Fish are gone.

[fish for life.]

Hello I am a newby to saltwater, only 3 months of reading and learning. I bought my 20 gallon hex used with a clown and some live rock and gravel. It only had a penguin 110 filter. I added some plastic plants, argomite, a small powerhead, and a heater. Lighting is stardard florescent. I then realized this was a stupid purchase, too small. But I have it. I tried to introduce a yellow/blue damsel who did not make it overnight. My levels have been consistent: SG 1.021, PH 8.2, 79 degrees, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate all 0, With a hint of nitrite and ammonia at times, maybe 15ppm. I then introduced a "cleaner package" mistake # 2. An assortment of snails, crabs, shrimp, and star fish. Stars were gone in a week. Next I introduce a small Kole Tang, mistake #3, do not let lfs give advce until you really know them. The Tang actually slowly lost color but had a big appetite for about six weeks. Next I added 3lbs of live rock and a royal gamma. (mistake #4 why did I use same LFS when I knew they were not honest. Next day, Tang has Ich and dies. My new lfs says it was stress and cyinide, he/she was too small. They told me to get cleaner wrasse or use NOICH to clean take, Gamma shows ich next day. Gamma goes. Tried a FD, but now know this was stupid. I thought it was over, but Clown finally showed stress, I could not find NOICH, tried Rid-Ich one dose, Clown gone! Do I just go back to fresh water tanks and ponds where things were never this hard? I love the hobby, but refuse to kill any more fish. So, sorry for the long story, but here is my question: how long will ICH remain toxic to fish in my tank. Do i make this tank a "hospital" tank, even though it is better for display, being tall. I am moving May 29th and could set up a larger tank in June. Until then what to do with my coral banded shrimp(billybob), cleaner shrimp, snails, hermits, and rock?

 

[carrie]

Hi fish for life- I have a question, did your new tank go through the cycle period? This takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks or if you add live rock the cycle is shorter. when you cycle the tank you only put in damsels/clowns until the cycle has completed. Then and only then can you add additional fish.
Also, don't ever clean your tank with window cleaner, inside or outside the tank. This is toxic! If you have salt on the outside of your tank, put some water on a papertowel and wipe the tank. Go back w/dry papertowel.
You came to a good website. You can "search" on this website, upper right corner, type in any topic and up will come previous questions/answers.

 

[jakob4001]

well for 1 thing, your SG is probably too low; most people seem to keep their's at 1.23-1.024 at the lowest; yep, that is small size to start out w/; you could always try bigger next time & slowly

 

[fish for life.]

Thanks for the fedback, yes I will enjoy mu cleaning crew till April, actually they are fun. The tank was used so, when I bought it I salvaged 90% of the water, so I am a cycle virgin. I did wait 3 or 4 weeks before I introduced the first damsel. What about the hex as a hospital, any thoughts?

 

[salty guy]

If you plan on getting a new tank in the future use the hex as a hospital tank. I have several Q tanks one with copper that ALL fish go in for 4 weeks before they make there way into the maintank. The others are for curing LR that I find and buy for time to time, I have several snals in one that bread and I sell to others for 1/2 or better what the LFS sells them for.
In short injoy your critters for now. Search and read, then repeat. You may even want to put yoru new stuff on layaway or start a fish savings account. Dont laugh I know people that have done that.