!!!! Urgent Post !!!! PLEASE REPLY!!!!

[scotts]

TW,
Now I am totally tense after reading your e-mails. Just a couple of things, the thing you got is probably amonnia lock. It does not remove the amonnia, but it converts it to a form of ammonia that the fish cannot absorb.
Just so you know you were right to worry about your fish in the plastic bags. When I had freshwater fish I wouild want to trade a fish in. I would catch the fish and put it in a plastic bag and the next day take the fish in. No problem. I tried this tiwce with salt water fish and both time the fish died in the bag overnight. I don't know why. Yes, for all of you reading, I would leave the bag in the tank during the night so the temp. stayed even with the tank.
Was that 2.2 pounds for $35, or 2.2 kilos for $35. If it was the first one, I would say that is quite high, at least here in the states. But then if the lfs is doing you a favor, sometimes you have to put the shine on the apple.
Keep us informed, we are all wishing you luck.
Scott

 

[timsedwards]

Thanks Scott,
Yes it did feel all very dramatic and emotions were high!
The Fiji Live Rock was 2.2lbs for $35, yes it is high, hence my reluctance in the past to get it! However it is very beautiful rock and jsut as attractive as a coral of the same price!
I have just put everything back together and if nothing else, the tank is looking great! Its just a matter now of getting the water conditions right.
Yes it is something like ammonia lock called 'Ammo Lock', looks imported from you guys. Any experience with it?

 

[scotts]

TW,
Wht kind of new substrate is it? Did you go with live sand or some other type. If you went with live sand then your cycle should be shorter. If you went with something else then I would suggest taking some of your old substrate in something porous like cheesecloth and put it back in your aquarium. This would help get some of the bacteria and bugs back into your new substrate. But then again I am a newbie so I might be talking out of my a$%.
I cannot guarantee about the ammonia lock. I thought I had an ammonia problem and the lfs sold me some of it. It turns out that I did not have a problem at all. I had a sensor on the side of the tank and the little indicator was changing color into the danger zone. Then I realized that I had not removed the plastic from the sensor so it was not in fact reading the water from the tank. Removed the plastic and found out I was fine. You all can laugh now.
Scott

 

[timsedwards]

LOL,
I got normal sand actually, hoping for the best. Well according to the bottle and what the guy said, it should eliminate all harmful ammonia within 7 days, so fingers crossed.

 

[scotts]

TW,
Have to run, but you IMHO do not have to worry about an immediate ammonia problem, you need to worry about getting the bugs and bacteria into your new substrate. One suggestion that I saw that made sense to me was to take the "junk" from the bottom of the lfs tank where they cure their live rock and put that in your tank. That will get the bacterias and bugs back into your tank.
Scott

 

[worm]

for further references, try this:
cloudy water? put carbon in a stocking. if you don't have a wife or girlfriend, ask your neighbor (that would be funny and break the ice if you are single ) try using a mechanical filter. those things can seriously work some water clean.
bagging fish? if you don't have a small tank (hospice some call) try using large bags, fill half with tank water, keep air in the bag when twisting and tieing close to give fish room and bag standing. and for long periods of time, try using an air pump and run a hose in the bag. twist and close with tube in it. may need some sort of twist tie or plastic lock strap. and keep the bag floating on top of your tank for temp control.
HTH
Happy Reefing!

 

[newreefers]

it's too late for this experience, but it might be a good idea to set up a qt tank, that way in the future you have a temp home for all these guys.

 

[timsedwards]

Good evening guys,
Well thought I would update you all and tell you my progress and also ask some opinion.
All the excitement happened 36 hours ago now, the tank is of course not cloudy (see pic), got some carbon (!), got some more cycle and some Ammonia Lock, and fish should be safely asleep in the fish shop
I jsut tested my water (well the fish tank water really) and these are results -
Nitrate = 10-20mg/l
Nitrite = 0.5mg/l
Ammonia = 0.3mg/l
Salinity = 1.021-1.022
Temperature = 78-79f
Nitrate is up from that nightm nitrite is the same and altho the ammonia says 0.3, I have used Ammo-Lock so it is really nothing toxic at all in theory.
So, the question is, what now? I have added more live rock and substrate has changed, time for another water change? If so how much? 20%?
Let me know what to do, you guys have been great

 

[timsedwards]

LOL forgot pic....this is how it is looking now...

 

[newreefers]

I would do a 20% water change, also ask your lfs for a scoop or two of sand from one of their established tanks to get some pods and such going in yours.

 

[timsedwards]

OK great. What is an IF? I presume you mean fishkeeper or something?
OK sand sounds good, just pour it in and mix with mine?

