Stabalizing the tank

[olimark]

:help:
guys I am having major problems getting all my readings within range. My tank is 30 gal and are filled with 4 dead corals. I have a clown and 2 damsels. I also have one of them red and white shrimp and a blue leged hermit. I have sand on the bottom and I think that may be it.
I have lost 2 fish already and the others have but look beter now had cought a fungas disease. You know cloudy eyes white spots fin rot red bloches and all the other bad things. I do not want to abuse my fish any more and need help bad. I had the tank for about 5 weeks and here are the readings I took this day dec 24 amonia 0.5, ph 8.0, nitrate 10.0, nitrite 1.0. temp 76
I need to know whta is the best way to stabalize the tank. SHould I get live rock or will this cause more problems? Should I test for other things that I am missing? Basicaly what is the best thing I should do now. I did a 50% water change last night and the readings above shown do not look promising. I am using distilled bottled water. :help:

 

[olimark]

Thanks well you must be right it might be a cycle thing but I have no idea how long will it cycle and exactly what it all means. Will my readings become more normal naturaly or do I have to help it along?

 

[nacl-man]

Those readings don't look way off... unless I'm missing something. Was that before or after a 50% water change? Have you tested the water prior to putting it in the tank? Also, what salt mix are you using?

 

[elfdoctors]

Five fish was probably too much life for a newly cycled tank without live rock. If the bioload was too high, the two fish deaths may actually help. To reduce the bioload I would decrease the amount that you feed (perhaps a small amount every other day until your ammonia and nitrites disappear).
Even small amounts of nitrites and ammonia are toxic (although you have fairly hardy fish).
Be careful with water changes >20% as this may give the fish a shock also.
I am also concerned that you may also have a disease. Fungus diseases tend to be very rare in saltwater tanks. Do you have a quarantine tank? Can you post a pic? Improving water quality will fix many problems.
Adding live rock would be helpful in the long term but I wouldn't do it now as there will be some die off and that may make your levels actually worse for a short time.

 

[beaslbob]

Your ammonia and nitrItes are non zero which means the bacteria is not processing the fish waste. I recommend you stop all feeding and remove any dead animals until the nitrItes go to zero. (should be only 3-4 days).
the absolute best way of stabilizing your system is to extablish a thriving plant growth. You should add macros or marine plants now.

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by beaslbob
...the absolute best way of stabilizing your system is to extablish a thriving plant growth. You should add macros or marine plants now.
What kind, How many, and Where??
Any draw backs to this method??

 

[cprdnick]

Olimark, I would like to get something cleared up. Did you have an initial cycle in the tank? Or did you just buy the aquarium add saltwater and throw your animals in? :notsure:
Also, IMO, I would boost the temp in the tank to 80 degrees.
Clint

 

[nm reef]

*sigh*
real heavy *sigh*
Please do not toss in marine plants!!!
It sounds to me like your newly set-up aquarium has not completed its initial cycle. This is a process that creates ammonia...which is converted to nitrite and in turn nitrates. Ammonia/nitrite in any level can be toxic and extremely harmful. The cycle process is vital to establishing a marine system.
Please ... try a search either here on these forums or on-line for information on a marine cycle. Then take your time to develope and establish a marine system that you can be proud of.
I want all who visit this site to know that the vast majority of saltwater hobbyist simply DO NOT want plants/algaes/marine plant life flourishing in their displays.
Once again it is totally reckless to toss out "throw in plants for a cure all solution"...you may believe that is the path to follow...but it gives the impression that it is simple and prefered...when it is NOT.Just for the record the vast majority of hobbyists prefer to prevent marine plants/algaes from thriving in our displays. Not only that but many types of marine plants and algaes can become extremely invasive and can cause numerous problems that disrupt a healthy/stable marine system.

 

[olimark]

Ok I am confused one person says to add plants the other says not too. To answer Clint's question I do not think my tank has cycled yet. I think it may have though as of today and again I am not sure. My new readings are now
Ph- 8.2
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 10
So guys again I had my tank just over 1 month if this is a normal cycle process what should I do next? Do my water change when and will the readings become stable and stuff like that. How do I know I am at the end of the cycle?

 

[shine~on]

Water seems better.
He's not saying don't use plants, he's just saying that don't put them in your main display tank. What a lot of people do is put them in a seperate tank or container below the tank to keep the plants from growing and taking over the display. Having plants in a seperate container is a good idea.
I would get that ammonia tested by the fish store and make sure it's 0.25 sometimes home kits can be inaccurate. It could actually be zero. But do a water change when after you get those readings regardless.

 

[dreeves]

Originally posted by Fish_Boi
has your tank cycled yet? this sounds like a cycle to me........but many members have called me "uneducated, inexperienced, and i have no idea what im doing" LOL
so thats just MO
:thinking:

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by NaCL-Man
Those readings don't look way off... unless I'm missing something. Was that before or after a 50% water change? Have you tested the water prior to putting it in the tank? Also, what salt mix are you using?
Opps, sorry for some reason I thought you had no fish and had been cycling the tank... I need to pay better attention :thinking:

 

[olimark]

2 more fish died last night
Ph- 8.2
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 10
SG- 1.022
temp 78
guys this is the current readings
They turned all white and had trouble breathing. In the morning they looked great swimming and having fun. They did show mild signs that whey had been sick but nothing major. in the evening they were at the top of the tank trying to breath oxygen. then turned major white in a few short time period and fell to bottom dead. I have introduced a hermit crab and mexican snail yesterday. I just do not think the new animals caused it. This is a new Tank. It is about 5 1/2 weeks old. Could this be a cycle issue and if it is when do I know I reached the end of my cycle? Also if it is a cycle thing how come my readings all look good. What can I do please HELP!

 

[birdy]

My question would be what type of filtration do you have in the tank, Also where did you get your sand and dead corals that are in the tank? My initial guess is that your tank is not finished cycling: a tank with a finished cycle should have levels of, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, below 40 nitrate. Your fish were probably stressed from being in a cycling tank and developed a parasite and more than likely died from that. Until your levels are as stated above, do not add anything to your tank, also if you have had ick in your tank you do not want to put any fish in it for at least a month so that the life cycle of the ich is over (otherwise any new fish you put in will get it.