Tank 15 days old NEED help fish dying!

shainline

shainline

Member
Okay I NEED HELP!! I just started our salt water tank.. 55 gal. Added water and let it sit for 5-6 days b4 adding anything. Then I added 12lbs of fiji rock and 6 damsels. within a week 3 had died then I discovered that two of them were bullies so I took them back to the store and got two blue green chromis. Our Ph has been low but the guy at the aquarium shop said to leave it that way.. at 7.8 temp is now 78 salt is 1.020 other levels 0. I added some reef buffer that brought the ph up to 8.4 and the smaller of the two chromis got happy again now hour later is is laying sideways and swimming in an upwards postition. How can I save my little fishy????? SOmeone please PLEASE tell what I have done wrong! (the guy at the aquarium shop is very rude)
 
jp30338

jp30338

Member
Well, it typically takes 3-4 weeks or even longer to properly cycle a tank. You should take all the livestock back to the lfs, cycle your tank then start adding the livestock back slowly.
Your lfs is giving you VERY bad advice! You can start by reading the stickies in the new hobbyist section while your tank is cycling!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Also....do you have a test kit of your own? It would be a good idea to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates yourself.
 
bulldog123

bulldog123

Member
Take back your livestock and start over. The rock and sand cycle together. You will have some die off from your rock as well. List everything and ask all the questions you can. But the best start is at the top of the new hobby threads.
 
shainline

shainline

Member
I do have my own test kit to test for the ph, NO2 nitrates, No3 Nitrates and amonia.. should I be testing for anything else???
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
For a new tank...the most important are your ammonia, nitrites (with an I) and nitrates
As stated above...it is best to take the livestock back, and test your water until all of those 3 tests are, and stay at zero
What type of test kit do you have....strips are worthless
 
shainline

shainline

Member
its the test tube one.. Stupidly I thought I could depend on the LPS but apparantly NOT! we found a local guy that runs a shop behind his house been in business for 45 years but hes only open 3 days a week and wasnt listed in the phone book. Im going to see him tomorrow. I feel sooo bad for these fish! Most people I talked to face to face said to start out with damsels to cycle the tank... ahhh what a nightmare!
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
2 weeks is a very very short time. add more lr, maybe 30 lbs minimum, and wait 3-4 weeks b4 adding any fish. must add fish slowly. too many at one time will most likely cause a crash.
 
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