Im pulling my hair out!!

[agb1]

Okay here is the deal. For two months now my tank has been cloudy. I actually had a guy from my LFS who was coming out and servicing the tank. (my mistake) So far he had not been able to help in any way. Now, starting this last weekend ive started loosing fish. Three since saturday!! So today i decided to fire him and do this myself. I did a patrial water change earlier and my readings after the change are as follows.
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 10
PH 8.2
Salinity 1.021
I have a 55gal FOWLR. Penguin 350 filter and 60pds of LS and about 80pds of LR. The tank has been up for almost three months now. What do I need to do to fix the mess this guy has left it in? I will take any advice, PLEASE PLEASE help me. Im about ready to throw in the towel and drain this tank. :help:

 

[dme]

Myself, with that size a tank, I only would need a good skimmer for all I know, that Penguin 350 filter isn't helping you one bit, and I have to guess that your tank is being over feed for two months and still an ammonia and nitrites. You need to slow it down in adding any fish and not over feed as well I hope your using RO water for your water changes and top off (evaporating water).
So my suggestion is to get yourself what HOB skimmer SWF members suggest to you that is best and after few days do get rid of that Penguin 350 filter. And you might want to if you not already have any, get two maxi jets 600 power heads for the inside the tank, one on each side the tank.

 

[ktsdad]

I would have to agree with DME.
How many inhabitants to have in your tank now?
You really don't need that Penuin 350 filter. For now, take out the filter media and just use for water circulation. Your live rock will take care all your bio-filtration needs.
The fact that you have ammonia and nitrite levels is not a good thing. Sounds like your cycle never finished. It will eventually. I would bet the ammonia and nitrite levels are what killed your fish. Don't add any more livestock of any kind until your ammonia and nitrite are ZERO.
Here is the dilema - you need some ammonia and nitrite levels so your cycle will finish and the good bacteria will start to grow on your live rock which in turn will eliminate the ammonia and nitrite. On the other hand, both of those are really bad for your fish.
My suggestions -
1. Keep a close eye on both ammonia and nitrite levels. Hopefully by now the ammonia is on it's way down. Your nitrite may be on it's way up so don't be alarmed if it goes up. Don't do any more water changes unless your levels get close to 1ppm, then do 10%. Again, you need to let the cycle complete so your live rock becomes useful bio filtration.
Once the ammo and nitrite levels get back to 0, then your nitrate will start to go up that is when you want to start doing bigger water changes to get rid of the nitrate.
2. Get a good HOB skimmer. I like the AquaC Remora. Easy to set up and use and does a good job.
3. Feed as little as possible so there is little or none left over.
4. I would raise your salinity (slooooowly) up to about 1.025.
Hopefully things will get better for you. Keep us posted.
Hope it helps and good luck!

 

[uberlink]

I second the above posts on all points. Just for added info, the best way to raise your salinity slowly is to occasionally top off evaporated water with premixed saltwater instead of freshwater. On feeding once a day or even once every other day is sufficient. Don't put in more than the fish can eat in about two minutes. Oh, and the Aqua C remora really is great. Get one.
Good luck!

 

[mikeyjer]

You've already been helped by the above posts. I just want to mention about you pulling your hair out. I was pulling mine for the past 3 days.....lol....My new sump/fuge was killing me, but finally got it right tonight! Yippie, no more pulling hair!!! :happyfish

 

[murph]

Sorry to hear you have lost fish. I hope they were not to expensive.
If it were me I would return any livestock to LFS
Shut down any any lighting you have for now. Unless there has been something blowing around your sand the cloudy condition is likely due to a suspended algae bloom. With no light algae bloom will die off.
Now let tank cycle. A cycled tank should show zero for ammonia and nitrites.
IN the mean time and while tank is cycling properly consider adding a sump and or fuge. And get a quality skimmer for the sump.
If you don't want to go to that trouble and expense for now, which is understandable, I would at the vary least get a good hang on skimmer for the tank. Aqua C and coralife hang on skimmers seem to be well thought of. The coralife can be hung on tank or placed in sump so I would probably go with one of those so it could be moved to the sump at a later date if one is added to the system.
Good luck.

 

[rcbruce]

ok, adding my pennie's worth. (not sure if it's worth 2 cents)
I agree with most of what you have been told with one glaring exception. Keep the penguin filter! Here's my reasoning. Deterus causes ammonia, which causes nitrites. The filter will cycle and start to help break down the ammonia. Also, you can keep an eye on the filter and rinse it out every few days to help remove the deturus. This will help to lower ammonia, which will allow them to be broken down into nitrites, then nitrates in turn. I have an emperor 400 on my 55 and have been told to get rid of it too. NOT happening. I don't add anything to it but regular filter cleanings and changes.
Definately get a protein skimmer. Depending on your finances, even a bak-pack would work. (use it myself)
The object is to allow the tank to complete the cycle and remove harmful waste. (out with the bad water, in with the good)
If you don't have any powerheads, get some, or at least one. Again, if financialy doable, a power head on each side will mix your water good. In my 55, I have two penguin 300 gal heads, placed in opposite sides in back corners, directed where they spray towards the front and meet in the middle. Turbulance is better than ring around the rosie. If powerheads are not a financial option right now, then concentrate on the skimmer now, powerheads later.
With any luck, a couple of weeks should have you right!
Keep us informed

 

[symon]

I agree with keeping the bio wheel, I have kept mine even since adding the ramora( awsome skimmer ) I don't use media in it often, But it does allow you that option if needed! If that is all you are using for the time being, make sure to keep the media bag rinsed so it will continue to remove the crud from you tank!

 

[my way]

I may have missed reading it in one of the posts. The cloudiness could be a bacteria bloom, which from your readings is quite possible. They usually don't last for 2 months though, but it is possible. Do as the other posters have told you. Light bio-load and vey light feedings.

 

[agb1]

Thanks so much for everyones help. I will do as suggested and keep you all posted from here. By the way I woke up this morning to find another fish dead.....that pretty much leaves me empty with the exception of an urchin and crabs. I will let you all know how it works out. Thanks so much!!

 

[firedog]

What fish did you have? At this point do like everyone said and don't add any fish. But I would keep the filter. Add the skimmer. And get a couple of powerheads. Personally I think if you can't do the skimmer right away (they can be expensive) the powerheads would be a cheaper option. They would help increase circulation around the live rock and over the sand which should help with nutrient levels.
Also, was the live rock cured? If it was not and it still curing that could play into a big part of the problem.
Just my half cent.