Im getting worried now... Please help

I have had my tank going since april 15th and added a clownfish and a damsel when the cycle ended (about 8 days ago). They have normal eating habits and catch their food in the current. Now, the damsel is dead and the clownfish refuses to eat. I try feeding it in the morning and after school and still nothing. He hasnt ate directly for about 3 days maybe. The food would float right in front of him and he wouldnt eat it. He has clear skin (no ich) and looks in great shape. I dont want him to starve and any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates? Temp?

 

temperature is at 79 (very stable, never changes), nitrite is at .50 VERY MAX (its hard to read my test results), nitrates 0, and ammonia .50 VERY MAX (ive been working to get rid of the nitrites and ammonia for a while now so im doing the best i can with that. Are those results high?

 

So your ammonia and nitrites were at 0, 8 days ago but are elevated now?

If your tank cycle was complete and the only difference in 8 days is the addition of 2 fish, the ammonia and nitrite levels should not have gone off the charts. Something is wrong here.

 

o god that just what i wanted to hear lol

 

reef is right on target. where are you getting your water from, tap, RO, bottle?

 

and how many time a day/week you are feed them

 

i use regular tap water, declorinate it and all that good stuff and them mix ocianic sea salt in. i feed them 2 times a day.

 

How much are you feeding at a time? If you are overfeeding that leftover food could be getting caught in your filter or under rock or whereever, it will then start decomposing causing the NH3 and NO2 spikes. I also have the feeling that your tank never really went through a cycle which is starting now with the addition of the two fish.

Before you added the fish did you EVER have NH3 or NO2?
Many times if you add live rock you will have enough die off to start your cycle but if you buy dry rock or some that has very little die off the cycle might not be sufficient to culture enough beneficial bacteria to properly filter your tank biologically. The colonies take time to grow and need to have enough "food" (NH3) to build up to the levels needed to support an ecosystem that is in a small glass box.

Looking at your sig I am assuming you had FOUR fish in a 20 gal tank only 8 days after your "cycle" ended. Without sounding like you mom or dad, you went a little to fast stocking the fish. Take your time, this is not a fast hobby. Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby.
What test kits are you using?

Don't worry, you'll get that tank back in line!

 

fragenstein, i said i went through a cycle because there was an ammonia spike and then a sudden drop. there was also a nitrite and nitrate spike and then a sudden drop. Isnt that what the cycle is and how its completed? and also i only stocked my tank with 3 fish. do you reccomend i put my clownfish in my dads 40 gallon for the time being? what should i do in the mean time? get the levels of the tank perfect? just simply wait a couple days? what do you suggest?