 

[arkman]

lfs=local fish store.
you can do a search on this board, but I believe the prefered method of distributing new live sand is sprinkeled on top. I have also heard it reccomended that you feed your sand some flake food.
Your thank looks rather "new" - or sterile. The isda now would be to build your bio base back up...but these things take time.
Is your LFS fish sitting, or did you return for credit?

 

[timsedwards]

Hi,
Yes if you read the thread I have jsut changed the substrate with new sand that hasnt been weathered yet! Also I have blue backing that kinda gives that effect.
Right I will sprinkle on top then, what do you mean biobase?
No my fish shop is sitting for me, which is really nice of them and much appreciated

 

[eng50]

First off welcome!! It looks as you are trying to do everything you can to do the best for your fish and get your tank going...
That being said, please try to slow down, remember you can't cheat Mother Nature!!
The only way to truely have little to no cycle is to use lots of live rock, and by that I mean 1-2 lbs per gallon, a live sand base, others have the fformula, but it ends up to be about 3-5 inches deep, and water that is "used" from an established tank.
The water being the least important. The importance of a cycle cannot be stressed enough, things have to balance out naturally, or you will be inviting serious trouble later, when you think everything is ok! Please read others experiences here. Everyone is trying to help you and if you go slow you will be quite pleased with the results! Since your LFS is keeping the fish and corals for you, let your tank do what it needs to do, stop adding chemicals and changing water, it will end up extending your cycle time. I read the entire thread and I still am unsure if you have changed tanks, or it is a new tank. You said you were having trouble following adding sand in the begining, but if you have the fish and corals in your signature, you must have had a tank up and running for a bit anyway, I hope??
Keep testing your levels and see when the the ammonia drops and the nitates level out, then your cycle should be almost done, apx 1-3 weeks depending on what is old and what is new..
Please keep posting and don't get discuraged, I am just trying to help and mean no harm!!
Best of luck and hope this helps some...
Bill

 

[timsedwards]

Hi Bill thanks for your post!
Firstly the LFS are sitting my fish but I dont want to push my luck, we said roughly a week! Oh and the corals are still in the tank but look delighted seeing as there are no fish bugging them! I havent changed tanks, same tank, been running for 9 months.
I jsut tested my pH as well and it is down to 7.4!!! Need to get it up to 8.2 or so so I bought some buffer, is this alright to do? Or if there is a more natural better way please someone tell me!
So should I not change the water now? I was literally about to change it now (I always check on here before i do anything wrong!).
Yes I appreciate live rock is everyone's answer but you guys dont appreciate how expensive it is over here! Its £20 a kilo, which is £12 or so pound (lb) which is $16-17 a pound!!! I have bought some, as much as i can afford being a student!
Hope you can post back asap Bill and thanks for your help

 

[timsedwards]

Anybody else have an opinion on whether I should do a water change or not?

 

[timsedwards]

Anyone? If im going to do a water change i need to do it now you see, so water change or not?

 

[buzz]

Tim - Glad to hear the LFS would take the fish. That was my immediate concern.
To everyone else, this is not a new tank. This is a tank that underwent a major overhaul. This is not a matter of cycling, unless you are referring to a second cycle after changing out the substrate, which is happening to a degree.
That being said, I agree with Bill to just sit back and wait a little bit now. All of my previous advice about adding cycle, etc., was to try and help in the immediate because you still had fish in the tank. And just to cover it, if you ever need to do something like this again, don't do it in the middle of the night. You got stuck with this one with nowhere to put your fish.
The drama on this one should be over. Now just take a deep breath and let nature take it's course. It will. You did as good a job on this one as anyone could have. Just bad timing...
I would hold off on the water change for now. Let the tank re-stabilize.

 

[timsedwards]

Hi again Buzz,
Its from our mistakes we learn eh? Thank goodness i had you guys!
What sort of timescale then are we looking at for it to naturally restabilise itself? I have about a week or so with LFS, should that be enough?
How about my pH situation? Its down to 7.4, will it correct itself or should i go ahead with the buffer? Also shall i keep on adding calcium and coral-accel every other day as corals are still in there?
Thanks guys

 

[buzz]

I overlooked that corals were still in the tank.
Hmm...what kind of a buffer did you buy? I believe you want to do this slowly and gradually so as not to shock anything. I have not had to do that for corals, so I am not sure of their sensitivity to things like that. But, I would imagine that you do want to bring as much in line as possible.
Someone else should address your coral care.
A week at the LFS may be enough time, but it is difficult to guarantee. These things happen at a various pace.