Parameters getting a little off...

Hey everyone, I have a 29gal eclipse and I got rid of the eclipse hood and replaced it with a reef octo bh-100f skimmer. Since then my numbers have been a little odd. I got 2 false percs, then I added a CUC(pep. shrimp, 5 snails, 4 hermits, strawberry crab(dead), Tuxedo urchin(dead), Flame scallop, and serpent star) <--Once I read around on here i realized the LFS guy shouldn't have sold me most of those things, even though i told him everything about my tank. (i'll be taking the scallop and star back)

Anyways, my time line is
- 2 clowns on 2/18
-cuc on 2/26
-3gal water change on 3/4
-added a reef oco bh-100f on 3/5

System cant handle the bioload?? Due for a larger water change? SHould i add any supplements??

Today's #'s
pH - 8 <- want to raise
Nitrite - .1 <- ??
Ammonia - .1 <-??
Nitrate - <10
Salinity - 34
SG - 1.025
Temp - 80
Alk - 3meq/l <--Has dropped from 4-4.5
Phosphate - .05ppm <--How do i lower?
Calcium - 350 <--best way to get this up??

 

How long have your tank been set up? If it was first set up on 2/18 then you are taking things too quick.

How many lbs of LR do you have in the tank? I wouldnt add any supplements just yet. If the tank was set up for quite some time, the death of the crab and urchin might have cause something.

 

it was set up sometime early jan, I waited until all numbers were good after cycle for about a week, then put in the clowns.

Only about 15lbs of LR and a bunch of dead corals, this pic was during the cycle..

I did take out the urchin and crab as soon as I knew they were dead

 

And the numbers stayed inline until 2/26 when the cuc was added, since then they have been about the same as the ones I posted from today.

 

You probably got a spike after adding the clowns, which is normal. The tank will have to catch up with the increased bioload. I would stop with the water changes. They are only going to prolong the whole event. Just give the tank time to balance itself again, and all will be well.

 

So just watch the numbers until they get back to normal then start doing bi-monthly water changes?

 

Ya and be very weary of LFS's, they are a business and most are out to make a sale.

 

+1. First thing I thought.

 

Since i took off the eclipse hood i dont have any mechanical filtration, ,just the skimmer. It has the little sponge filter in the last(return) chamber and i also added a bag of carbon. Should i put some LR rubble or cheato in the chamber instead/also?

 

Its been a week, and today's numbers were all the same except for my alk which has gone from 3 to 4 and my ammonia which is now @ .2. Keep waiting? or do i need to do something?