Started over

[bernadette616]

I have a 25gallon tank with a bio wheel 330 cc and started with six damsels on tues. This morning 2 fatalties. The lfs said the ammonia must be starting to rise. It's only been a couple of days. So I did do an ammonia test and it was already up to 4.0 the ph is fine, and the nitrate and nitrites are 0. It's looks like there is another one on the way out. Is this how it's supposed to go? When they die in the tank doesn't that disturb the chemical balance? And if they all die then do I just replace them?

 

[b_ball12_99]

Don't have to have fish to cycle a tank. Them dieing doesn't mess up the balance as long as you remove them. Do you have LR?

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

Bernadette, WHO is your LFS, I live in Bradenton as well... They only one I know of in bradenton for SW is Jeffs pet place... Do you know if that pet store on 14th street sells SWF? Just wondering... David-O

 

[caymanlovers]

Bernadette - do a search on this BB for posts on cycling a tank. There are dozens, if not hundreds of them, and they will give you all the info you need.
In the mean time, we need to know what kind of substrate you are using, any live rock/live sand? And, it seems to me that starting a 25 gallon tank with six fish is a bit much, you probably got a real fast ammonia spike with no bacteria to handle it.
Take the dead fish out and let the bio system catch up before adding more fish. You should also look at what some people have posted here concerning cycling your tank with fresh shrimp instead of live fish.
I think if you slow down on your number of fish you will get through this. Good luck!

 

[bernadette616]

David,
There is a place on 14th street Called Bob's tropical fish. Near Hops. Ans seascape in sarasota. I have crushed coral & no lr. If all the fish die I could stilll possibly still cycle this tank through? Do I need to add something? Cycle? to help

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

Thanks, I will have to go there some time. I heard that Jeff's Pet Place is having a sale on fish, and other stuff because the are moving to Cortez...