Tank crash possibility?

Hi, I am relatively new to saltwater aquariums to make a long story short, I had a 55 gallon aquarium set up with just fish (2 Foxface Rabbitfish/ 2 Common clowns/ and a Flame firefish) and plastic plants. I feel I was slightly taken advantage by the pet store because they never warned me about the cycling of a tanks biological system. (Really though I guess I'm to blame because I never read up on it)

Recently I ended up purchasing a 120 gallon aquarium set up with 100lbs of sand giving it about a 1.5inch substrate(20lbs of it being live sand) and roughly 60 lbs of live rock. Meanwhile the 55g tank started to cycle fast Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite sky rocketed, I freaked and ended up moving the fish into the 120g. I ended up getting 3 tangs due to my lack of self control. (Yellow, Power Brown and Purple). The yellow and power brown are back in the 55g because they got ick and are being treated with coppersafe. Both are cleared up and eating well and healing as well as their future tank mates in the 120.

Right now I don't know what I can do to help safely keep the fish in the 120 alive when it cycles. The tanks been set up for 3 weeks now and here are the stats that I can tell:

Temperature: 79
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: .20 ppm
Nitrite: .5
Nitrate: 20
Salinity: 1.024
dKH/KH/Alkalinity: about 300

Also on another note, the Live rock has sprouted feather dusters in several spots. none of them showed signs of having any life like that on them when purchased.

Test kits you own: Quick Dip 5 in 1, I have Two ammonia testers (Quick Dip, its a strip. and AmmoniaAlert which hangs in the tank. Both read the same)
Liquid or Strips: Strips
Brand Name:
Are they Expired?: No

I'm fearing the worst and don't know where to go from at this point, Any suggestions before this tank cycles through?

 

take all fish back and let it run its course

 

Ouch, I'm very sorry for the challenge you face here. There are others he with more experience but as a start, frequent large water changes can help you keep your water quality within a range that won't finish off your fish. Unfortunately this is costly and a PITA. It will also slow down your cycle a bit. Another option would be to get ahold of some fully cycled rock that doesn't have much growth on it and add it to your tank to support its abilit to proces the bioload that you have in there now. A third option is to try and find another home for your fish while your cycle finishes (i.e. a friends tank). Unfortunately, it looks like you have too many fish to just move them into your hospital/QT (you have one of those right?). Yeah, I didn't have one either when I had my tank before but I tell myself that I'm going to do better this time around. I have to because I've got more money riding on it.
Best of Luck to you. I can't stand the thought of something happening to your Purple tang or ony of your other fish for that matter.

 

x2 return and let cycle run its course

 

you need to take the fish back and ask them to hold them for you. They will not survive in that tank right now. Also if you do water changes it will only hender the cycle....

IMO you are going to have problems with your purple and yellow tang fighting in the future. They are too similar and will most likely kill each other

 

The orther tank currently is a hospital tank and has the yellow and power brown QT'ed because of their case of ick. Both had it severely and actually are recovering well from the copper medication I used.

Odd tidbit of info... The ammonia has yet to move. I probably should get a better test kit that reads it in a more precise amount (Any suggestions?). the Nitrate has only gone up very little since having the fish in it where as the Nitrite has bounced up and down every few days. I've only done one (20 gallon) change on this tank since, Really didn't change anything but knock the salinity up .001 to its current spot of 1.024.

Would be nice if the pet store could hold the fish till the tank cycled. I called and asked about that... "We will take the fish but they will be considered a dontation and sold." Felt like it was a stab in the back really from the store. Worse comes to worse they will probably end up back at the pet store if the tank does a nose dive on me to where the fish cant handle it. Thats why I am here trying to prevent it if possible.

 

Where are you located? Have you got a friend with a tank that could help out?

Sorry to hear that your LFS has such a bad attitude toward customer service but when you mentioned what bad advice/little guidance they gave you to begin with, it doesn't suprise me. Why not make the drive ot Richmond, VA. We have several great shops here.

 

you have a protein skimmer on it?

I would def find another store to purchase from....I dont normally attack LFS but this one doesnt seem right...wont hold your fish but will take them and sell them?

Where are you located? Do you know of anybody that has saltwater tanks? Might try to find your local reef club and ask them if they know of anybody that can hold them.

There are things you can put into your tank to help speed cycle...Biospriva (Spelling) is one..will cycle in a day but I dont put a lot of faith in those. Plus it can cause a lot of stress.

Make sure you feed quality food with HUFA and vitamins in it

good luck

 

Located in Wisconsin, Richmond would be a hefty drive thats for sure. Prior to any fish being introduced I was using Biozyme that was recommended to be by a friend with past saltwater experience. I gave it a shot and used it. I not sure but do any of you have any feelings on this product... I've been getting mixed feelings with it when asking around. I was told by the person at the store whom sold it to me that it would help control my levels and cycle the tank faster. (Hopefully they weren't giving me false hopes)

Anyways a bit more info about the aquarium... I have a Seaclone skimmer to support a 150 gallon aquarium... a Marineland Magnum Pro 350 canister filter... and just an over the head filter to support 55 gallons to cover the 20 gallons missing that the canister doesn't cover.

 

If all else fails, still take the fish back. Better than a creature losing its life. When you say "tank takes a nose dive and fish cant handle it" please keep in mind you are already there, as you have already seen with the disease outbreak. Any amount of ammonia will be fatal given enough time to all but the hardiest of fish.
Stop with water changes, and stop with the cycle in a bottle/can products. All those really are, are powerful detoxifiers like Prime. There is little to no bacteria still living in them. Continuing with those products or doing water changes is only going to drag out this whole ordeal longer.
The first step I would take is to get decent test kits. Strips will not cut it. Asking for suggestions is like asking someone their favorite sandwich, your going to get a different answer each time. I like API. They are decent enough, and readily available just about anywhere. In the very least, you are going to need ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and a ph test. If you eventually want to go reef, add in a calcium, magnesium, alkalintiy, and p04 kits.
Then, as soon as possible, you need more rock. A 120 gallon tank, for fish only, is going to need 120-180 pounds of rock. Reef, 180+. Rock is your MAIN, most IMPORTANT filtration in your tank, so its not something you want to skimp on. I would go with base, as its cheaper, there are no pests, and you want cause another cycle by adding it. ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home has great rock, and will give you free shipping over 30 pounds.
What are you doing for water flow? Any powerheads in the tank? Are you running an airstone?