So I really screwed this up. I had a saltwater fish tank about 8 years ago and obviously learned nothing. I wanted another, and I'm afraid I'm lost. I have a 29 gallon tank with an AcquaticLife 30' T5 HO, and an AquaClear 110 filter, and a heater. No protein skimmer, and they may be my first huge problem.
I would like to have a reef tank. I set it up last Saturday (8 days ago) and had 12 pounds of live rock and 2 bags of live sand. I was told that I could add fish immediately if I added this Bio Spira "bacteria in a bottle" stuff. This seemed too good to be true. I tested my water the next day, and I had some ammonia and nitrite, probably from the rock and sand. So I buy the Bio Spira and add it in. The next day my nitrates are up to 20, and no more ammonia or nitrites. This stays the same all the way through Thursday.
I did a small (3 gallon) water change on Thursday, based on something I read about having smaller water changes even in the beginning. I test later on, still no ammonia or nitrates. So I'm ready for fish. I was eyeing up this really cool Angler (frogfish). I buy him Friday and put him in the tank. He seems fine. I fed him 3 ghost shrimp Saturday, and fine.
This morning I wake up to see him breathing extremely heavy. I tested my water and my ammonia is .50 and my nitrites are high as well. I tried a 5 gallon water change. Too late. I lost the frogfish. I'm so ****ed at myself for thinking that a quick fix could work and I could have fish so soon. I feel worse that this unbelievably cool fish is dead because I wasn't patient.
My question is, where do I go now? I want a reef tank, complete with shrimp, crabs, fish, etc. Do I need to add more rock? Basically, did I screw this whole thing up permanently now? HELP!! Thanks.
I would like to have a reef tank. I set it up last Saturday (8 days ago) and had 12 pounds of live rock and 2 bags of live sand. I was told that I could add fish immediately if I added this Bio Spira "bacteria in a bottle" stuff. This seemed too good to be true. I tested my water the next day, and I had some ammonia and nitrite, probably from the rock and sand. So I buy the Bio Spira and add it in. The next day my nitrates are up to 20, and no more ammonia or nitrites. This stays the same all the way through Thursday.
I did a small (3 gallon) water change on Thursday, based on something I read about having smaller water changes even in the beginning. I test later on, still no ammonia or nitrates. So I'm ready for fish. I was eyeing up this really cool Angler (frogfish). I buy him Friday and put him in the tank. He seems fine. I fed him 3 ghost shrimp Saturday, and fine.
This morning I wake up to see him breathing extremely heavy. I tested my water and my ammonia is .50 and my nitrites are high as well. I tried a 5 gallon water change. Too late. I lost the frogfish. I'm so ****ed at myself for thinking that a quick fix could work and I could have fish so soon. I feel worse that this unbelievably cool fish is dead because I wasn't patient.
My question is, where do I go now? I want a reef tank, complete with shrimp, crabs, fish, etc. Do I need to add more rock? Basically, did I screw this whole thing up permanently now? HELP!! Thanks.