (besides the fact that i am working on my patience skills) what should i do now? My anenomie's are pretty big now at least 2x what they were from the fish store and my clown is very nervous (when i come home from school he is gaurding the biggest anenomie) but if i touch the water in any way (like to get something out like i did about an hour ago he gets weird and goes somewhere to hang out in one spot for hours) .......
I was thinking he needed another to accompany but i guess that would be rushing? its about a week in so i know the first reaction is to say i am crazy but i am trying to work with what i have at this point.......being that i am a newb......