Help! I wake up and 3 of my fish are dead!!

[WilFresco]

Even after a 90% water change, you would still have signs of coraline and algae on your rocks. Your rocks are too "clean" looking for a 6 month old tank. What kind of mixing containing do you have that allows you to do a 100 gallon water change and how long do you let the freshly mixed water sit before adding it to the tank?

Sorry if u can't tell by the pics but my rocks are all full of algae

 

[thirty5]

I have to agree with SPotter. After looking closely it looks like your tank is pretty new. You were only asking questions about your skimmer 2 weeks ago and looking to buy lights just prior to that.

Don't rush this. There is always stuff for sale and you will find what you want. Even your back wall looks way too clean. Even your magfloat would have some algae on it.

Take your time let the tank grow and mature.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Massive water change and take water sample to manhattan aquariums they will test for you, you need pro help asap that def is one large bio load for that tank, good luck and keep us posted.

 

[SPotter]

Sorry if u can't tell by the pics but my rocks are all full of algae

How are you mixing your water for water changes and how long do you let it sit before adding?

Steve

 

[WilFresco]

I have to agree with SPotter. After looking closely it looks like your tank is pretty new. You were only asking questions about your skimmer 2 weeks ago and looking to buy lights just prior to that.

Don't rush this. There is always stuff for sale and you will find what you want. Even your back wall looks way too clean. Even your magfloat would have some algae on it.

Take your time let the tank grow and mature.

No prob, I feel like I might have just got a little over excited and rushed a little but I have drastically decreased my livestock and am now taking things slower, the rest of my fish are eating and seem a whole lot happier

 

[WilFresco]

How are you mixing your water for water changes and how long do you let it sit before adding?

Steve

I keep 4 5 gallon water bottles of salt water full, and they sit only one week until I change the water, then I prepare the water for the following week after the water change

 

[WilFresco]

Massive water change and take water sample to manhattan aquariums they will test for you, you need pro help asap that def is one large bio load for that tank, good luck and keep us posted.

I reduced my live stock and currently have about half the fish I started with

 

[WilFresco]

I seen some really nice sump set ups in this forum and am looking to get a better sump, I jus need a little help of what I need to do, currently I have a wet dry system, I have my overflow going into my sump, through a filter and the bio balls, then runs through the skimmer then goes into my return, what can I do to make my sump better?

 

[SPotter]

I seen some really nice sump set ups in this forum and am looking to get a better sump, I jus need a little help of what I need to do, currently I have a wet dry system, I have my overflow going into my sump, through a filter and the bio balls, then runs through the skimmer then goes into my return, what can I do to make my sump better?

Definitely get rid of the bio balls....they are nitrate factories and will only cause more problems than good. Can you take a good picture of your wet/dry now? you might be able to modify that one without spending a lot of money.

Steve

 

[thirty5]

I seen some really nice sump set ups in this forum and am looking to get a better sump, I jus need a little help of what I need to do, currently I have a wet dry system, I have my overflow going into my sump, through a filter and the bio balls, then runs through the skimmer then goes into my return, what can I do to make my sump better?

What size tank vs how much rock. Bio-Balls are not needed if you have enough rock. They are just a detrius magnet!!

Technically you can see the sump as just another tank to hold your pump and skimmer.

I used to use a huge pond liner for my sump on my last tank, from there my return pump was plumbed to it and my skimmer was in it. The sump you can also put your reactors in.

I would make sure that you are at least 1 lb of rock per gallon. If you need to displace your fish somewhere. Take out the bio balls and throw in a couple raw shrimp (from supermarket). Make sure you see the actual cycle of the tank.

You didn't even seem to get algae bloom that most people get.

If you plan to do corals make sure that you are up an running correctly. Couple fish at first make sure they do well then add stuff slowly. Once the tank is fully cycled you will have more leeway in adding more stuff. Just remember that adding even coral that is on a big piece of rock can spike ammonia/nitrate readings.

This is stuff that I have learned by being on here. If anyone else disagrees please speak up.

 

[WilFresco]

Definitely get rid of the bio balls....they are nitrate factories and will only cause more problems than good. Can you take a good picture of your wet/dry now? you might be able to modify that one without spending a lot of money.

Steve

I'll take a good picture when I get home from work but am definitely interests in ur input to better my sump

 

[thirty5]

Definitely get rid of the bio balls....they are nitrate factories and will only cause more problems than good. Can you take a good picture of your wet/dry now? you might be able to modify that one without spending a lot of money.

Steve

You may just be able to take out the bio balls!! That is what I had on my first tank 72 bow. Came with Amiracle wet/dry. Just took out bioballs..

 

[WilFresco]

What size tank vs how much rock. Bio-Balls are not needed if you have enough rock. They are just a detrius magnet!!

Technically you can see the sump as just another tank to hold your pump and skimmer.

