Someone please help

[cashy86]

Hey all I have started a new tank about 2 months ago but I can't get my ammonia or nitrite under 0.25ppm I do water changes daily I am adding seachem stability and prime daily as instructed by my fish guy. It's a aquaone mini reef 215 setup. Can anyone suggest anything that will help or what im doing wrong. I have lost over $500 worth of fish already.

Cheers

Michael

 

[Naso180!]

For starters welcome!!

 

[blaxsun]

Welcome. What do you have for rock in your tank, filtration, etc.

 

[saltyfins]

Welcome! what tests are you using? did you cycle the tank, and if so, what did you use?

 

[Naso180!]

Did you use any LR or LS to start this tank? If u still have ammonia and nitrite, you have to let the tank finish cycling. Stop changing water and let your bacteria levels, both nitrosomonas and nitrobacter get established. These are the bacteria responsible for converting ammonia into nitrite and ultimately less harmful nitrate. You really don't want to add livestock till your ammonia and nitrite are zero. Ideally with your nitrate less than 20ppm. Otherwise you're just going to be frustrated and killing animals needlessly. Also you don't need to keep adding prime and stability daily. The two products remove ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in different ways. Seachem Prime actually does not remove any of the three nitrogen compounds at all. Seachem Stability offers a more direct approach. The product contains bacteria that will activated when added to your aquarium.

 

[Supa]

2 months in and cycle is stuck…. Can someone tag Brandon426 I think… he has best cycle info

 

[malacoda]

Before you do anything else, let us know what test kit are you using.

If it's the API kit, it will never show a reading of 0, the lowest they actually go is 0.25 on both ammonia and NO3.

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R!

Slow down on the fish and get the tank cycled first. @brandon429 we need your help on a stuck cycle.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[G Santana]

First, welcome to R2R
Second, please provide as much information on your system as you can in order that folks can give you sound advice.
Without that, it's just a stream of suggestions flying at you.
The advice here is gold, take advantage of it.

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome! I agree with @Naso110. Do you have rock and sand the bacteria can develop on? If so, just let it run its course. Don't change any water or add any additives. Once ammonia/Nitrites come and go then start where changes to remove Nitrates.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hey all I have started a new tank about 2 months ago but I can't get my ammonia or nitrite under 0.25ppm I do water changes daily I am adding seachem stability and prime daily as instructed by my fish guy. It's a aquaone mini reef 215 setup. Can anyone suggest anything that will help or what im doing wrong. I have lost over $500 worth of fish already.

Cheers

Michael

Hi Michael and Welcome

Sorry for your losses. There is already good information here in this thread.

This is a good reference book article if you haven't found it already. Once your cycle is done, then likely there is more fun (uglies) in store, so at least this will mentally prepare you for what is standard when setting up new tank.

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

Agree there are good discussions about some test kits not reaching zero, so you MAY be chasing false data. You mention of prime makes me suspect you are treating tap water - IF so then perhaps there are other nasties not treatable in your tap (think Flint Michigan) and therefore suggest RO/DI water to make salt, esp if wanting corals.

Good luck! This hobby tests all our BBAs - Bounce Back Abilities - good for life, good for tank. Hang in there and just take it slow

 

[cashy86]

Welcome. What do you have for rock in your tank, filtration, etc.

I have a sump with a filter sock that's as much as I can tell you about the filtration. I have a decent amount of live rocks.

 

[Little c big D]

I have a sump with a filter sock that's as much as I can tell you about the filtration. I have a decent amount of live rocks.

Pictures would help.

 

[Supa]

If you read brandon429 cycle articles you will be able to overcome this easily. Lots of info in there maybe someone can attach the article. I’m too new to figure out how to @And tag stuff lol

 

[cashy86]

Before you do anything else, let us know what test kit are you using.

If it's the API kit, it will never show a reading of 0, the lowest they actually go is 0.25 on both ammonia and NO3.

Funny you say that I am using the API test kit. It's showing 0 on nitrate but 0.25 on ammonia and nitrite.

 

[cashy86]

Lol

If you read brandon429 cycle articles you will be able to overcome this easily. Lots of info in there maybe someone can attach the article. I’m too new to figure out how to @And tag stuff lol

Thanks for that I will see what I can find

 

[cashy86]

Hi Michael and Welcome

Sorry for your losses. There is already good information here in this thread.

This is a good reference book article if you haven't found it already. Once your cycle is done, then likely there is more fun (uglies) in store, so at least this will mentally prepare you for what is standard when setting up new tank.

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

Agree there are good discussions about some test kits not reaching zero, so you MAY be chasing false data. You mention of prime makes me suspect you are treating tap water - IF so then perhaps there are other nasties not treatable in your tap (think Flint Michigan) and therefore suggest RO/DI water to make salt, esp if wanting corals.

Good luck! This hobby tests all our BBAs - Bounce Back Abilities - good for life, good for tank. Hang in there and just take it slow

I brought a ro/di system was taking ages to make my water so just brought a booster pump its much faster now lol flooded my garage yeah I think I have been to eager. My fish guy said what I added people usually add in a couple of months. Slow down Michael lol

 

[blaxsun]

If you have a LFS, maybe get them to double-check your water parameters (including pH and alkalinity).

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Funny you say that I am using the API test kit. It's showing 0 on nitrate but 0.25 on ammonia and nitrite.

Your daily water changes may be the cause for 0 nitrates. Wondering if there was a time you had measurable nitrates (like, before you added fish other than perhaps a single tough cycling fish - if live fish cycling was your method to start ammonia>nitrite>nitrate)

Wondering how fish acted and looked leading up to and at death. This can be a helpful post so you can help people help you:

Some Helpful Hints When Posting or Responding to Threads in the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Section

Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

www.reef2reef.com