Please help!!

IlovesaltH20 · Jul 3, 2013

Whats up everyone... Soo i got some issues and wondering if neone can help.i have a 25 gal aquarium. Tetra ex45 filter, sufficient heater,and aeration. Also have 120watt LED light with 10,000k/actinics/moonlight all on digital timer. Also using kent marine reef products for elements.

I have about 15 lbs of live rock, 4 hermits (red and blue leg) and a quirky clown. Also have trumpet coral and small zoa. Now the tank has been going for about 2 1/2 weeks now and still no spike in ammonia nitrite or nitrates. Ph is at a steady 8.2 . Additionally i have lost a 4 stripe damsel and white anemone in the past 2 days.

So my question is IYO when should the cycle begin? And any idea whats killing the fish if all levels of ammonia nitrite and nitrate are at 0? ( and ph is good)

PLZ HELP!!!

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AZDesertRat · Jul 3, 2013

You should not have ANY inhabitants in that tank yet. You do not start stocking clean up crews, fish or corals until after the initial cycle has been completed and regular water changes have begun. You are nowhere near that point yet and will continue to lose inhabitants if they are not removed.

You cycle the tank with a dead fresh shrimp from the grocery and monitor conditions until your ammonia and nitrites have passed and nitrates start to climb which is when you start water changes.

What are you testing with, what is your salinity, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and your temperature? What are you using for water? Hopefully it is RO/DI or distilled or premixed saltwater from the LFS. Was the rock live and cured when you bought it or dry or uncured live rock?

You had an anemone??? Those require a mature tank with at least 6 months of steady readings and should never ever be in a new tank.

You are going way too fast and need to sit back and read all the new reefers articles and posts you can lay your hands on. Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby, all good things take time. Patience is key and hurrying things will always get you in trouble. Empty the tank of every critter and coral and start from the beginning if you have any hopes of long term success. I know its not what you want to hear but I am sure many others will jump in here with similar advice.

glb · Jul 3, 2013

AZDesertRat said:
You should not have ANY inhabitants in that tank yet. You do not start stocking clean up crews, fish or corals until after the initial cycle has been completed and regular water changes have begun. You are nowhere near that point yet and will continue to lose inhabitants if they are not removed.

You cycle the tank with a dead fresh shrimp from the grocery and monitor conditions until your ammonia and nitrites have passed and nitrates start to climb which is when you start water changes.

What are you testing with, what is your salinity, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and your temperature? What are you using for water? Hopefully it is RO/DI or distilled or premixed saltwater from the LFS. Was the rock live and cured when you bought it or dry or uncured live rock?

You had an anemone??? Those require a mature tank with at least 6 months of steady readings and should never ever be in a new tank.

You are going way too fast and need to sit back and read all the new reefers articles and posts you can lay your hands on. Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby, all good things take time. Patience is key and hurrying things will always get you in trouble. Empty the tank of every critter and coral and start from the beginning if you have any hopes of long term success. I know its not what you want to hear but I am sure many others will jump in here with similar advice.

I agree. Everyone here has no agenda other than helping you. I'd read up on cycling until you're comfortable with the process. I also agree that you should take the livestock out. I'd hate to see you lose more but with an uncycled tank that's a certainty. Remember we're all here to help. Good luck!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

mike007 · Jul 3, 2013

+1 on that.

Liquid360 · Jul 3, 2013

Well said sir!

glb said:
I agree. Everyone here has no agenda other than helping you. I'd read up on cycling until you're comfortable with the process. I also agree that you should take the livestock out. I'd hate to see you lose more but with an uncycled tank that's a certainty. Remember we're all here to help. Good luck!

Reefing Madness · Jul 3, 2013

What are you using to do your tests with? I'd recommend at least using API for somewhat accurate readings. Next, I'd up my Live Rock to at least 30lbs, and I'd add that as fully cured rock.
If you used Fully Cured Live Rock at the start, you will not see a cycle happen, as the rock already contains the needed bacteria to sustain the tank.
How did you acclimate your fish to the tank? Also, those are some mean fishies, and may have chased each other around to the point of death.
As far as teh Anemone, that one I'd have to agree on, those should not be introduced to a tank until at least 9 months of maturity has been reached. They also need prestine water conditions, your LED would be more than perfect for them though. But they don't phosphates or Nitrates.

glb · Jul 3, 2013

Liquid360 said:
Well said sir!

glb said:

I agree. Everyone here has no agenda other than helping you. I'd read up on cycling until you're comfortable with the process. I also agree that you should take the livestock out. I'd hate to see you lose more but with an uncycled tank that's a certainty. Remember we're all here to help. Good luck!

Click to expand...

Actually I'm a ma'am! : )

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

Liquid360 · Jul 3, 2013

Gah I totally had that thought when I said that!! Lol...
Well said Ma'am!!

IlovesaltH20 · Jul 4, 2013

Ok thanks for all the replies guys( and girls) lol... So my live rock was fully cured salinity is 1.024 ph is 8.2 ammonia is 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate 0... And the general concencus seems to be to empty my tank off all inhabitants and drop a dead fish in? Is there anyway to cycle the tank and keep what i have in the tank? The only thing in there now is a tiny baby quirky and 2 red legs and 2 blue legs also very small... Also the zoas and trumpets

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IlovesaltH20 · Jul 4, 2013

Also added protein skimmer and powerhead tonight.

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Reefing Madness · Jul 4, 2013

No, I'd not do anything as drastic as all that. You've done your homework, you used cured Live Rock, I think your pretty safe with your tank not going into a cycle. As far as the fish, well, this stuff does happen. Don't go with Damsels, stay away from those meanies, they will kill each other, unless in a larger system here they stay out of each others way.
You do not need a skimmer in a 25 tank, as long as you stay up on your water parameters, watch those numbers, do your water changes.
Water movement is always a good thing, can't go wrong with a powerhead.

IlovesaltH20 · Jul 4, 2013

Ok thanks a lot... So no more damsels got it. And just watch everything carefully. Will do! And ps. As for protein skimmer i know its not rlly a necessity but it is doing its job . Got about an inch of nice yellow **** pulled out since 1 am. Lol but thanks for advice! Appreciate it!

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glb · Jul 4, 2013

Good luck and keep posting. You'll learn so much here!!!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.