Ready, Set, Go

[ae87]

I have questions about different areas of my tank. Since I have no idea if any of them intertwine, I’m posting about all of it at once.
Bare with me, and thank you for reading

First is the least of my concerns, this brown looking substance in the sand against the glass? This guy seems to enjoy it, which is why I’m not stressing about it. Could someone identify and clarify if it’s good or bad or if it tells me something about my tank health?

Next is the salinity.
It’s at 1.023 - which is baffling me since we did a saltwater change just last night... I expected to check it this morning and it be at 1.025... just any advice on this would be helpful.

On to the fog. I’ve found online it could be the new live rock we added, but that was a little over a week ago...

Finally my water test levels:

(You can see in the tank photos one of our snails having a tough time. Keep having to turn her over...)

The Nitrite and Nitrates are what’s really concerning me.
Mostly the Nitrite.
Also did not expect these levels due to our water change last night...

Other than the rock, a significant change (to me) would be their feeding regime. I felt they were getting to much in two lump feedings-one am one pm- so this week I’ve switched to smaller feedings 3x/day.

Ask away, I don’t know where to start.

[emoji225]:
REDLINE WRASSE
ANTHIAS
TWO TARGET MANDARINS
BLENNY
SHARK NOSE GOBY
ENGINEER GOBY

Clean Up Crew:
FIGHTING TIGER CONCH
5 small CLEANER CRABS
4 SHRIMP
2 SNAILS
1 EMERALD CRAB
and the little guy cleaning under the sand for me in the first photo

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have questions about different areas of my tank. Since I have no idea if any of them intertwine, I’m posting about all of it at once.
Bare with me, and thank you for reading

First is the least of my concerns, this brown looking substance in the sand against the glass? This guy seems to enjoy it, which is why I’m not stressing about it. Could someone identify and clarify if it’s good or bad or if it tells me something about my tank health?

Next is the salinity.
It’s at 1.023 - which is baffling me since we did a saltwater change just last night... I expected to check it this morning and it be at 1.025... just any advice on this would be helpful.

On to the fog. I’ve found online it could be the new live rock we added, but that was a little over a week ago...

Finally my water test levels:

(You can see in the tank photos one of our snails having a tough time. Keep having to turn her over...)

The Nitrite and Nitrates are what’s really concerning me.
Mostly the Nitrite.
Also did not expect these levels due to our water change last night...

Other than the rock, a significant change (to me) would be their feeding regime. I felt they were getting to much in two lump feedings-one am one pm- so this week I’ve switched to smaller feedings 3x/day.

Ask away, I don’t know where to start.

[emoji225]:
REDLINE WRASSE
ANTHIAS
TWO TARGET MANDARINS
BLENNY
SHARK NOSE GOBY
ENGINEER GOBY

Clean Up Crew:
FIGHTING TIGER CONCH
5 small CLEANER CRABS
4 SHRIMP
2 SNAILS
1 EMERALD CRAB
and the little guy cleaning under the sand for me in the first photo

The part that concerns me most is your Nitrite test. It's very dark purple telling me that your tank isn't fully cycled. A fully cycled tank should show no ammonia and no nitrite only Nitrate. What did you use to cycle the tank? The fog is most likly from the fact that the tank hasn't completed cycling and its a bacterial bloom from the bioload in the tank. Depended on how big of a water change you did and the salinity of the water, it may take a bit to raise up your salinity. The best way to raise it would be to stop topping off with freshwater and top off with saltwater mixed to the specific gravity you want the display tank until it reaches that level, and then go back to topping off with freshwater. I would temporarily rehome your inhabitants and let the tank finish its cycle.

 

[OriginalUserName]

How much was your WC last night? (% of your volume) The fog is a bacteria bloom. Your tank is still cycling, how long has it been up? Why do you think your SG should be higher? I would be way more worried about the ammonia, and probably nitrites instead of nitrates. You should probably do another WC, those levels are high and risk your fish health. Are you mandarins eating prepared foods? What kind of filter are you running, I assume that isn't live rock.

 

[sbash]

First is the least of my concerns, this brown looking substance in the sand against the glass? This guy seems to enjoy it, which is why I’m not stressing about it. Could someone identify and clarify if it’s good or bad or if it tells me something about my tank health?

Since the sand is exposed to light (i.e. against the glass) this is just minor algae, nothing to be concerned about with a proper sandbed crew.

Next is the salinity.
It’s at 1.023 - which is baffling me since we did a saltwater change just last night... I expected to check it this morning and it be at 1.025... just any advice on this would be helpful.

