Code Red

lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
I started mine by not touching my live rock. When I received it, it was covered in plants and stuff and instead of brushing or scrubbing it off I just dunked them in a bucket to get off loose stuff and put them in the tank. I also did 50% daily water changes. The tank cycled in 2 weeks with only a 2 or 3 day slight re-cycle when I added my clown but I think that was becuase I was feeding him too much.
 
drfixjet

drfixjet

Member
Originally Posted by InvertCrazy
http:///forum/post/3009979
NO damsels- get 4 or 5 raw deli shrimp and put them in a nylon sack- in about 3 or 4 days they will start to decay and start your cycle. Make sure you have test kits to keep track or the cycle so you know when and how it's going.
Putting damsels in is cruel, the ammonia and nitrites will burn their gills.
How long does the shrimp need to stay in the tank for? How long would you guesstimate it will take to cycle? Thanks for the Idea... I def dont want to hurt the fishes more than they probably already are..... they have had a rough couple of days..... Im hoping they all pull through....
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Originally Posted by InvertCrazy
http:///forum/post/3009985
Also the dragonet's main diet is live copepods which is going to be an issue in a new tank
you can order them online. I have a shipment of them comign this week im so excited
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
Originally Posted by DRFIXJET
http:///forum/post/3009986
How long does the shrimp need to stay in the tank for? How long would you guesstimate it will take to cycle? Thanks for the Idea... I def dont want to hurt the fishes more than they probably already are..... they have had a rough couple of days..... Im hoping they all pull through....
Hard to say but I would guess within a week you should see ammonia start to rise. This is why it is important to have test kits so you know when the cycle starts and monitor it as it continues along. AS the ammonia peaks take the shrimp out. be prepared because they will smell real bad.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
I was reading the posts and I feel a need to chime in here. The 90g isn't going to cycle for at least 3 weeks and that would be pushing it.
May I suggest you contact your LFS and see if they will take the fish. They are going to die in the 20g. If not from ammonia then from each other...so many damsels, no way will they make it.
For the amount of fish there are in that 20g the 90g would be overtaxed on fish. I have a 90g 15 fish was okay for the original owner and his 125g, you are way over your limit on your size tank that hasn't even cycled.
my list of fish: (not counting my CUC and Anemone)
  • 1 sleeper goby 5'
  • 1 Hippo Tang 4.5'
  • 1 Kole tang 3.5'
    3 flame cardinals 1'
    2 anthias 2' and 1'
My tank is full and the bioload at its limit. Ever hear the saying "the cheap comes out expensive"? The person who sold you all those fish was reckless and just wanted to be rid of them. The LFS would take them off his hands for free and he found you to buy them.
There will be plenty of time to purchase fish later, and never all at once anyway..1 or 2 fish at a time.
You are way over your head here. I am sorry, I don't mean to sound harsh...That guy knew better you did not. Shame on him.
 
kevindouglas3

kevindouglas3

New Member
hey man i had the same issue with my 55 at first the ammonia reading was at like 4.0 i went to the lfs and bought this product called ammonia neutralizer from aqueon and within a week the ammonia was perfect i figure in a 20 gal the processwould be alot faster. good luck
 
gypsana

gypsana

Active Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3010065
I was reading the posts and I feel a need to chime in here. The 90g isn't going to cycle for at least 3 weeks and that would be pushing it.
May I suggest you contact your LFS and see if they will take the fish. They are going to die in the 20g. If not from ammonia then from each other...so many damsels, no way will they make it.
For the amount of fish there are in that 20g the 90g would be overtaxed on fish. I have a 90g 15 fish was okay for the original owner and his 125g, you are way over your limit on your size tank that hasn't even cycled.
my list of fish: (not counting my CUC and Anemone)
  • 1 sleeper goby 5'
  • 1 Hippo Tang 4.5'
  • 1 Kole tang 3.5'
    3 flame cardinals 1'
    2 anthias 2' and 1'
My tank is full and the bioload at its limit. Ever hear the saying "the cheap comes out expensive"? The person who sold you all those fish was reckless and just wanted to be rid of them. The LFS would take them off his hands for free and he found you to buy them.
There will be plenty of time to purchase fish later, and never all at once anyway..1 or 2 fish at a time.
You are way over your head here. I am sorry, I don't mean to sound harsh...That guy knew better you did not. Shame on him.
I agree 110%. Those fish are probably not going to make it. Get them to a LFS ASAP! Your 90 gal is going to take far too long to cycle and the QT you have is way to small for those fish even for a few days.
 
T

tfolke1

Guest
If you can I would bank the fish at the LFS. Tell them you'll buy your live rock there if they will store your fish for you. Then do it.
If they won't take them, threaten to slip the Damsels into their largest display tank. Remind them how much time and effort it will take to get the Damsels out.
If that doesn't work, I would consider splitting the current fish up. You have to either go forward or back, I don't think you can stay where you are. I personally believe that the Tang and Trigger would have a much better chance of surviving in an uncycled 90 with as much cured live rock as you can afford, than in a 15 gallon tank alone.
Then there are all the damsels.
You may burn thru 2 40$ buckets of salt trying to save 13 $7 fish.
 
T

tfolke1

Guest
If all else fails, be diligent. Get the dead out asap before they make things even worse for the living.
 
drfixjet

drfixjet

Member
UPDATE: cant find any RO water locally fast enough..... My RO unit made about another 15 gal... so Im gonna use tap water condition it and get the 90 gal tank going.... as for the small tank with alll the fish.. This morning one of the blue damsels died... I took him out immediatlly.... and did another 40% water change with water I had setup the night before. I bought API ammo lock this afternoon and threw that in there..... Fish are looking healthier....I will not be feeding them tonite and will be doing another 40% water change.... MY RIP off LFS wants 5 bucks a day to store the fish in a 29 gal tank..... Sooo that being said I will have to rough it and try and keep these guys alive with daily water changes and barely feeding them.... Im thinking of putting a couple of fish in the 90 gal to get the cycle going.... Once the ammonia starts to spike I will remove the fish... I was thinking of putting in 5 damsels to gets things moving quickly... This would also relieve some load on the small tank... My main concerns in order are the trigger, tang, gobies, and the dragnet....... wish me luck guys.... gotta get to work...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top