new tank doing bad
- Thread starter rtenzo02
- Start date
Yes , very good information from everyone. I will have to do this in steps. Seeing I already have the BTA I should probley purchase the powerheads first for better water movement. 2nd I'll add maybe small amounts of LR to the tank so not much die off occurs, like 10 lbs at a time. And 3rd a skimmer seeing I can do water changes until then. How does that sound ? And thanks awestruck for the powerhead placement, Ill try that and see how that works out ! Maybe even add some media reactor for phosphates to the HOB filter. And finally, yes, I think the clown would have lived as well, if I didnt add the heniochus and the anemone so soon. But it makes me wonder why the damsel died seeing it was the only fish in the tank at the time it arrived till the time it died ? Thanks again to all the replied here !!!
wilsonreefs
Member
It's been said so many times yet so many people just do not have patience. It seems that patience is the virtue of keeping a saltwater tank. I know people get excited and are ready to add fish, but slow down and take your time. I agree, test your own water. I will admit it's good to have a LFS you can trust to do your testing until you can get your own test kits, but then again you've got to admit seems odd that the LFS your buying fish that are dying could possibly be the same LFS that you go back and buy more fish from after they say your water is ok. Not saying this is the case, just saying it could be..
rayn
New member
Try using distilled water that you can buy at any grocery store. It should be pure, where you don't know out of the machine what you're getting. Any way you could test the tds on it?
If you add a couple powerheads, put some type of covering on them. Something like pantyhose. If you create a bunch more flow in the tanks you could tick off the nem and get it walking around your tank. If it gets sucked into a powerhead you could have problems again.
If you add a couple powerheads, put some type of covering on them. Something like pantyhose. If you create a bunch more flow in the tanks you could tick off the nem and get it walking around your tank. If it gets sucked into a powerhead you could have problems again.
awestruck
New member
Are you sure there's no chlorine and chloramine in the water? I doubt it 'cuz the anemone would have died by now, but it's just another thought.
Your salinity level is perfect
I'm not sure if your LFS explained this to you, but after you mix a new batch of water, you absolutely must make sure that not only is the salt dissolved, but the ph and temperature match your tank water. Most people aerate their water for 24 hours to ensure this. How are you mixing your new water? You generally put a powerhead in there and just let it run for quite a while. For this any cheap powerhead will do. I remember the owner of my LFS told me to just mix it for a few minutes with my hand and the water would be fine. NOT! :eek2: :blown:
Try to arrange your rock so that you have open spaces, caves and the like so that water can move and around your rock.
dbdisok makes a great point about the skimmer because they pull out nasty stuff before it breaks down and creates problems in your tank. Sometimes one problem beginners have is trying to run their tank with a cheap skimmer because dang it, good ones are expensive unless you find someone selling a good one. My first skimmer was a Seaclone and they're not very good...but, it's better than nothing. In fact, if you want to pay the shipping, you can have mine for free (shipping probably wouldn't cost more than $10.00).
If you don't have the money right now, using my Seaclone would help just a little bit, and it would contribute to aerating the water... Sometimes people save to buy a good skimmer instead of wasting money on a junky one, which is a smart idea. If you have to spend money, the skimmer is one of your most important pieces of equipment. On the other hand, many people run their tanks skimmerless and their system does fine. So much of this depends on your husbandry.
Please don't be alarmed regarding the algae outbreak on your sandbed because this is normal when new tanks are being established.
I feel for you guys regarding wanting to quit--I recently lost my prized anemone and actually put all of my system up for sale because I too have been having issues with my tank, and I've been reefing for a while now. A few people here on Rc calmed me down, and I'm glad they did because this can be not only addicting, but you get passionate about it.
rayn made a great point regarding the powerheads. The better the powerhead, the fewer you need. Go to some of the online, reputable stores and you'll see an array of powerheads. Some are MUCH better than others. And of course, as usual, the really good ones are expensive.
Generally however, one really good one is better than 2 not-so-good ones.
I really believe you and your wife will be successful with your tank, just hang in there. Take time to read the through the beginner threads and stickys because there is an enormoust amount of great information in them.
Your salinity level is perfect
I'm not sure if your LFS explained this to you, but after you mix a new batch of water, you absolutely must make sure that not only is the salt dissolved, but the ph and temperature match your tank water. Most people aerate their water for 24 hours to ensure this. How are you mixing your new water? You generally put a powerhead in there and just let it run for quite a while. For this any cheap powerhead will do. I remember the owner of my LFS told me to just mix it for a few minutes with my hand and the water would be fine. NOT! :eek2: :blown:Try to arrange your rock so that you have open spaces, caves and the like so that water can move and around your rock.
dbdisok makes a great point about the skimmer because they pull out nasty stuff before it breaks down and creates problems in your tank. Sometimes one problem beginners have is trying to run their tank with a cheap skimmer because dang it, good ones are expensive unless you find someone selling a good one. My first skimmer was a Seaclone and they're not very good...but, it's better than nothing. In fact, if you want to pay the shipping, you can have mine for free (shipping probably wouldn't cost more than $10.00).
