Saltwater test level— need help.

[Arod0416]

No prob. Tons of info on this forum. Search tank cycling. Yes, bacteria will grow. I would feed sparingly and make sure you keep the water oxygenated.

I got some advices about oxygen in this reef2reef community. They told me I should face my powerhead up to the surface and by doing so, it will create like a wave which gives out oxygen.

 

[Arod0416]

That is a large bioload for a new tank. Depending on the rock you started with, you probably didn’t cycle the tank when you had it up for months. You need to add ammonia to start the cycle.

I would say you have two options.

#1 The best practice would be to return the fish and cycle with pure ammonia. “Dr.Tims ammonia” is best for beginners. Also add a bottle of Dr.Tims Bacteria. After the tank is cycled, add stock SLOWLY. Read up on “Fishless cycling” to know when the tank is ready for fish.

#2 (not recommended for sake of the fish) Keep the fish and preform daily water changes to keep ammonia low. At some point your tank may be able to handle the bioload. But honestly thats a lot of fish. You may get by with keeping one or two and still doing water changes to keep ammonia safe.

About 8 months ago, my saltwater tank shut down. That tank I had running for 3 years but, slowly fishes were dying like twice a year. But before they were dying I had 11 fishes in my tank, about 8 months ago I was left with 5 fishes. With my job, it became hard to maintain the fishes. At that point my nitrate and nitrite were high. So, I donated my fishes and took down the tank.

I kept all the rocks, and gave me them a good wash and read how to wash live rock properly. after that, I started my tank from scratch. New filter and everything. I even scrubbed my tank down.
The new tank only had the previous live rocks and saltwater and sand. All the test levels were 0 but p.h was 8.2.

then finally, that’s when I added the first new fishes two days ago which gave me ammonia at 0.25 and nitrate at 40 ppm.

 

[Arod0416]

Can I just add the dr. Tims ammonia and bacteria and keep my fishes in there? While doing the partial water change. Or is that too much for them?

 

[Lizbeli]

Can I just add the dr. Tims ammonia and bacteria and keep my fishes in there? While doing the partial water change. Or is that too much for them?

You can always try. As long as you keep testing your water and keep ammonia low. You could even get one of those ammonia badges and put that in the tank. Fish health should come first, so don’t feel bad if you find that you need to return a few of them to make ammonia more manageable.

GL

 

[Lizbeli]

Also, I had a lot of luck with Instand Oceans Bio-Spira. Processes ammonia quickly. I used a few bottles when I “cooked” my rock in bins.

 

[krash7172]

I wouldn't add any ammonia. The fish will produce more than you want. Also, keep an eye on ph. When waste builds up in a tank, ph can drop causing "new tank syndrom". Then you would probably have to return the fish to survive.

 

[Lizbeli]

+1. Thought they said Dr Tims BACTERIA. Dont add ammonia. You already have that coming from fish

 

[Arod0416]

You can always try. As long as you keep testing your water and keep ammonia low. You could even get one of those ammonia badges and put that in the tank. Fish health should come first, so don’t feel bad if you find that you need to return a few of them to make ammonia more manageable.

GL

Thank you so much for your help. Right now my ammonia is at 0.25 ppm. So, I am going to do the partial water changes until my dr. Tims come in the mail. But, what I don’t get is that when I watched videos or had few friends that been in the reef game for so many years did it the way I did. Which is, running the tank with no fish or anything and dumping fishes in. While others set the tank up the same day and added fishes that same day.

 

[Arod0416]

I wouldn't add any ammonia. The fish will produce more than you want. Also, keep an eye on ph. When waste builds up in a tank, ph can drop causing "new tank syndrom". Then you would probably have to return the fish to survive.

So, I should add dr.tims bacteria? Also, I am waiting for my UV sterilizer to come in the mail.

 

[Lizbeli]

Thank you so much for your help. Right now my ammonia is at 0.25 ppm. So, I am going to do the partial water changes until my dr. Tims come in the mail. But, what I don’t get is that when I watched videos or had few friends that been in the reef game for so many years did it the way I did. Which is, running the tank with no fish or anything and dumping fishes in. While others set the tank up the same day and added fishes that same day.

You got Dr. Tims One and Only? This is the product.

 

[Arod0416]

+1. Thought they said Dr Tims BACTERIA. Dont add ammonia. You already have that coming from fish

So, I should buy dr tims bacteria? And try to manually lower the ammonia through the water changes?

 

[Arod0416]

You got Dr. Tims One and Only? This is the product.

No, I do not. I should order this right and follow the directions???

 

[Lizbeli]

You do NOT need Dr. Tims Ammonia. You just need the Nitrifying Bacteria product. If you keep the fish that is. Fish poop= ammonia

 

[Duncan Tse]

Did you add any source of ammonia in that 5 months that your tank was restarted? Guessing you are going through a cycle right now because your tank's bacteria is not able to handle the bioload. How are your fish doing tho? Any signs of heavy breathing or dead fish?

 

[Arod0416]

You do NOT need Dr. Tims Ammonia. You just need the Nitrifying Bacteria product. If you keep the fish that is. Fish poop= ammonia

You are right. So, I’ll get the dr tims one and only product.

 

[Lizbeli]

If I were you...

I would remove all fish and read up on how to do a fishless cycle.

But if you are adamant on keeping your fish, add the Nitrifying Bacteria product. Keep an eye on ammonia and do water changes daily to keep it low.

 

[Arod0416]

Did you add any source of ammonia in that 5 months that your tank was restarted? Guessing you are going through a cycle right now because your tank's bacteria is not able to handle the bioload. How are your fish doing tho? Any signs of heavy breathing or dead fish?

No, just the cleaned live rocks from my previous tank that I had for 3 years. Salt water and sand. My fishes are actually doing great. Swimming around and eating. They are actually very active. I have chromis, a yellow tang, goby and 2 clown fishes.

 

[Arod0416]

If I were you...

I would remove all fish and read up on how to do a fishless cycle.

But if you are adamant on keeping your fish, add the Nitrifying Bacteria product. Keep an eye on ammonia and do water changes daily to keep it low.

My LFS is about 2 hours away. I don’t think I am going to get rid of my fishes because I already bought $200 worth of fishes. So, I’ll just keep doing daily water changes and get the nitrifying product.

 

[Duncan Tse]

My LFS is about 2 hours away. I don’t think I am going to get rid of my fishes because I already bought $200 worth of fishes. So, I’ll just keep doing daily water changes and get the nitrifying product.

Daily water changes. Monitor ammonia daily. Follow the instructions on your bacteria bottle and just hope that the cycle will not last long. Also I would hold off on feeding right now so you are not increasing your ammonia levels.

 

[krash7172]

May sound a bit harsh but leave the chromis in if you return the others. I cycled my 180 with Chromis. Cheap.