Can’t keep anything alive, need help

[Tamberav]

What do mean with cycle it with sponge and filter media rather than setting it up the same day.

The nitrogen cycle, this way you won't be fighting ammonia in a bare quarentine. They sell bottled bacteria to speed it up.

Even if you treat the QT with copper, it won't kill all the bacteria, may put a dent in it but it will still provide some benefit to avoid ammonia poisoning.

A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle

You recently found out about “reefing”, probably through a reefer friend, and totally fell in love with the hobby. The next day, you visit your LFS (local fish store) and buy your own tank. You probably feel tempted to get some corals and saltwater fish on the same trip, but that’s actually a...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Adamski08]

The nitrogen cycle, this way you won't be fighting ammonia in a bare quarentine. They sell bottled bacteria to speed it up.

Even if you treat the QT with copper, it won't kill all the bacteria, may put a dent in it but it will still provide some benefit to avoid ammonia poisoning.

A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle

You recently found out about “reefing”, probably through a reefer friend, and totally fell in love with the hobby. The next day, you visit your LFS (local fish store) and buy your own tank. You probably feel tempted to get some corals and saltwater fish on the same trip, but that’s actually a...

www.reef2reef.com

Would buying a bigger aquarium and using the one I currently own as a qt be a bad idea? I’ve read that bigger aquariums are easier to maintain parameters in.

 

[Tamberav]

Would buying a bigger aquarium and using the one I currently own as a qt be a bad idea? I’ve read that bigger aquariums are easier to maintain parameters in.

What size is your tank now? Did you have a size in mind you want to buy?

Parameters shift less for coral but water changes are harder on bigger tanks and there are more fish to quarantine to fill them up They are also more expensive to maintain/run.

 

[Adamski08]

What size is your tank now?

Parameter shift less for coral but water changes are harder on bigger tanks and there are more fish to quarantine to fill them up

I have a 25 g aquarium. I’m thinking maybe 40-50 g maybe. I’ll start school soon so I don’t know how much time I’ll have on my hands. So an overly big aquarium would probably take to much time to change water

 

[Tamberav]

I have a 25 g aquarium. I’m thinking maybe 40-50 g maybe. I’ll start school soon so I don’t know how much time I’ll have on my hands. So an overly big aquarium would probably take to much time to change water

I think the 25g or the 40-50g are both fine.

I think you just need to factor in salt cost/place to mix/store water, the fact that larger tank needs more water to top off, etc. If you want corals, it needs more expensive lights.

I have no idea if you buy/haul water or make your own?

When I didn't have a RODI, I did not want a larger tank as it means hauling lots of water. You want to avoid using tap water for corals/inverts.

There are lots of factors to consider but I would not upgrade only because parameters will take longer to shift.

 

[Adamski08]

I think the 25g or the 40-50g are both fine.

I think you just need to factor in salt cost/place to mix/store water, the fact that larger tank needs more water to top off, etc. If you want corals, it needs more expensive lights.

I have no idea if you buy/haul water or make your own?

When I didn't have a RODI, I did not want a large tank as it means hauling lots of water. You wan to avoid using tap water for corals/inverts.

There are lots of factors to consider but I would not upgrade only because parameters will take longer to shift.

I make my own water and I have the capabilities to store the water. But the filter isn’t the quickest so I should probably then stick to the 25g? So I don’t have to spend way too much time with filling an aquarium

 

[Tamberav]

I make my own water and I have the capabilities to store the water. But the filter isn’t the quickest so I should probably then stick to the 25g? So I don’t have to spend way too much time with filling an aquarium

They make booster pumps to up the pressure to make water faster.

The main thing to a successful tank is that you have the time, money, budget, and space to regularly care for it. So whatever size fits into that.

A 25g is a perfectly fine/common size if you like your current tank and water changes can be done with a 5g bucket.

I will tell you right now my 25g tank is way less work than my 80g It's just easy to reach everything in such a small tank and water changes and cleaning are quick.

 

[Adamski08]

They make booster pumps to up the pressure to make water faster.

The main thing to a successful tank is that you have the time, money, budget, and space to regularly care for it. So whatever size fits into that.

A 25g is a perfectly fine/common size if you like your current tank and water changes can be done with a 5g bucket.

I like my current size. The maintenance doesn’t take too much time out of the week.

Just to make this attempt a success I should probably read more on how to do a good cycle and on how to quarantine.

 

[Tamberav]

I like my current size. The maintenance doesn’t take too much time out of the week.

Just to make this attempt a success I should probably read more on how to do a good cycle and on how to quarantine.

Yes, you will need to do those things regardless of tank size.

 

[twentyleagues]

I did forget to mention that I keep sponge filters in my sump so that if I decide to buy a fish on a whim I have a filter ready to go. If the filter does get used I throw it out once the fish leaves qt and I'll usually have already purchased a new one to start cycling in my sump. Right now I have 4 in my sump. Sponge filters are cheap, easy to use and work well for this purpose. Like @Tamberav said the size of the qt is relative to the size of or quantity of fish you are getting. If small fish and only one or two at a time a 10g is perfect. I have a few tanks that I can use but I am limited by how much water I have available to set up the tank so I need to watch my whim fish purchases. Typically I have anywhere from 30-55 gallons of saltwater premixed. If I know I am going to the lfs I will make sure my saltwater bin is full just in case.

 

[reinert]

Wow, what a confusing read. As a newbie to this hobby, I read this forum looking for advice and seeing what is out there. I think as a newbie, I would like to suggest one thing. If you have a LFS, that you trust, go to them. I’ve dealt with the fun uglies, lost 3 clowns (one just jumped out, so there’s that), and a host of inverts. My 14 gal tank is young, just turned 8 months old. I do not have room for a QT, so when I add a new creature or vegetation, I let them sit in the water bag it came in, in my tank. My tank is also warm, compared to most tanks ( according to my LFS), it usually sits around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I have used KanaPlex, Chemiclean, and Focus, a binding chemical for medicine and fish food.

I’m not going to tell you what to do, because honestly reading this thread confused me more than gave me information that was actually helpful. I will say, if the tank is young, like mine, maybe starting over would be the best option. I will say, that everything I have researched says copper is very, very bad for our tanks and the reefs we grow.

Good luck! I hope everything turns out successful for you.