If your salinity was 1.025 before the water change, and your changed it with 1.025 water, then yes, it should be 1.025. Since it is likely your mixed solution was not fully mixed. How are you mixing your salt?

On to the fog. I’ve found online it could be the new live rock we added, but that was a little over a week ago...

Likely a bacterial bloom, a good thing. It happens on new tanks, especially ones like yours that have not fully completed the initial cycle.

The Nitrite and Nitrates are what’s really concerning me.
Mostly the Nitrite.
Also did not expect these levels due to our water change last night...

Quite simply, your initial cycle is not fully established. Fortunately, unlike freshwater, nitrites are not terribly toxic to marine life. I would refrain from adding anything else to the tank until you get 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites for several days.

As for the nitrates, wait until the above statement is true, then address the nitrate issues. With a small tank like this you should have some macro algae as well as regular water changes.

 

[laverda]

You have gotten some good advice so far. However nitrite is toxic to fish and inverts. That is why you snail is struggling to survive.

 

[ae87]

The part that concerns me most is your Nitrite test. It's very dark purple telling me that your tank isn't fully cycled. A fully cycled tank should show no ammonia and no nitrite only Nitrate. What did you use to cycle the tank? The fog is most likly from the fact that the tank hasn't completed cycling and its a bacterial bloom from the bioload in the tank. Depended on how big of a water change you did and the salinity of the water, it may take a bit to raise up your salinity. The best way to raise it would be to stop topping off with freshwater and top off with saltwater mixed to the specific gravity you want the display tank until it reaches that level, and then go back to topping off with freshwater. I would temporarily rehome your inhabitants and let the tank finish its cycle.

We had live sand and live rock cycle for two months and waiting to see growth on live rock before gradually adding friends. The tank is about 8 months old now. We did a regular 25-30% change using only saltwater...

 

[Crabs McJones]

We had live sand and live rock cycle for two months and waiting to see growth on live rock before gradually adding friends. The tank is about 8 months old now. We did a regular 25-30% change using only saltwater...

But what did you use to cycle the tank? Did you add any Dr. Tim's bacteria, and did you feed the bacteria during that time?

 

[ae87]

How much was your WC last night? (% of your volume) The fog is a bacteria bloom. Your tank is still cycling, how long has it been up? Why do you think your SG should be higher? I would be way more worried about the ammonia, and probably nitrites instead of nitrates. You should probably do another WC, those levels are high and risk your fish health. Are you mandarins eating prepared foods? What kind of filter are you running, I assume that isn't live rock.

We did a regular 25-30% change using only saltwater. We let is cycle two months with live rock and live sand and waited to see growth on live rock before gradually adding friends. The Nitrites are what’s worrying me most. Never been this bad... The Mandarins pick at the pods around the tank and also eat the frozen cubes I feed the whole tank. We run a Fluval 306. Just changed polishing pads. The two live rocks arching over the tops in the middle are the ones we just added... all the rest have growth and have been in there from the beginning. Tank is about 8m old.

 

[ae87]

Since the sand is exposed to light (i.e. against the glass) this is just minor algae, nothing to be concerned about with a proper sandbed crew.



If your salinity was 1.025 before the water change, and your changed it with 1.025 water, then yes, it should be 1.025. Since it is likely your mixed solution was not fully mixed. How are you mixing your salt?



Likely a bacterial bloom, a good thing. It happens on new tanks, especially ones like yours that have not fully completed the initial cycle.



Quite simply, your initial cycle is not fully established. Fortunately, unlike freshwater, nitrites are not terribly toxic to marine life. I would refrain from adding anything else to the tank until you get 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites for several days.

As for the nitrates, wait until the above statement is true, then address the nitrate issues. With a small tank like this you should have some macro algae as well as regular water changes.

Good deal on algae, that guy will be eating good
We buy our saltwater from our local fish store in 5g containers. This bloom has only recently sprung up. We’ve had clear water and great readings until recently. Been as careful as we could be. We ran the tank for two months with live rock and live sand and waited for growth on the live rock before gradually adding friends...tank is about 8 months old now. From what I understand, the Nitrites will turn into Nitrates and everything evens out and works together. The high Nitrites are what’s worrying me as well...

 

[scott11106]

i think everyone is on point with the tank not complete with cycle even though it has been quite a while, maybe started a new cycle with the new rock. my question is a bit more specified on the mandrin's, what are you feeding them? i presume you do not have established colony of pods for them to eat but you said they are eating pods? they are very picky eaters and i was wondering as i want to add some but seeded my tank with pods a month ago but figured i should wait for my tank to stabilize and reseed with pods so they can settle and replicate..

do you have a sump ?

