nothing will live
- Thread starter kirkreynolds
- Start date
kirkreynolds
Member
what does that mean? i have gravel like you would put in a normal tank.
R
reefernana
Guest
Originally Posted by kirkreynolds
what does that mean? i have gravel like you would put in a normal tank.
Gravel is for freshwater tanks, not saltwater or reef.
what does that mean? i have gravel like you would put in a normal tank.
Gravel is for freshwater tanks, not saltwater or reef.
kirkreynolds
Member
so what do i use than? could this be harming my fish?
kirkreynolds
Member
what do you mean fully cycle?
kilhullen
Member
After getting to the end of the thread I see that you said you waited one week before putting fish in. Did you test your tank with some kind of non-dip strip test? Did you ghost feed to test to see if the tank had fully cycled?
With you saying the fish look like they are breathing hard, I think that could be a big part of it.
With you saying the fish look like they are breathing hard, I think that could be a big part of it.
R
reefernana
Guest
Originally Posted by kirkreynolds
so what do i use than? could this be harming my fish?
IMO, get rid of the gravel and cc and put in good aragonite live sand that comes straight from the ocean. Carib Sea sells bags of different colors/types. Your tank will cycle much faster, too. Also, if you have a 55 gal tank, you need at least 55-75 lbs of cured live rock. You can use uncured, which many say is better to start with but your tank can't have anything in it other than the live sand and live rock. Cycling time varies, you have to test your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels constantly until they spike then all come down to 0 or as close to. You shouldn't even put inverts in until after this, then keep testing and if they are doing well and your water parameters are holding fine, then you might try to add a fish. But, I would take your time and do all of this very slowly. It's hard to be patient, but it will really pay off in the end.
so what do i use than? could this be harming my fish?
IMO, get rid of the gravel and cc and put in good aragonite live sand that comes straight from the ocean. Carib Sea sells bags of different colors/types. Your tank will cycle much faster, too. Also, if you have a 55 gal tank, you need at least 55-75 lbs of cured live rock. You can use uncured, which many say is better to start with but your tank can't have anything in it other than the live sand and live rock. Cycling time varies, you have to test your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels constantly until they spike then all come down to 0 or as close to. You shouldn't even put inverts in until after this, then keep testing and if they are doing well and your water parameters are holding fine, then you might try to add a fish. But, I would take your time and do all of this very slowly. It's hard to be patient, but it will really pay off in the end.
kilhullen
Member
Originally Posted by reefernana
IMO, get rid of the gravel and cc and put in good aragonite live sand that comes straight from the ocean. Carib Sea sells bags of different colors/types. Your tank will cycle much faster, too. Also, if you have a 55 gal tank, you need at least 55-75 lbs of cured live rock. You can use uncured, which many say is better to start with but your tank can't have anything in it other than the live sand and live rock. Cycling time varies, you have to test your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels constantly until they spike then all come down to 0 or as close to. You shouldn't even put inverts in until after this, then keep testing and if they are doing well and your water parameters are holding fine, then you might try to add a fish. But, I would take your time and do all of this very slowly. It's hard to be patient, but it will really pay off in the end.
I have to agree. I am working on my second week of cycleing, and I haven't seen the nitrite spike, so I think you just rushed things too quickly.
IMO, get rid of the gravel and cc and put in good aragonite live sand that comes straight from the ocean. Carib Sea sells bags of different colors/types. Your tank will cycle much faster, too. Also, if you have a 55 gal tank, you need at least 55-75 lbs of cured live rock. You can use uncured, which many say is better to start with but your tank can't have anything in it other than the live sand and live rock. Cycling time varies, you have to test your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels constantly until they spike then all come down to 0 or as close to. You shouldn't even put inverts in until after this, then keep testing and if they are doing well and your water parameters are holding fine, then you might try to add a fish. But, I would take your time and do all of this very slowly. It's hard to be patient, but it will really pay off in the end.
I have to agree. I am working on my second week of cycleing, and I haven't seen the nitrite spike, so I think you just rushed things too quickly.
kirkreynolds
Member
i was told that there is a type of sand you can buy from home depot and it is fine in the tank is that true? also this cycle thing you speak of what do i do with the fish i have wont the high nitrites kill them?
kevin34
Active Member
I think that you may need to start over. Here is what I would do: Give the fish that are living in the tank back to the lfs. Take the gravel out and replace it with live sand. Take out the castle and replace it with about 50-70lbs of uncured live rock. Make sure you add the rock in first before the sand so the rock is resting securely on the bottom of the tank and not the sand. Once your rock and sand is in there hook up some powerheads to get a current going. Also make sure you hook up a protein skimmer if you dont have one. Let the tank sit for a few weeks and the live rock will cure on its own in the tank. Since the live rock was uncured to start it will also cycle your tank. Just make sure you test for the spikes in your water mentioned above. Once your water has spiked and returned to normal you are ready to SLOWLY add fish. Wait 2-3 weeks between adding fish and add them one at a time (unless they are a pair). Also I would not get another tang because they need at least 6 feet of swimming room. Hope all that helps.
bizkitpug
Member
I would try to bring them back to the lfs or see if someone can hold them for awhile for you. I would get rid of the gravel and get live sand, that would be most beneficial all around. Then buy a lot more live rock. About 60 pounds more and let your tank completely cycle. You will have to do alot of research and have alot of patience but you will have a lot less fish caualties. I would just start over from the beginning.
