First Fish Additions

[quote author=mirosh link=board=Newbie;num=1099628046;start=0#9 date=11/07/04 at 15:34:31]..what the hell happened...I am really really disappointed and thought everything was going so smoothly!?!?!?!

I don't know what happened! I just put in 2 fish, the clown and the goby and now they are both dead :'(.

I followed all of the directions and made sure my tank went through the full cycle...but I guess I did something wrong!!!!!!!!!

Please advise...this is a fish crisis!!!!!!!!

-Mike[/quote]

Before pointing to many esoteric reasons, may i point out that you did not quaratine. Quarantine allows you to observe the animals and see if they are ok or they are (at worst!) cyanide caught fish or even fish with parasites and diseases.

It's an unpopular advise but still true, valid and will solidly make you a successful marine aquarist.

Quaratine fish, LR, corals before placing in the display tank.

Or get ready for a lot of deaths and a hanging on the thread survival.

Sorry if this sounds harsh but that's just the facts about reefing and marine aquariums.

 

I would have loved to quarantine them, but I dont have the stuff to set up another tank right now, and that is just kinda not in the cards!

 

Few comments/questions?

1) As this tank goes through the cycle, should there be a slimey greenish and/or clear goopy stuff building up on the LR/Sand/Powerheads/tank walls?

2) Should I have my protein skimmer on???  I read somewhere that is it best to turn it on after day 6 or so of the cycle. (which my previous cycle never got to day 6...hahahaha)

3) Should I leave the clown and goby in there to rot??

4) Should I get more filtration than just the 4" Sand Bed + 27lbs LR and Protein Skimmer, such as a wet/dry or something ( I have a whisper powerfilter already and some filter floss)...keep in mind, only a 30 gallon???

5) Should I do a partial water change at around day 5, as http://www.bestfish.com/newtank3.html suggests even though nothing alive is left in the tank to get stressed from the high levels???

Thanks,
Mike

 

Mike I would turn on your skimmer and I think it will help clear up your gunk.It is up to you weather you want to leave the dead fish in your tank to feed your cycle or you can just add a little fish food to your tank to feed it.
As for more filtration it can never hurt to have more. As Craig says the solution to pollution is dilution.
And I would say no to the water change as all that will do is slow down your cycle by removing some of your ammonia that is feeding your cycle JMHO................... John

 

Would my whisper power filter with filter floss do the trick for now??? I don't have the money for a wet/dry right now and would prefer to spend the money later on a wet/dry for a better tank when I get the hang of this one!

Thanks,
Mike

 

I wouldn't worry about another filter until after your cycle is over and you start to add some fish.I think your rock, sand, and skimmer will do just fine for now JMO... John

 

OK...when that time comes, would the whisper be OK...or should i look into investing in a wet/dry and/or refugium???

 

[quote author=mirosh link=board=Newbie;num=1099628046;start=15#21 date=11/08/04 at 04:31:37]I would have loved to quarantine them, but I dont have the stuff to set up another tank right now, and that is just kinda not in the cards![/quote]


Mirosh it only takes a small 5-10 gallon tank, a sponge filter, an air pump, a few cut PVC (for fish to hide and feel secure) and a ton of patience.

The pay off however is tremendous reef/fish keeping success. Your tank's future is in your hands.

 

Mirosh, just trying to clarify in my head....did you add the fish and the skimmer was not on at all yet? I ran mine since the first piece of rock went in...could have been a factor....

 

birdlady,

No, the skimmer was on when I put the fish in...to clarify, my steps are listed below:

1) Put in 4" Araganite Sand and salt water (RO/DI)

2) Tested ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, everything showed 0, salinity at 1.023, pH at 8.2, temp 75

3) Started up 2 powerheads and protein skimmer

4) Added 27lbs partially cured LR from LFS.

5) Saw barely any spike in ammonia, nitrite, then 20ppm nitrate (remember the posts about this...?)

6) 2 weeks (thought cycle was done) added percula and goby

7) 2 days later, both die cause of HUGE ammonia spike (8ppm)

8) Figured it was going through the cycle and debated turning the skimmer off (as I heard that might be useful)

9) Skimmer NOT turned off...continuing with cycle as we speak...but fish are dead!