need help fast!

jnet32

jnet32

New Member
i am new to salt water tanks. ive already killed 4 damsels and i dont know why. right now my ammonia is alittle high and i cant seem to get it down. any suggestions??? also there seems to be a thin film on top of my water. what is this and is it bad? i put a bubble wand in to aggitate the water hoping it will get rid of the film on top, but im not sure if its ok to leave in after i get more damsels. i need major help here!
 
201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
ok everyone is going to ask u this question and suggestions. what are your parameters. size tank. how many pounds of Live Rock? how long its been cycling? and the film on top mite be because of not enough water movement. umm ur lighting, filtering? infos missing and we need it. ur damsels r dying because of the ammonia most likely.
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
Please no more fish until you are cycled. Please give info asked for above. water para. Actual numbers: SG, Amm., NO2, NO3, Temp, Filtration, GPH, When you set the tank up., etc.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Indeed slow down... take out the bubble wand IMO its not going to do any good for your tank. And as asked above lets have some history. Tank size, LR lbs, set up time, water chemistry, salinity, filter type/types. This information will help with figuring out what is wrong if anything.
If I am to guess there is nothing wrong you are just going way to fast and your adding things you shouldnt be right now. I suspect your still in the beginning stages of your cycle and the fish you lost is a result of damaging amonia levels in your tank. It would be best not to add any live stock for now, if you are still cycling throw a raw shrimp in your tank or leave one or 2 of the dead damsels in there. I am also assuming you have about a 55 gal tank if you tried to cycle with 4 damsels. just a guess though.
 
jnet32

jnet32

New Member
my tank is 30 gal with about 5 lbs live rock. i cant afford much more right now. the temp and ph is fine the only problem im having is the ammonia. i did a 50% water change and it seemed to get a little better but there is still some in there. i think its coming from the live rock so i took them out and scrubbed them down. i only have one powerhead. should i get more? thanks for the help.
 
chaoscat

chaoscat

New Member
I'm also guessing that your curing the live rock IN your tank. Nothing wrong with that, I've done it myself - but it means that you really can't add livestock until everything is cycled. If this indeed whats happening, there's not a whole heck uva lot you can do but keep changing the water and wait it out.
The following is copied right off of the Drs.Foster and Smith site.
Why must you cure your live rock?
Live rock must be cured to allow the plant and marine life - especially sponges which were living on the rock - to undergo a natural die back without polluting the aquarium water. This die back occurs in all transported live rock and is necessary to provide a solid foundation for the remaining species to grow and flourish. As the organisms on the rock go through a die back, they will produce a large amount of waste material and cause toxic levels of ammonia to be released into the aquarium. Most of the very beneficial nitrifying bacteria survive the curing process by hiding deep in the pores and crevices of the live rock. In addition, some of the corals and invertebrates will also not die off completely and will begin to re-emerge in the new aquarium over time.
 
farslayer

farslayer

Active Member
Chaoscat: don't post competitor sites, mods get mad

jnet32: You need more LR, 1 to 2 pounds per gallon is a good amount. This will be the primary source of your nitrifying bacteria and will get the ammonia out of there. Again, no more fish, you're not done cycling. If I were you, I would add more rock and be very patient, wait for those levels to hit 0 (ammonia and nitrite) and then check your nitrates. If you've had a tank for a week and already had four fish in it, you're really, really rushing and that only spells disaster for this hobby. As Yoda said, "patience".
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by jnet32
oh yeah... its been cycle for about a week now.

You have pretty much got it from all ends here. Bottom line is slow down. Your cycle is far from over, scrubbing the LR is not going to help. Let everything run, test.. and above all read and ask questions. Good Luck
 
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