Help!!!

[lioness]

We started our tank about about six weeks. We took our water to be tested and they said it was perfect we can start adding fish. So in our excitement we now have 8 fish. over a weeks time.
Here is my question. All our Nitrates,Nitrites and Ammonia are as follows:
Ammonia .5
Nitrates 45ppm
Nitrites 0
Is this normal to raise up alittle? Will it fall back down? What can I do to bring it all back? HELP
I am worried since I am new and don't want to lose any of my fish they are like my children hand fed and all.

 

[blueberryboomer]

I think the problem is that you added way to many fish way to quickly. If your tank has only been running for 6 weeks, is that running after the cycle or cycle and all. I don't think your system is ready for that much of a bio load. I would take some of the fish back and do a good size water change to help with the nitrate problem.
Please remember that you can't alway trust what a lfs tells you, most not all will tell you anything you want to hear so you spend your hard earned $ with them...Lisa

 

[flydan]

Hey,
Wow. Eight fish in a week will really increase your bio-load to fast for your tank to keep up. Post more details on your set up, such as dsb (deep sand bed), lr (live rock), filtration and lighting. Also any additives you're putting in your water.
I have 120lbs of lr in a 55gal tank that has been set up since April and I wouldn't dare add more than one, or maybe a mated pair, in a week.
It's too late now of course, so let us know about your set up, and what kind of fish they were and we'll try and make the best of it for you.
Welcome to the board BTW.

 

[lioness]

All the fish eat well and are very active. We have a triple bio ball filtration system,skimmer,underground filter with 3 thousand l/h heads and a AF-93 chemical filter, Lighing is a Chromlite, Crush see shell and gravel bottom 4 to 5 inches thick (which came with the tank pre established from individual we bought it from)
We didn't add them all at once. We add them one to two at a time over the week.

 

[blutang]

WOW!!....you added A LOT of fish all at once, it is normal for your nitrates to go up but its also not good.........you added too many fish over a too small amount of time. What type of fish did you add?

 

[lioness]

We added the following: Lionfish,Ghost eel, Clown, Yellow Tang, Hawain Seahawk, Niger Trigger, and the latest is a Panther Grouper.
We took a water sample in to be tested this morning because I was so worried and the Ammonia was .25,Nitrate is 40ppm,Nitrite is still at a zero. They said that our kit was to old and did not read right. So we bought a new kit.
Today was feeding day and not one of them wasted any time in feeding. All was gone in about one minute. Except for the eel he is so spoiled he likes to be hand fed.

 

[fishymissy]

You should be doing daily water changes until ammonia and nitrites are down to 0. Once your nitrates start up, and start peaking, then once every 2 to 3 days would be recommended until the level falls below 20ppm. Even though your fish seem fine right now, high ammonia levels can permantly damage gill membranes. High levels of ammonia and nitrite will stress your fish making them more susceptible to illness too.
Good luck!

 

[blutang]

Wow...thats a lot of fish at once....I wouldn't add any more until your water situation stabilizes.......be very careful right now.....just make sure you don't over feed...that can definintely kill your water quality as well.
Later!
and
GOOD LUCK

 

[von_rahvin]

that is a very large number of not small fish. one fish a week, if they are that large. having an empty tank is boring but you can not jump the biosystem that way.
wet dry filters or any biological filters have to get used too have the increased bioload over time. the size of you filter does not matter in the beginning. there will only be enough bacteria as the ammonia in the tank will support. nothing but time, or if you want you could directly by the bacteria from a dealer. they do exist. not recommending this but it is possible

 

[lioness]

I feed them every other day. Is that to much. I feed them a little each feeding so that they eat all their food in a time frame of no longer then 5 minutes.
Thanks for all the great advice it really helps having feed back other then the stores.

 

[mr.marine]

you feed the ever OTHER DAY??????????? ahhhhhh! i feed mine once daily. i know people who even feed twice. dont starve ur fish! you can feed em daily, just maek sure they eat all the food before you put in more!
good luck!
flame

 

[lioness]

Thanks Flameangel!! That is what one of the stores told us. It didn't make sense to me when they eat every day in their sea envoriment.

 

[misty927]

I hope you also realize that a panther grouper will quickly outgrow that size of a tank. They need at least a 150-gallon aquarium or larger...and this is a minimum. Other people will tell you an even larger tank. And believe me...they will grow fast. Please do some research...it is THE KEY to success in this hobby. This board is an extremely helpful source. I use the knowledge I have gained here and through thorough reading and I have had zero deaths in almost two years. I can't stress enough...please research. Patience and understanding are essential!

 

[flydan]

Hey,
With all those fish and the type filtration you have it will be very hard to keep nitrates out of your system. The bio-ball system creates nitrates and the UGF with all that CC is a real nitrate factory. Sorry.

 

[lioness]

We plan on getting a 240 gallon tank. We have found one and are in the process of saving the money for it.
Thanks for all your in put. I have learn a lot from all of you.