a few months ago i purchased a 155 tank set up with 200 pounds of life rock and about 15 fish during the transport about 4 fish didnt make it and was left with the worst headache i could have imagined i was told if i used the same water there was no need to cycle the tank and 5 months after i am still buying salt and buying 0 tds water like its going out of style i have heard every solution told to man my last option at this time is put my remaining fish in hospital tanks and dry out the rock and cycle tank from scratch but my corals might not make it so i am asking anyone who might have had this problem to please help... thanks in advance.
nitrate problem
- Thread starter fancy
- Start date
- Location
- Beacon, NY
Before you start over. Tell us more about you system. What are your other levels at? Dose your system have a sump? How much water are you changing and how often? Dose your tank have sand in it?
One more thing list your fish/size.
One more thing list your fish/size.
- Location
- Staten Island
A lot of organisms might have died during transport putting your tank through a mini cycle.... Check all your parameters and post them up ( nitrite,nitrate,ammonia,etc.)
Fancy,I'm happy you posted here. These guys should be able to give you some good advice. I'm on my phone so I'll have to try to keep this short.
How high are your nitrates?
Do you have other visible problems? bad algae? How large are the fish?
When you buy a system you really never truly know what your in for. When they come with livestock, It always makes the move harder because doing a proper cleaning becomes a real big issue.
Was the sandbed moved/shifted during the move?
Post some photos for us and tell us some more info.
How high are your nitrates?
Do you have other visible problems? bad algae? How large are the fish?
When you buy a system you really never truly know what your in for. When they come with livestock, It always makes the move harder because doing a proper cleaning becomes a real big issue.
Was the sandbed moved/shifted during the move?
Post some photos for us and tell us some more info.
- Location
- astoria,new york
Also with a tank that size you should look into purchasing a ro/di unit instead of going out and buying all that water..This way you can always make and have the water on standby for those needed water changes..
i will try an answer to the best of my knowledge since i am fairly new to this hobby the test that i am using are api test the nitrates are on the highest red of the chart no nitrites no ammonia
-120 pounds of live sand i added after purchase
-30 gallon sump inside the sump is a protein skimmer and live rock nothing else
-200 or more pounds live rock just treated the tank for slime algae and i am noticing a little green algae on the rocks
-2 anemones
-one polyp
-3 soft corals
THE FISH ARE:
1 blue hippo tang about 8 inches
1 sailfen tang about 7.5 inches
1 yellow tang about 5 inches
1 wrasse about 5.5 inches
1 damsel about 3inches
2 clown fishes about 3.5 and 2inches
1 cardinal about 4inches
1 chromis about 3.5 inches
1 marine betta about 5inches
1 green clean up star 3 urchins some snails and hermit crabs.
We started doing water changes 2 times a week about 20 gallons each time, we did that for about 2-3 weeks, then 35-40 gal water changes once a week for about 2 months and last water change was 45 gal water a couple of days ago
We have used over 500+ of salt in a matter of 3 months
as for water changes we started doing twice a week about 15
-120 pounds of live sand i added after purchase
-30 gallon sump inside the sump is a protein skimmer and live rock nothing else
-200 or more pounds live rock just treated the tank for slime algae and i am noticing a little green algae on the rocks
-2 anemones
-one polyp
-3 soft corals
THE FISH ARE:
1 blue hippo tang about 8 inches
1 sailfen tang about 7.5 inches
1 yellow tang about 5 inches
1 wrasse about 5.5 inches
1 damsel about 3inches
2 clown fishes about 3.5 and 2inches
1 cardinal about 4inches
1 chromis about 3.5 inches
1 marine betta about 5inches
1 green clean up star 3 urchins some snails and hermit crabs.
We started doing water changes 2 times a week about 20 gallons each time, we did that for about 2-3 weeks, then 35-40 gal water changes once a week for about 2 months and last water change was 45 gal water a couple of days ago
We have used over 500+ of salt in a matter of 3 months
as for water changes we started doing twice a week about 15
Attachments
- Location
- Sound Beach,LI
How old is the test kit you are using? You might wanna try a new one. From the pics everything looks healthy and happy. You might want to ditch the glass tops tho, it will help with the gas exchange that takes place on the surface of the water
the anenome i feed krill and for the fishes 3 frozen cubes a day of mysis shrimp, emerald tree and marine crusine i feed them once a day everyday i also sometimes give them marine pellets dipped in garlic every 2 days or so
- Location
- Beacon, NY
Maybe you can add a bio pellet Reactor. Also you could start feeding every other day.
- Location
- Freehold NJ
I think that s a lot of food for that tank. I would think 1 cube a day is more than enough for that many fish. I have twice the fish you do and only feed 1 a day and I don t worry about it if I miss a day or two. I don t have nems so someone will have to chime in on that one but I dont think they need to be fed daily either.
Also, test your change water and make sure it has zero nitrates also. Good luck with everything.
Also, test your change water and make sure it has zero nitrates also. Good luck with everything.
- Location
- Mt Sinai, NY
Thanks guys.. Do you really think thats a lot of food when my fishes are real big?
my two tangs are about 8 inches alone.. also i am going by how fast they eat it and they finish all the food in about 2 minutes. and as far as the sump i cannot converted into a refugium because the inside doesnt have the middle compartment i was thinking on buying a refugium sump but then i would have to figure out how to get it into the inside of the stand.
my two tangs are about 8 inches alone.. also i am going by how fast they eat it and they finish all the food in about 2 minutes. and as far as the sump i cannot converted into a refugium because the inside doesnt have the middle compartment i was thinking on buying a refugium sump but then i would have to figure out how to get it into the inside of the stand.
You don't have to feed the nems everyday. Weekly or every other week should be fine.
If your fish are large I would go with a good quality pellet/flake food combo and slow down a little on the frozen just to monitor and see whats causing the problems.
Make sure you are rinsing the food.
Show us some photos.
If your fish are large I would go with a good quality pellet/flake food combo and slow down a little on the frozen just to monitor and see whats causing the problems.
Make sure you are rinsing the food.
Show us some photos.
- Location
- Beacon, NY
Dose your sump have bio balls in it?
no i do not have bio balls in the sump but will ad a pellet reactor today..,thanks for all the advise guys., i will def slow down on the feeding and ad a pellet reactor and see what happens i will keep you guys updated.
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