Going Along then tank crashed- Any help??

onoc64

onoc64

New Member
I had just started up a saltwater fish tank for about two weeks. I purchased live sand, live rock, all in which was cured. Mixed my saltwater then started my wet-dry, waited three days, checked all the levels of the fish tank and added the damsels. I was told that being that I added the cured rock that my tank wouldnt cycle and I needed damsels to produce ammonia to cycle my tank for me. I have had my damsels for two weeks perfectly healthy with all my levels perfectly fine and my ammonia not climbing to peak. I recently added an HO light and a new powerhead. And about one and a half gallons of treated tap water and noticed that my fish were breathing heavy. The next day I had woken up and most if not all of my fish were dead. I took out the dead fish, rechecked all of my levels, all of the levels in the tank were fine so I had bought three more damsels. I had added them to the tank and now one looks as if he is not going to make it either. Is there something that I have done wrong or am I not checking for something specific? Can someone help me out?
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
raw dead shrimp works better for starting a cycle as the animals are already dead...
Your cycle may not have started.
tap water is filthy by the way. Use only RO/DI to topoff and mix saltwater.
Use a refractometer to check specific gravity too!!!
check for ammonia, nitrities, nitrates, pH both day and night, KH, temperature of the tank both day and night.
What do you have for flow, how big is the tank?
If you just have to do damsels, only put one in there..
how much live rock is in the tank?
 
mantisman51

mantisman51

Active Member
If your tap water has chlorine and chloramine, you are pretty much guaranteeing to kill the fish. If the idea of spending the money on and the pain of installing a filter is distasteful, consider a countertop filter. There is a model that is RO/DI and it guarantees 1500 gallons of heavy metal and clorine removal for $99 and free shipping. The replacement filters are $22. It is made by KW, which is one of the largest commercial water filter companies.
I haven't lost a fish in several months and I think it is no coincidence that the deaths stopped when the filtering started. Also, if you go to (the auction site) there is a company that sales scientific grade refractometers for $30+shipping. Those two items will get you 90% of the way to a very successful tank. I learned the hard way and wasted alot of money. You are just starting, PLEASE get these two things. Spend more money for high $ items, if you're so inclined. Just don't waste money and kill the little guys.
 
fish4rudy

fish4rudy

Member
What kind of water did you use when you set the tank up? I started my 29g with 30# live sand ,35# live rock and ro/di water. My tank never went through a 'cycle'. You must be adding something 'bad' if you are killing fish. I would look at the advice given above get a refractometer and use ro/di water.
 
mr.m

mr.m

Member
Originally Posted by NigerBang
http:///forum/post/2853560
refracs are overrated... I own 2 and they read the same as my $6 hydrometer
yes i agree. But most ppl wont take care of a hydrometer or clean them so my vote is for the refac it easyer for the new ppl and bullet proof if thay calebrate them
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I have never had any luck with a hydrometer.
If you are trying to hyposalinity, it's best to use a refractometer.
 
fish4rudy

fish4rudy

Member
+1 on the refractometer. If you are going to venture into a reef tank then you should be able to care for a refractometer and use it the correct way. If not then that will be the least of your worries.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
I have been keeping reef tanks for years and have the same old school Deep Six that I started with and it read identical to 2 different refracts...If you are going to go the route of Hypo I reccomend one other wise....they were a waste of money in my case..
 
stumblinras

stumblinras

Member
stay away from the tap water,even w/the treatment u never can be sure what is in it...invest in a r/o system even a cheap one will save u a lot of probs.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by onoc64
http:///forum/post/2852894
I had just started up a saltwater fish tank for about two weeks. I purchased live sand, live rock, all in which was cured. Mixed my saltwater then started my wet-dry, waited three days, checked all the levels of the fish tank and added the damsels. I was told that being that I added the cured rock that my tank wouldnt cycle and I needed damsels to produce ammonia to cycle my tank for me. I have had my damsels for two weeks perfectly healthy with all my levels perfectly fine and my ammonia not climbing to peak. I recently added an HO light and a new powerhead. And about one and a half gallons of treated tap water and noticed that my fish were breathing heavy. The next day I had woken up and most if not all of my fish were dead. I took out the dead fish, rechecked all of my levels, all of the levels in the tank were fine so I had bought three more damsels. I had added them to the tank and now one looks as if he is not going to make it either. Is there something that I have done wrong or am I not checking for something specific? Can someone help me out?
Welcome to the boards!!! Well, you moved way too fast. Cured rock or not, that tank was way too new to add fish. I am wondering about this part:
I was told that being that I added the cured rock that my tank wouldnt cycle and I needed damsels to produce ammonia to cycle my tank for me.
If you were told that the tank wouldn't cycle then why did you need damsels to cycle?

Slow down. Do you have your own test it for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and PH? If so, what are those readings now?
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by NigerBang
http:///forum/post/2853560
refracs are overrated... I own 2 and they read the same as my $6 hydrometer
Why did you buy two if they read the same as your $6 hydrometer? A glass hydrometer is pretty accurate, but they don't cost $6. I assume you are talking about a swing arm, which are notoriously incorrect. Maybe you are the one person that is lucky enough to find the one that is dead on
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2854243
Why did you buy two if they read the same as your $6 hydrometer? A glass hydrometer is pretty accurate, but they don't cost $6. I assume you are talking about a swing arm, which are notoriously incorrect. Maybe you are the one person that is lucky enough to find the one that is dead on

as I mentioned its a deep six... Plastic.. You have to caibrate them to start off with, the 1st refrac I bought was a cheapo and read the same so I bought a nicer one.. Read the same as well.. Come to our reef clubs pages and look at some of the tanks of our members that use hydrometers.. Make some on here look like algae farms.. And I'm not trying to rock the boat or piss anyone off or make foes.. Most of you long term ppl know me..just remember plemnums were once all the rage..
 
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