V
vicegrip
Guest
Originally Posted by kirkreynolds
i was told that there is a type of sand you can buy from home depot and it is fine in the tank is that true? also this cycle thing you speak of what do i do with the fish i have wont the high nitrites kill them?
No do not buy sand from home depot.
I hope you are just pulling everyones leg. But if you are not
just stop you are doing everything wrong.(sorry but you are.) ask your local fish store if there will take your fish back for credit. Also ask for a good beginners saltwater setup book. I'm sure if you tell them what you have they will help you get what you need. But if you don't just stop and listen everyone will stop trying to help. But we are here to help so when you are ready we are here.
Start with a good book and aragonite live sand substrate.
i was told that there is a type of sand you can buy from home depot and it is fine in the tank is that true? also this cycle thing you speak of what do i do with the fish i have wont the high nitrites kill them?
No do not buy sand from home depot.
I hope you are just pulling everyones leg. But if you are not
just stop you are doing everything wrong.(sorry but you are.) ask your local fish store if there will take your fish back for credit. Also ask for a good beginners saltwater setup book. I'm sure if you tell them what you have they will help you get what you need. But if you don't just stop and listen everyone will stop trying to help. But we are here to help so when you are ready we are here.
Start with a good book and aragonite live sand substrate.
n_jones
Member
I found this to be an excellent place to start.......
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists
I would spend some time reading those threads.....
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists
I would spend some time reading those threads.....
kirkreynolds
Member
why is it not a good idea to have my castle? putting that much live rock in there will make the tank into a reef tank wont it? i thought that you could just have a fish only tank? is there any way i could move my fish into a large rubber tub or something for a few weeks instead of giving them back?
kirkreynolds
Member
no i was not kidding about the sand thing someone posted in a different thread and thats where i read it. i cant remember exactly what kid of sand it said but someone said it.
rabbit_72
Member
Originally Posted by kirkreynolds
why is it not a good idea to have my castle? putting that much live rock in there will make the tank into a reef tank wont it? i thought that you could just have a fish only tank? is there any way i could move my fish into a large rubber tub or something for a few weeks instead of giving them back?
Ok... so having live rock will not turn your tank into a reef. It will be a FOWLR that's fish only with live rock. And it will look nice. Do what everyone here said. If you want salt water fish, follow the advice given. Please do not house your fish in a tub for a month or more. That's just not fair to the little buggers. See first if a friend or relative can keep them in their own tanks, if they have one. If not, you will have to take them to your lfs. To keep them in a tub until your tank is done cycling is just mean to them and we are not in this hobby to be mean, but provide a wonderful life for them.
why is it not a good idea to have my castle? putting that much live rock in there will make the tank into a reef tank wont it? i thought that you could just have a fish only tank? is there any way i could move my fish into a large rubber tub or something for a few weeks instead of giving them back?
Ok... so having live rock will not turn your tank into a reef. It will be a FOWLR that's fish only with live rock. And it will look nice. Do what everyone here said. If you want salt water fish, follow the advice given. Please do not house your fish in a tub for a month or more. That's just not fair to the little buggers. See first if a friend or relative can keep them in their own tanks, if they have one. If not, you will have to take them to your lfs. To keep them in a tub until your tank is done cycling is just mean to them and we are not in this hobby to be mean, but provide a wonderful life for them.
rabbit_72
Member
Originally Posted by kirkreynolds
no i was not kidding about the sand thing someone posted in a different thread and thats where i read it. i cant remember exactly what kid of sand it said but someone said it.
Yeah, I have read many of the posts of using play sand and that's not what you want to use, really. Some people got away with using it and had good luck. You sound like you are just learning the hobby, so it is best if you stick with live sand, or if you can not afford that, there are plenty of safe salt water substrates you can use.
no i was not kidding about the sand thing someone posted in a different thread and thats where i read it. i cant remember exactly what kid of sand it said but someone said it.
Yeah, I have read many of the posts of using play sand and that's not what you want to use, really. Some people got away with using it and had good luck. You sound like you are just learning the hobby, so it is best if you stick with live sand, or if you can not afford that, there are plenty of safe salt water substrates you can use.