Mini Cycle in a 14g Nano! PLEASE HELP!!!

[rhythm9]

Hello again,
I posted yesterday asking about what I should do regarding transfering the contents of my 4 year old 55g reef tank into a 14g nano without killing everything. I followed the procedure I was given and I am now experiencing a crisis. I have been monitoring the parameters of the 14g like a hawk and as of last night they were normal. The fish have been in for about 24 hours and have been breathing rapidly since introduction which I assumed was due to the stress of the the switch. As of this morning they are more lethargic and my readings are showing .25 nitrites!!! I did a small (gallon) water change and treated with AmQUEL. What do I do to save this! More water changes? I am just afraid to change too much at once seeing as the tank is so small. PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[bang guy]

The Nitrite level you posted is harmless. Is there any ammonia? Is there sufficient waterflow?
I would not suggest Amquel unless there is ammonia. It will reduce the available oxygen in the water and that can make the problem worse. It would be better to do a large water change.

 

[rhythm9]

After about a 3 gallon water change the ammonia is reading 0ppm I believe... the first three color swatches on the card are very similar and even if I am a little off the highest it could possibly be is .50ppm. The flow is provided by the output pump of the filter and a (I thought too large) hydor koralia ph that I had in my 55... It blows the sand around if pointed at a poor angle so I figure that it provides a decent amount of flow. I just now put in an air stone to help with any oxygen depletion caused by me using the AMQUEL....
Fish are still larthargic and not really leaving their hiding spots... none of them are actually sitting on the bottom but they are hovering about an inch or two, breathing on both of them seems SLIGHTLY slower.... :/
More water changes? How much? How often? My LFS open in about an hour, anything I should go pick up? Ive had one of these fish for almost 8 years and I really dont want to be the cause of her untimely demise!

 

[bang guy]

I think the worst is probably over. If it were me I would make 5 gallons of saltwater (or whatever convenient bucket size you have) and have it on standby just in case. While at the store I would pick up a better ammonia test kit. Salifert or Hach if they have it but definitely something that can easily distinguish between 0.0 and 0.25.
Although the Nitrite is fairly harmless it does indicate that the biological filtration has been disturbed. This can cause the PH to fluctuate wildly and that could be what is stressing your fish.

 

[bang guy]

Just FYI - you could probably do a 100% water change so don't be afraid to change too much at once. One of the advantages of a small tank is that you can swap out half of the water quickly when things go wrong. Just be sure to age the saltwater for a day after it's mixed and to also match the temperature and salinity to the tank water.

 

[mr llimpid]

did you know your ammonia level B4 you added the amquel? Also the difference from 0 to .5 is a lot you'll need to re test, .5 is half way to death. Did you use new sand or old sand? Poor Angel? You said you only had 2 fish a clown and damsel, how many fish do you have and what type?

 

[rhythm9]

Thank you so much for the confidence! I think you are spot on with the pH thing... after you said that I tested my pH again and it was only 7.6!!!! It was around 8.0 when I went to bed last night... I then tested a sample of freshly mixed salt water to make sure it wasnt my salt and that tested at 8.4!!! Something is definitely making the pH swing way low once it is in the tank... I went ahead and changed a little more than 2 more gallons and I will probably do it again tonight... I will definitely post again if I have anymore questions! Thank you sooo much!

 

[rhythm9]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr LLimpid http:///t/396006/mini-cycle-in-a-14g-nano-please-help#post_3527415
did you know your ammonia level B4 you added the amquel? Also the difference from 0 to .5 is a lot you'll need to re test, .5 is half way to death. Did you use new sand or old sand? Poor Angel? You said you only had 2 fish a clown and damsel, how many fish do you have and what type?
Before I added the AMQUEL I felt the test was more towards .25 than 0 so I dosed just to be safe. Now after the treatment and the water changes it looks like a true 0. I used the sand from the old tank, about 10 lbs. I have only two fish, a clown and a yellow tail damsel.

 

[rhythm9]

To be more clear, I used only materials from the old tank:
10lbs sand
15 ish lbs. live rock
I used about 50% water from the old tank on the original fill
2 of the 3 filter sponges I used were from the old tank as well as all the ceramic bio media (from a fluval) and then placed in brand new carbon.

 

[mr llimpid]

The old sand is were you got your ammonia spike from. A lot of organic material get trapped in the sand and when you moved, you stirred it up. The regular Amquel will lower the PH of a tank, keep doing water changes or add a PH buffer. You said you have coral? I assume LPS and softies a good PH is 8.1 - 8.3.

 

[mr llimpid]

Carbon is a hole other matter some people like others do not. I'm in between, I run carbon for a week B4 a water change, Keep water clear and doesn't remove a lot of trace elements, then the water change replaces them.

 

[rhythm9]

Ok so I should quit using the amquel which is obviously screwing with my pH and just keep the ammonia in check and bring the pH back up with water changes? After my most recent change my pH is back up to 7.9 from 7.6... I feel like is I do one more 2-3 gallon change later this afternoon/evening it should be back near a normal range. As for the ammonia spike, is this kind of thing short lived? Is the disturbance I created by moving the old sand a short term problem as long as I monitor it or is it more serious and causing this tank to go into an actual cycle?

 

[rhythm9]

Also the only corals I moved to the 14g were some mushrooms and they seem to be doing alright.. smaller than usual but not miserable looking. I also have about 10 zebra hermits and they are doing just fine, cruising all over like normal.

 

[mr llimpid]

Ammona spikes usually take 10 days for the bacteria to multiply for the extra ammonia, but in your case this is a new set up (smaller amount of LR) time will tell. As for the mushrooms, the low PH and nitrates over 10 will effect them. What kind of lighting do you have on this nano and what did you have on the 55?

 

[rhythm9]

The lighting on the nano is a 70w K-2 Viper metal halide and the lighting on the 55 was a 4x65w 48" coralife PC fixture

 

[mr llimpid]

The light may be to bright for the mushrooms, causing them to melt. You have increased the watt per gallon and changed from PC lighting to metal halide. I would use some plastic screening, the kind you use on storm doors cut it to fit top of tank to reduce the light, you may need 2 or 3 layers. Once a month remove 1 layer and see what happens.

 

[rhythm9]

Great! Thanks for all the help! Both fish have begun to perk up too! The clown actually swam around the whole tank exploring a few times!!!! hopefully I can keep everything in check from here on out. Learned my lesson about using old sand! Haha

 

[mr llimpid]

Small tanks need constant monitoring, things will change fast in a small tank. In my 20gal I check my salinity twice a day, PH in the evening, all other test are done once a week. Change water 10% every 2 weeks.