If you don't have the money right now, using my Seaclone would help just a little bit, and it would contribute to aerating the water...
Sometimes people save to buy a good skimmer instead of wasting money on a junky one, which is a smart idea. If you have to spend money, the skimmer is one of your most important pieces of equipment. On the other hand, many people run their tanks skimmerless and their system does fine. So much of this depends on your husbandry.Please don't be alarmed regarding the algae outbreak on your sandbed because this is normal when new tanks are being established.
I feel for you guys regarding wanting to quit--I recently lost my prized anemone and actually put all of my system up for sale because I too have been having issues with my tank, and I've been reefing for a while now. A few people here on Rc calmed me down, and I'm glad they did because this can be not only addicting, but you get passionate about it.
rayn made a great point regarding the powerheads. The better the powerhead, the fewer you need. Go to some of the online, reputable stores and you'll see an array of powerheads. Some are MUCH better than others. And of course, as usual, the really good ones are expensive.
Generally however, one really good one is better than 2 not-so-good ones.I really believe you and your wife will be successful with your tank, just hang in there. Take time to read the through the beginner threads and stickys because there is an enormoust amount of great information in them.
awestruck
New member
OOOHHHH, I'm sorry I didn't tell you this so I'm glad rayn did: ABSOLUTELY cover your powerheads with a nylon or something like it because your anemone may well start to wander when you change the water movement, and if it does I almost guarantee it will get sucked into one of the powerheads. Then, not only will you have lost a beautiful animal, but you could start another ammonia spike because of its death. Watch your anemone very carefully while you make these changes, and at the same time try not to interfere with it too much. Anemones will move to where they are happy, or at least they'll keep looking.
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
i also noticed that from your pic. you have the 1 power head about to the middle of the tank. what does the surface of the water look like? is there any water movement on the surface? if not try raising the power head so you get good surface movement as that is your way of exchanging oxygen. at least till you add more power heads.
You indicate that you will slowly add more live rock to your system. That is okay. However, I recommend that you don't place the new live rock into the tank the day you bring it home from the LFS. You could very well get a new cycle with each addition of live rock. Place the new live rock in a spare tank, rubbermaid tub or any other container that is food safe. Add a small filter or powerhead for flow and let the new live rock cycle outside the tank. You don't need lights on this. Test the water regularly and once you are reading zero for NH3, NO2 and NO3 you can safely add the live rock to your display tank. Just like with the addition of more powerheads to the tank, adding new live rock could change the direction of flow of water in the tank causing the anemone to move with each addition of rock.
awestruck
New member
Hope this helps:
1. Buy 3 powerheads: 2 Koralias or better ones (if possible) and 1 cheap one to aerate the rock and then to mix new batches of water. Get some nylons! Make sure you place those powerheads near enough to the top so that you get turbulent water moving at the top.
2. Get a food safe container to put the new rock in. You can also use this later to mix new batches of water.
3. Buy some new testing kits. API kits work pretty well and you'll want to be testing pH, ammonia, nitrates, calcium, and alkalinity.
4. Have a few gallons of fresh water available for topping off your tank because as water evaporates, salinity goes up.
5. Wait.
6. While you're waiting, read, read, read. And, you can let me know if you want my Seaclone skimmer.
1. Buy 3 powerheads: 2 Koralias or better ones (if possible) and 1 cheap one to aerate the rock and then to mix new batches of water. Get some nylons! Make sure you place those powerheads near enough to the top so that you get turbulent water moving at the top.
2. Get a food safe container to put the new rock in. You can also use this later to mix new batches of water.
3. Buy some new testing kits. API kits work pretty well and you'll want to be testing pH, ammonia, nitrates, calcium, and alkalinity.
4. Have a few gallons of fresh water available for topping off your tank because as water evaporates, salinity goes up.
5. Wait.
6. While you're waiting, read, read, read. And, you can let me know if you want my Seaclone skimmer.
Im so amazed at how much RC's members have been extremely helpful, it is a blessing ! I do only have 1 powerhead at the moment and a aquaclear 110 with no media right now. The 110 I think is rated at 500gph, probably slightly less than that in my case but with evap, my water level is perfect at the moment and the return is causing alot of surface movement. I'll also stop filling up at the machines and start purchasing distilled water if that would be best.
Flippers4pups
Home made abyss
IMHO the lack of dissolved oxygen may have been the reason why you had lost. You really need to slow down and be patient. You do need a skimmer, you do need more water movement and you do need to break the surface of the water to release trapped gasses. I would not add any more fish to this tank until you have this controlled. I would start any saltwater tank with self education of what size and kind of system i wanted and could afford first. You always purchase ALL the necessary equipment first before adding anything to a saltwater tank! Patience is Gold in this Hobby! To do anything else is like throwing money away and unfortunately harming what it is we are trying to keep. You will be ok if you follow these basic rules. As far as your source of fresh water from "one of those machines" at the grocery store, Just test a small amount from it, before you buy any, for TDS's. Good luck and be patent.
