Keeping fish alive is problem...help

[telefonica007]

i recently got a 30 gallon. I purchased it from someone that had it running. It came with Maroon Clown and Serpent Starfish. I added more live rock to the tank. The star and maroon have died. I have had the water checked by 2 different stores and its pretty much ok to ad fish... i have added some things to get it to exact spec) but nothing dramatic. I then added a clown & chalk Basslet and they both died overnight. I did acclimate them like the store told me. I have also had 2 corals die.... but the other 3 are fine. I had a feather duster and Xenia crap out. Amonia, PH, Temp... all ok. the store checked it today and i was ok..... I know stress is a factor but the chalk basslet crapped out within 2 hours.... any ideas?????

i need help guys..


mike

[Mr.Peanut]

Originally Posted by telefonica007

i recently got a 30 gallon. I purchased it from someone that had it running. It came with Maroon Clown and Serpent Starfish. I added more live rock to the tank. The star and maroon have died. I have had the water checked by 2 different stores and its pretty much ok to ad fish...

i need help guys..


mike

Welcome to TRT Mike.

What does "pretty much ok to add fish" mean? Is it cycled yet? What are the water parameters? How old is the tank?

[telefonica007]

nothing showed in their tests that was bad. I am totally new to this hobby. Since i moved the tank and kept the most of the water, the tank has cycles already. i have had it 3 weeks or so. there was a little amonia from the dieing fish and the PH was at 7.9 i got some products that would cure that. but none of these readings were high enough to cause all this confusion.

[Mr.Peanut]

I would suggest getting a few test kits of your own, so you can test it. Don't add anything new to the tank until the Ammonia's are zero and the nitrites are zero.

The biggest mistake made by someone new to the SW hobby is "going too fast". The ammonia was probably not from the dying fish. Decaying fish will produce ammonia. Unless they were in there long enough to start decaying, it's probably cycling. It may only be a mini cycle, you said the system was up and running. There is some debate to this, but I say that water brought from another system is useless when trying to establish a bio filter.

The guy at the LFS(local fish store) usually wants to sell things. Telling a customer to "wait a little longer" is not something they do often.

TRT is the best place for advice. You'll see.

[Mr.Peanut]

What left in the tank thats alive?

[jenglish]

Generally a tank should be set up a couple of weeks minimum to even think about adding fish. Its the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race.

and welcome to TRT

[Loverotties]

Just because your Ammonia was gone doesn't mean you have Nitrites.And even if it is cycled ,I'd wait a couple extra weeks to make sure and don't add fast!This hobby is a slow process!

[telefonica007]

thanks for your help. the only thing thats still alive are my corals (mushroom, Zoes, GSP) i plan on getting a test kit this week. The local store has offered to give me credit for one of the corals that died and both fish they sold me. They have been helpful and trying to pin point the problem. The have mentioned to not add anything now since it may be in that mini cycle. what should be a good waiting period (1-2 weeks?)

thanks

[telefonica007]

thanks for your help. the only thing thats still alive are my corals (mushroom, Zoes, GSP) i plan on getting a test kit this week. The local store has offered to give me credit for one of the corals that died and both fish they sold me. They have been helpful and trying to pin point the problem. The have mentioned to not add anything now since it may be in that mini cycle. what should be a good waiting period (1-2 weeks?)

thanks

[Mr.Peanut]

Originally Posted by telefonica007

The have mentioned to not add anything now since it may be in that mini cycle. what should be a good waiting period (1-2 weeks?)

thanks

Its hard to put a time frame on it. Only your test kits will be able to tell you when your ready.

[telefonica007]

what signs should i look for to make sure putting in a fish might be a good idea? if i do all my tests and they are all within spec does that mean automaticly that is ok to go?

[jenglish]

I can't tell you the "right' way to do it but I can tell you the timeframes I think in. I add my rock and let it cycle. When ammonia and nitrite hit 0 and I have measurable nitrate I do a big waterchange. Its about this time I see a diatom bloom. About this time or a week later I add the clean up crew. I generally let it run with that until the diatoms have run their course. Then I will add fish. I try not to rush anything and when I think its about time to do something I usually wait anyway

[SoK]

Originally Posted by jenglish

I can't tell you the "right' way to do it but I can tell you the timeframes I think in. I add my rock and let it cycle. When ammonia and nitrite hit 0 and I have measurable nitrate I do a big waterchange. Its about this time I see a diatom bloom. About this time or a week later I add the clean up crew. I generally let it run with that until the diatoms have run their course. Then I will add fish. I try not to rush anything and when I think its about time to do something I usually wait anyway

Great advice! I appreciate that too, being new to this hobby as well!