New tank

[tom munk]

I just set up a new 10gal tank, and I have already lost a damsel, what am I doing wrong. ? Water temp is 80, FO, SG is 1.025, new bio wheel, small air stone. three inches of CC.
Help

 

[stacyt]

How long has the tank been setup? Did you let it cycle?

 

[tom munk]

I bought the SW from the fish store already cycled.

 

[737mech]

Your bio wheel does not have the bacteria built up on it to call your tank cycled. The sw fro your LFS is just that saltwater, but it is not cycled water. It may be aged that's all.
Do not get any more fish until that tank is cycled. Get a raw shrimp and throw it into your tank and forget about it for awhile. You need to keep the heater and filter running. In a few days ck your water for amo. and then you'll see nitrites and then you'll see nitrates. When all you can read is nitrates then your tank is "cycled". Be patient!
This is how I cycled my 10 gal and it worked great. Try reading posts on "cycling tanks". There's a bunch of great info right here.
Good luck

 

[tom munk]

Can I put the dead shimp in the tank with the two damsel's in there, or should I take them back to the lfs first.?

 

[737mech]

Are you testing for amo, nitrites, and nitrates? The 1st damsel could have died from the amo, if there is some in the water. How was the fish acting and looking? Did you see any parasites, like ich? Sometimes fish will get ich from the stress of moving them to the LFS and then to your house.
I didn't realize from your original post that you had 2 more damsels in the tank.
Some people cycle tanks with damsels, but it's not necessary. It's up to you. The shrimp will definately make the amo rise, so will the 2 damsels that you have already in there. I would do one or the other. Watch the fish closely for ich.

 

[stacyt]

Take the 2 damsels back to the LFS. If you had 3 damsels in a 10 gallon tank, then that could be part of your problem. Follow what 737mech said, and you'll be on the right track.

 

[benrock]

If you had 3 damsels in a 10 gallon tank it could have been a terratorial issue. Damsels are very terratorial and can kill each other. I've seen it happen.

 

[simm]

buying "cycled" water does not constitute as being cycled in your tank. It will speed the process up though.