I used to use a huge pond liner for my sump on my last tank, from there my return pump was plumbed to it and my skimmer was in it. The sump you can also put your reactors in.

I would make sure that you are at least 1 lb of rock per gallon. If you need to displace your fish somewhere. Take out the bio balls and throw in a couple raw shrimp (from supermarket). Make sure you see the actual cycle of the tank.

You didn't even seem to get algae bloom that most people get.

If you plan to do corals make sure that you are up an running correctly. Couple fish at first make sure they do well then add stuff slowly. Once the tank is fully cycled you will have more leeway in adding more stuff. Just remember that adding even coral that is on a big piece of rock can spike ammonia/nitrate readings.

This is stuff that I have learned by being on here. If anyone else disagrees please speak up.

I have a 125 gal tall tank, it's 5 ft long, I have 120 lbs of rock and 120 lbs of live sand and I threw in 20 lbs of crushed coral. So what ur saying is take out the bio balls and have my skimmer and some uncooked shrimp in the sump and the return and that's it? How much raw shrimp and how can I yell when my tank is fully cycled?

 

[rambler67]

back to the nitrate issue i still find it hard to belive that your nitrates are at 0 with a heavily stocked tank useing tap water only doing a small water change once a week and bio balls in the sump. i would defiantly take the water to a good lfs and have them test the water to see where it actually is.

 

[thirty5]

back to the nitrate issue i still find it hard to belive that your nitrates are at 0 with a heavily stocked tank useing tap water only doing a small water change once a week and bio balls in the sump. i would defiantly take the water to a good lfs and have them test the water to see where it actually is.

I am thinking that the tank never completely cycled.

You need to take out bioballs...

Then just throw a couple shrimp in tank (main tank is fine) as they start to rot your ammonia will rise and then in turn your nitrates will rise. You should test the water very often. I was testing mine every day. You will see them slowly start to drop. You will need to do water changes to get rid of the nitrates. Ammonia converts to nitrates.

You do not need to run your skimmer at this time. You want the bacteria in your tank to get established.

There are additives that allegedly will cycle your tank quickly. Allegedly they are the beneficial bacteria that you are adding directly to the tank.

If you lost Damsel there is something wrong. Some people actually use them to cycle the tank. But with your amount of rock, there should be plenty to cycle.

 

[SPotter]

First things first.....you need to buy some test kits so you can monitor things on your own. Over time you will be able to look at your tank now if something is wrong before it gets out of hand just from knowing what your levels are and how things look. I agree with everything thirty5 said....slow is key. I waited 8 weeks before adding a coral flag and 5 months before my first fish.

The raw shrimp will be used as a one time thing to help cycle your tank.

Steve

 

[WilFresco]

back to the nitrate issue i still find it hard to belive that your nitrates are at 0 with a heavily stocked tank useing tap water only doing a small water change once a week and bio balls in the sump. i would defiantly take the water to a good lfs and have them test the water to see where it actually is.

It might have been wrong cause something was wrong with my tank but as of now, everything seems fine, I will look into taking some water and getting it tested

 

[WilFresco]

I am thinking that the tank never completely cycled.

You need to take out bioballs...

Then just throw a couple shrimp in tank (main tank is fine) as they start to rot your ammonia will rise and then in turn your nitrates will rise. You should test the water very often. I was testing mine every day. You will see them slowly start to drop. You will need to do water changes to get rid of the nitrates. Ammonia converts to nitrates.

You do not need to run your skimmer at this time. You want the bacteria in your tank to get established.

There are additives that allegedly will cycle your tank quickly. Allegedly they are the beneficial bacteria that you are adding directly to the tank.

If you lost Damsel there is something wrong. Some people actually use them to cycle the tank. But with your amount of rock, there should be plenty to cycle.

I'm a little confused, how do I know when it is cycled? When me levels go up and then come down?

 

[thirty5]

I'm a little confused, how do I know when it is cycled? When me levels go up and then come down?

Yes your ammonia and nitrates will spike and then the ammonia will slowly come back down. Water changes to get rid of the nitrates.

Not a 90% water change. Like 25% of tank....

When you get the nitrates down to 0 and all other levels at the right spot. THEN wait some more and keep testing to make sure that the levels are ok. Add clean up crew and wait, you may get algae bloom from cycle.
Then wait.

When it clears up and levels are in check, then start to add stuff.

This is an expensive hobby when you make mistakes. Do it right the first time!!!!

 

[WilFresco]

Yes your ammonia and nitrates will spike and then the ammonia will slowly come back down. Water changes to get rid of the nitrates.

Not a 90% water change. Like 25% of tank....

When you get the nitrates down to 0 and all other levels at the right spot. THEN wait some more and keep testing to make sure that the levels are ok. Add clean up crew and wait, you may get algae bloom from cycle.
Then wait.

When it clears up and levels are in check, then start to add stuff.

This is an expensive hobby when you make mistakes. Do it right the first time!!!!

And when does the skimmer come in play?