Help please!

[sslimshagy]

Have only had my tank for 3 months with NO experience prior to this. I have a ten gallon with standard lighting, heater, filter that cycles about 120 gallons per hour, and a bubble stick. I have no power head or anything special. I have 4 fish and 3 inverts. When i first started my tank i only gave it 2 days to cycle and then i added fish ( yeah i understand that was a mistake now ) About a week after that all my readings for nitrates and nitrates were off the charts. My fish got very sick but then my tank bounced back and got very healthy so i added more fish. My tank is going downhill again I just added live rock yesterday ( 5 pounds ). I'm just very new at this and dont know what to do. Can someone give me suggestions on what kind of equitment i should have and how i can get my levels down? Please help! Thanks

 

[mbrands]

1. Exactly what kind of fish and what quantity?
2. What exactly are your water parameters (temp, salinity, etc)
3. Was the LR you added cured?
My guess is the LR was not cured and you started another cycle. Its too late to remove the LR now, so you'll probably have to do frequent, small waterchanges.
Four fish is way too much bioload for a 10 gallon nano tank. You will probably have to remove some to keep the tank stable.
I'd suggest getting rid of the bubblewand and get a powerhead. The small bubbles pop and cause salt creep to get on EVERYTHING, which you surely realize after 3 months.

 

[viet-tin]

The live rock probably spiked your water. You shouldve added the rock while your tank was cycling or cycle it before you put it in your dt. Your bioload is too high for a small 10 gallon, get rid of some fish. Purchase a small power head or two to help with your water circulation.

 

[sslimshagy]

In reply to mbrands...
Okay, I have a niger trigger, valentini puffer, damsel, clarkii clown, anemone, hermet crab, horseshoe crab. The temp of the water is around 78.. the salinity is about 1.024... nitrites are around 10 and nitrates are around 20. I have no clue what cured means. I got it from a ***** that they had in one of their larger tanks with fish. The rock wasnt for sale but they let me take some. I know for a fact it had been in their tank for atleast 4 months. It was very dirty when they took it out and i shook the bag with the water in it before i put it into my tank to get some of the dirt off. I will definatley replace the bubble wand ( because salt is all over! ) and get a power head.

 

[dmc888]

Well i think you need to upgrade your tank size if possible.
All of those fish require a 29g atleast.
The anemone too.
I'm thinking a atleast a 55 .

 

[sslimshagy]

Thanks for the info viet-tin

 

[mbrands]

The damsel is the only fish that is suitable for a nano tank of that size. If someone at ***** told you they'd be ok do NOT trust that person anymore!
You need to get new homes for the other 3 fish. Return them if you can or see if another local fish store (LFS) will give you store credit to take them off your hands. I'd also get rid of the anemone and horseshoe crab. You probably don't have suitable lighting for the anemone and the horseshoe gets too big.
Your temp and salinity are fine. Did you test for ammonia? If ammonia is zero, it sounds like the LR might have triggered another cycle. There is no equipment (as mentioned in your original post) that will fix this. Water changes will slow down the new cycle you started, but may keep the nitrites to a more tolerable level.

 

[dmc888]

And i would leave the bubbles for now.
Probably would be necessary to keep everything alive.
It will act as a skimmer and help make oxygen for the packed tank.

 

[sslimshagy]

Mbrands - The ammonia is very low just about 0. I'll get rid of the anemone for now. The levels were very high even before i put the live rock in. So do you think that after then tank cycles again the levels might go down alittle due to the live rock?
dmc888 - thanks for the help!

 

[mbrands]

Originally posted by SSLimShagy
after then tank cycles again the levels might go down alittle due to the live rock?
This new cycle is due to the LR. If ammonia is back to zero then hopefully this is sort of a mini-cycle and will be over soon.
You should do some research on the fish you have and decide if you want to get rid of them or upgrade your tank (as dmc888 suggested). You will continue to have issues down the road with the current inhabitants that you have.
Good luck!

 

[dmc888]

I don't think there is anything to help with high nitrates that has a long term effect in a 10g with those fish.
Just way too much bioload in there.
If levels are high already and one fish dies it will probably kill the whole tank by making the levels go deadly.
You are better off with a larger tank IMO . Your fish will be happier. Plus it will be alot easier on you.
The fish will get stressed when they get larger.
Some things that you can do to help for now is limit feeding to once a day, clean filter with saltwater, Do alot of waterchanges ,and pick up waste , some macro algea should help but i'm not sure if your lighting will support any.
A n trigger can get a foot long.

 

[sslimshagy]

Thanks alot for all the advice guys - very helpful. I will most likely be upgrading to a 20 or 29 gallon in may, so i will do my best to keep this tank as healthy as possible till then and do frequent water changes. Thanks Again guys!

 

[greatfullreefer]

Originally posted by dmc888
Well i think you need to upgrade your tank size if possible.
All of those fish require a 29g atleast.
The anemone too.
I'm thinking a atleast a 55 .
Bare minimum tank size for all those lifeforms would be a 75 gallon. Additionally IMO those you listed are not compatable and should not be mixed in the same tank.

 

[sslimshagy]

~*Virtual SMACK*~ for mr. 75 gallon