Quote:
Originally Posted by
floyd37 http:///t/393652/need-advice-and-help-straight-forward-thoughts#post_3502658
Ok i have a regular 29 gal tank with live reef sand two live rocks a couple small artificial plants a standard carbon filter and an airstone under my smaller rock and I also have the led strip that changes colors and makes a curtain. I recently started my tank like last thursday and on friday I added a few fish. Before I started the fish I added a half bottle of the quick start for the backteria.. I got the saltwater from a store and let the water get to 80 degrees. Flucuates from 78-81 when light is off and on. I have a t8 bulb also. Anywaus when I got my fish I got 2 chromis and 1 yellow tail damsel. And a clownfish. Also two peppermint shrimp and teo nerites and everything was fine for about a week.. then the damsels died off one by one.. all I have is the shrimp and the clownfish and the snails.. everything tested perfect I had my water tested at three different ppaces and everything is near perfect... solinity great ph 8.1 nitrites 0 ammonia 0 nitrates 15 and it doesnt make sense.. since that iv added a black clown and they have been doing great and swimmin fine.. everythinf else is alive... but why did my other three die? Is it the fact that its new ish? Now its 2 weeks... im trying to wsit on things but im impatient but seeing that theyve died I dont wanna do anything else for a while til I figure out whats up
Hello, and welcome to the site.
The reason your first fish died is two fold.
#1...It takes approximately 4 weeks to cycle a tank, and no new fish should be added until all readings for Ammonia and nitrites are a 0 AFTER you see an ammonia spike. A chunk of raw shrimp will cycle the tank, so there is no need to use a live fish and torture it.
#2...ONE critter should be added at any time, we do go ahead and add two clowns, but NEVER, EVER a damsel, a clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp. It takes time for the good bacteria to build up and sustain the new additions. You added too much way too soon.
1 week is about right for the ammonia spike to start killing off the fish. The ones remaining survived the horrible conditions. Adding bacteria does not instantly cycle the tank. It will aid a tiny bit to help the colony start but not ready for fish for weeks still.
Also, damsels are evil little fish, that will kill off everything in the tank, and bite you drawing blood when it matures...the chromis were doomed in a tank with it from the get go. As algae grows you will need a larger CUC (clean up crew) of snails to help keep the tank clean. 4 small fish maxes out the tank. Remember to add fish that will stay small. Fish grow and mature and your tank is very small. You also need more rock unless the two you have in there already is huge.
If you are impatient, you are doomed to fail. Taking things super slow is key to keeping saltwater creatures alive.
Now I also offer this advice, you should put ALL new fish in a quarantine tank before you add it to the display. One sick fish can wipe out every creature in there. You don't put air bubbles in a saltwater tank (in a QT it is okay, to help move the surface water) However you
never use an air stone. The wave is the life of the ocean and your SW tank, what you need is a small power head to create the wave.
Hope that helps.