 

[ae87]

Just an example:

This was taken on May 7th when we introduced our new live rock and our male Mandarin to our female. See how clear it was? That’s how it’s been until now...

See note in photo: we accidentally poked an Anemone tentacle upon introducing the new rock...she’s back to being big and fluffy now

 

[Jesterrace]

As mentioned a healthy tank should not have nitrites as they are toxic to fish. I would dose my tank with Seachem Prime in the meantime to at least make it non-toxic. You will still have it but at least it won't be poisoning your tank while you do have them. Also, I would ditch the API kit and go with the likes of Red Sea or Salifert since API can give the occasional false positive for ammonia and is inaccurate for nitrates. Here is a vid explaining the shortcomings:

 

[ae87]

i think everyone is on point with the tank not complete with cycle even though it has been quite a while, maybe started a new cycle with the new rock. my question is a bit more specified on the mandrin's, what are you feeding them? i presume you do not have established colony of pods for them to eat but you said they are eating pods? they are very picky eaters and i was wondering as i want to add some but seeded my tank with pods a month ago but figured i should wait for my tank to stabilize and reseed with pods so they can settle and replicate..

do you have a sump ?

To the contrary lol I FOR SURE wanted a pretty Mandarin and we waited for pods to appear as well. We are plentiful in pods and have never had to buy any to add, as I’ve read throughout this journey.

I feed the tank a rotation of mysis shrimp, saltwater multi pack and formula one slow dissolve cubes. Both the Mandarin will eat on all of them, but go GAGA over the green cube from the multi pack-Emerald Entree. Seriously will swim up to get this one.

Sump?...like a protein skimmer? We do not. Just the Fluval 306.

 

[ae87]

You have gotten some good advice so far. However nitrite is toxic to fish and inverts. That is why you snail is struggling to survive.

I was afraid of that. Going to look into the product suggested to take away the poisoning aspect...

 

[Twisted_Blenny]

my concerns like everyone else stated nitrites and the mandarin. the tank looks very new to have an established amount of pods. but you say they are eating frozen so that is a plus. i would still keep a close eye on them.

 

[OriginalUserName]

It sounds like you added fish a little bit too fast. You don't have a ton of rock so that means there isn't as much space for bacteria as their might be otherwise. People are concerned about the mandarin because it takes a huge tank worth of pods to keep them fed. If they are eating frozen food they may be ok. I've had similar fish that ate frozen and still starved after my pod population crashed.

+1 on the prime, even a little bit of ammonia can be very toxic. Keep testing and keep up on water changes until things stabilize. With no sump and no protein skimmer you will need to really work the water changes IMO.

 

[laverda]

You do not have much rock in your tank, so the 2 you added are a large portion of your total. I don't think the rocks you added were fully cured. Because of that they are causing your tank to go through a mini cycle. You could: 1.remove the rocks and cycle them separately. 2.keep doing water changes until your nitrite is zero again assuming the new water is not the problem. 3.Use one of the additives to help remove amonia and nitrite.

It is possible the water change caused some issue's. Possibly Chlorimine braking down to amonia and than nitrite.

 

[ae87]

You do not have much rock in your tank, so the 2 you added are a large portion of your total. I don't think the rocks you added were fully cured. Because of that they are causing your tank to go through a mini cycle. You could: 1.remove the rocks and cycle them separately. 2.keep doing water changes until your nitrite is zero again assuming the new water is not the problem. 3.Use one of the additives to help remove amonia and nitrite.

It is possible the water change caused some issue's. Possibly Chlorimine braking down to amonia and than nitrite.

The more information I take in the more this makes sense. Nitrites are almost 0, ammonia is down, ph is at 7.8...really would like to see it around 8-8.2, but one thing at a time...nitrates are almost leveled out as well.

Levels seem to be adjusting accordingly- Nitrites were spiked and as they lowered saw a bit of a rise in Nitrates, but those don’t worry me. More tells me the tank is doing what it’s suppose to.

Literally had perfect water readings until the new live rock. (Testing from time to time just to ensure nothing is sneaking up on me)[emoji851] Paid a little extra for some cured ones, 100% possibility of what you’re saying though.

I had no idea this was a thing until now. -Have also been reading about the effects of adding dry rock[emoji33]-which I’d also never heard of.

Definitely an interesting journey. Going to keep monitoring the tank life and levels.

Thank you all for your input!!!