Newbies BEWARE

[gone fishin]

I used to defrost in a cup first, but then I bought this thing, which I love. I just toss a cube or half cube in and as it defrosts it releases bits of food. Works amazing. I can even tell when my fish are hungry because they will go check the food cup for food. I have never had any nutrient issues, but I have a fowlr, so i am less concerned with slight amounts than some people might be.

Cool A new gadget to get. Thanks

 

[bat21]

I'm not sure what else it could have been...

The tank cycled completely on a a large raw shrimp (2-3 inches, should have cycled it properly). I then added 2 juvenile clowns, waited a week, 2 peppermints to clean, and now 3 frags of coral.

Is it possible I'm over feeding? I've been doing just what they can eat in 2-3 minutes twice a day. Plus a few pieces for the acans. Even if something did hit the floor, the 2 peppers should grab it before it rots.

Edit: nitrates are ~5

It definitely sounds like your tank is very new and possibly not done cycling. You said the raw shrimp "should have cycled it properly." There shouldn't be a question. You should have been measuring the whole time. The ammonia will rise and turn to nitrite, and the ammonia will go back to zero. The nitrite will rise and turn to nitrate and the nitrite will go back to zero. If you did not observe the ammonia and nitrite both rise and fall back to zero, and stay that way, then your cycle did not complete.

Do not add anything else to the tank. Measure your ammonia and nitrite every day. When the cycle is done you should never see either. Overfeeding would only lead to nitrate, not ammonia.

 

[Itchy fishy]

Will be getting one of those soon.

 

[JoeBatt]

I feed the whole cube, the liquid is for the coral.

Defrost and remove the liquid....the fish poop is helpful to the corals the liquid in the defrost isn't.....

(that doesn't mean leave the fish poop in the tank though )

 

[vcam]

It definitely sounds like your tank is very new and possibly not done cycling. You said the raw shrimp "should have cycled it properly." There shouldn't be a question. You should have been measuring the whole time. The ammonia will rise and turn to nitrite, and the ammonia will go back to zero. The nitrite will rise and turn to nitrate and the nitrite will go back to zero. If you did not observe the ammonia and nitrite both rise and fall back to zero, and stay that way, then your cycle did not complete.

I did observe the fall and drop. I measured the levels daily so I was able to see the nice curve going on.

The only reason I'm questioning the shrimp is since I'm reading ammonia levels now. maybe it did not create enough of a bioload in the tank to simulate the 2 juvenile clowns... In any case I'm continuing to mesure the levels daily and have a reserve of Ro water if I need to take action.

Edit: 0 ammonia today.

 

[JoeBatt]

Leave it a few weeks to adjust to the new bio load then add another fish and leave it again to adjust....

Just take it slow...the only thing that happens fast in this hobby is failure.

 

[sde1500]

Ammonia is added constantly as fish poop and leftover food rots. I can't see the defrosted food causing any issues. I defrost a cube and it last probably 4 days, haven't seen any issues yet. A fully cycled tank should be able to fully handle any little ammonia from the small amount of food and water added. If it can't and you're getting constant readings you may need a new more accurate test kit, or your tank isn't done cycling.

 

[MikeyAl]

for the past few days i've been getting .1-.2 ammonia readings from my full cycled and good to go tank... and I couldn't figure out why!



Well I know now:



In the morning i would grab a cup of tank water and place a frozen cube of food inside. I'd let it defrost for a min or so then put as much as my two 1inch clowns could swallow.



This cup would then go in the fridge and then I'd take it out at supper and feed them again.



Well it turns out that cup after sitting in the fridge (which should preserve the food, or at least i thought it would )... was getting an ammonia reading between 2 and 4!!!! :blown:



I was essentially dosing my tank with ammonia every time I'd feed it.

DO NOT TRY AND SAVE FOOD.



just thought I'd share with all!

Okay. Thanks. I've been doing this for some time and never had issues. BUT Iately I've been getting more than usual algae growth. I wonder if this could be contributing to that.

 

[micgloth18]

I take a cup and shave off what i want into a dixie jello shot cup. then i add some tank water to it and feed what i need keeps my food from ever getting warm and helps me to know over feed