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

[thirty5]

And when does the skimmer come in play?

Skimmer can be added IMO just before you are going to put livestock in. Let it skim the crap out of the water...

 

[WilFresco]

Skimmer can be added IMO just before you are going to put livestock in. Let it skim the crap out of the water...

Ok so here's what I got so far, I'm gonna buy another tank, maybe 20 or 30 gallon and use it as a sump, I'm gonna put the skimmer in there with some few raw shrimp and the return pump, does that sound ok?

 

[thirty5]

Ok so here's what I got so far, I'm gonna buy another tank, maybe 20 or 30 gallon and use it as a sump, I'm gonna put the skimmer in there with some few raw shrimp and the return pump, does that sound ok?

If you already have fish and stuff in the tank, you dont want to force another cycle.....

If you already have fish, just leave the tank alone and let nature take its course.

 

[KathyC]

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.

If he still has fish living in the tank - he should NOT be attempting to cycle the tank again using a raw shrimp. The last thing he needs in there now is more ammonia...:sigh:

He should leave things as they currently are in the tank until he buys the following test kits...ammonia, nitrate & nitrite...and posts here what his levels of each are.


As far as the bio-balls - he should take them out over the course of about 10 days - so about 10% a day so that he does not totally destroy what good bacteria he does have in the tank.

 

[WilFresco]

If you already have fish and stuff in the tank, you dont want to force another cycle.....

If you already have fish, just leave the tank alone and let nature take its course.

I'm in the process of selling my livestock, So would I be able to change my sump setup and get a smaller tank to use as my sump?

 

[thirty5]

If he still has fish living in the tank - he should NOT be attempting to cycle the tank again using a raw shrimp. The last thing he needs in there now is more ammonia...:sigh:

He should leave things as they currently are in the tank until he buys the following test kits...ammonia, nitrate & nitrite...and posts here what his levels of each are.


As far as the bio-balls - he should take them out over the course of about 10 days - so about 10% a day so that he does not totally destroy what good bacteria he does have in the tank.

Exactly what I said in my last post. So I am on the right track when KathyC says similar!! LOL!!!

 

[WilFresco]

Does this look right?

 

[LatinP]

He doesn't need to start a new cycle he just needs to salvage what he has and hopfully learn from his mistakes which I'm sure he has.

 

[WilFresco]

He doesn't need to start a new cycle he just needs to salvage what he has and hopfully learn from his mistakes which I'm sure he has.

I'm not starting a new cycle, I'm jus trying to pick all of u guys brains for knowledge, I'm definitely learning and have no problem taking criticism

 

[LatinP]

I'm not starting a new cycle, I'm jus trying to pick all of u guys brains for knowledge, I'm definitely learning and have no problem taking criticism

That's awesome buddy, if any need any help at all feel free to ask I and I'm sure alot of other people here (including myself) are more than willing to help. You're definitely doing everything you should and have a positive attitude about it which means your 99% there.

 

[albano]

I'm jus trying to pick all of u guys brains for knowledge, I'm definitely learning and have no problem taking criticism

GOOD to hear! If you're willing to 'listen and learn'...you've come to the right place. The members here, can get you back on the right track.



.

 

[WilFresco]

GOOD to hear! If you're willing to 'listen and learn'...you've come to the right place. The members here, can get you back on the right track.



.

Yea I've noticed, u guys have definitely been very helpful

 

[WilFresco]

I just wanted to thank for their advice, I definitely learned a whole lot more than I did before, i think I even had an algae bloom, I reduced my livestock by alot, only have about 6 fish in my tank now and so far so good, my levels are in point and no dead fish, again thank u everyone

 

[thirty5]

I just wanted to thank for their advice, I definitely learned a whole lot more than I did before, i think I even had an algae bloom, I reduced my livestock by alot, only have about 6 fish in my tank now and so far so good, my levels are in point and no dead fish, again thank u everyone

+1!!! Good job. Sometimes you need someone to slap you in the face to wake up! Enjoy your piece of the ocean!

 

[WilFresco]

+1!!! Good job. Sometimes you need someone to slap you in the face to wake up! Enjoy your piece of the ocean!

Lol, I got a very well deserved slap in the face, I guess tough love works best

 

[KathyC]

Lol, I got a very well deserved slap in the face, I guess tough love works best

lol, nah you didn't even need a slap, just a wake up call
We're very happy to help out someone who actually listens to the advice given..very refreshing!

What fish do you still have and what is your plan going forward..what do you still need to purchase for the tank?

 

[WilFresco]

lol, nah you didn't even need a slap, just a wake up call
We're very to help out someone who actually listens to the advice given..very refreshing!

What fish do you still have and what is your plan going forward..what do you still need to purchase for the tank?

I got a blue powder tang, 2 nemos, the snowflake eel, a porcupine puffer and an angelfish. I decided to go in a different direction. I was doing some research and from alot of people telling me that the bio balls was a nitrate factory, I decided to build my own sump, below is a pic, I have it coming from the over flow to the sump, first going through the skimmer, then the Refugium and then the return, I'm just waiting for some macro I'm suppose to pick up tonite, I'll probably get some livestock some time down the line but not too many, lol

Sorry for the poor quality, took pic with my iPhone

 

[rambler67]

be careful with the snowflake eel and the clown fish the eel will most likely the the clowns sooner or later. i know form experience.

 

[WilFresco]

be careful with the snowflake eel and the clown fish the eel will most likely the the clowns sooner or later. i know form experience.

I've had them together for about 2 months with no incident yet, I don't wanna jinx it, but the first sign that I see of any agression then I'll take action

 

[masterswimmer]

I've had them together for about 2 months with no incident yet, I don't wanna jinx it, but the first sign that I see of any agression then I'll take action

Sorry to say this, but normally the 'first' sign of aggression from a SFE is also the last sign of aggression (towards the opposing critter). :eat:

Two months of anything in this hobby is no indication of success. If you told me two years, I'd feel a little better.

Russ