Info Please

thegeb2909 · Mar 8, 2016

I am somewhat new to the reef hobby, and I have a question, I have a 37g with live sand, live rock, and had 4 damsels in it to cycle, now it's been 2 weeks and everything was fine and thriving. Come home this morning the fish are dead minus one that's skimming the surface and here are my measurements from 15 min ago...

Aquarium Test Results:

3/08/16:
PH 7.4
Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrite 1.0ppm
Nitrate 15ppm
Temp 78
Salinity 1.024

Any help would be great, I'm thinking it's the cycle and the fish aren't as hardy as the pet store said?

Irsug1 · Mar 8, 2016

Using fish to cycle is not the norm because you can kill them. Use food like a piece of raw shrimp to cycle.
Your ph is low. Try adding an air stone to raise it. Wait until your ammonia and nitrite are zero before adding more fish.
I'm surprised the pet store suggested cycling with fish. You may want to find another store..

thegeb2909 · Mar 8, 2016

Irsug1 said:
Using fish to cycle is not the norm because you can kill them. Use food like a piece of raw shrimp to cycle.
Your ph is low. Try adding an air stone to raise it. Wait until your ammonia and nitrite are zero before adding more fish.
I'm surprised the pet store suggested cycling with fish. You may want to find another store..

I thought it odd to with the damsels, but this store has been around for years and never steered me wrong, although it was a newer employee, now as far as the PH that should be 8.3 and salinity 1.020-1.022 correct, so would Marine Buffer be a good choice to raise my PH?

p.pep85 · Mar 8, 2016

your salinity is low as well you should try and keep it closer to 1.025.

thegeb2909 · Mar 8, 2016

p.pep85 said:
your salinity is low as well you should try and keep it closer to 1.025.

UGH see that's what I had thought I was at 1.023-1.024, and when I asked the store what they keep their frag and reef tanks at he said 1.020-1.022 since evaporation can make the salinity go above the normal range haha such a since but so worth it for your ocean in your home

redfishbluefish · Mar 8, 2016

Wow! I'd find another LFS. You really shouldn't use fish to cycle....it's down right cruel.

Your fish died because of the very high ammonia.

As mentioned, up your salinity to 1.025-1.026. It is a likelihood that the LFS keeps it low for corals and fish...to save money. That's why you need to test that water when you purchase livestock and do a slow drip to acclimate.

I don't believe your pH number. What are you using to test? What salt are you using? Have a fellow reefer test your pH or your LFS.

Salt Creep · Mar 8, 2016

I would try to open your windows to get more oxygen and less CO2 in your home, or a kalk top off before using a pH buffer... also, find a different LFS, or employee working there that does not recommend using fish to cycle. Not only is it cruel, but do you really want damsels in your tank? they are VERY territorial.

thegeb2909 · Mar 8, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
Wow! I'd find another LFS. You really shouldn't use fish to cycle....it's down right cruel.

Your fish died because of the very high ammonia.

As mentioned, up your salinity to 1.025-1.026. It is a likelihood that the LFS keeps it low for corals and fish...to save money. That's why you need to test that water when you purchase livestock and do a slow drip to acclimate.

I don't believe your pH number. What are you using to test? What salt are you using? Have a fellow reefer test your pH or your LFS.

Yea it seems I should find a new local LFS, I am going to up the salinity to 1.024-1.025 as suggested the PH level has been the same number for the last 6 tests, I am using an API Saltwater Master test kit to check that, I can see via the tests the cycle has begun, and will not be listening to them and adding any other fish until ammonia is zero, I usually drip acclimate and then transfer fish via net as to not put any LFS water into my tank.

Irsug1 · Mar 8, 2016

Stores also keep their salinity low because pests and diseases cannot thrive and it's cheaper too.
Your ph will rise with the increase of salinity.

Salty1962 · Mar 8, 2016

Make the changes mentioned and let it complete it's cycle. Patience it the key!

thegeb2909 · Mar 8, 2016

Well I thank everyone for their advise, and will take all this into account and will properly cycle the tank, get the PH and Salinty to the proper levels and not add anymore fish until my ammonia and nitrite are zeros