Tank crashing??

[Rmckoy]

That being said, my god I love my Hanna checkers and I am never going back. I test so much more frequently now that I actually believe the results.

It wasn’t too long ago I was
Digging through old boxes and found a ancient test kit .
believe it was fluval ..

Has everything from alk and ph to iron and mag .
No instructions and half were so crusted around the cap they couldn’t be opened

 

[dhnguyen]

First of all I'm just going to point out that being new to the hobby you probably picked quite a challenge for yourself.

Small tanks are extremely difficult to keep stable and should only be done by experts IMO. I would not recommend anything smaller than 40 gallons for beginners. 5 gallon is simply way too small for any fish like a blenny.


Secondly you need a better test kit. Take that API kit to use it as a door stop, that's about what that kit is good for.
Instead of API use Salifert, Red Sea, NyOS, or if you want to spend a bit more get Hanna checkers.

How much of a water change did you do? 20% 50% 100?? Did you know you can kick your tank into a whole new cycle by doing a large water change in that size tank?


Thirdly why buying saltwater from your LFS? Why aren't you mixing your own SW? ON that same thought, what are you topping up the tank with? RO/DI water or tap water?

Last and not least, was your water clear or cloudy when you found the blenny dead? If cloudy then it's mostly the blenny died from suffocation due to lack of O2 from a bacterial bloom.

Got pics of your tank? A pic can tell a hundred things.

 

[Duncan62]

A beginner should know that 2ppm ammonia is highly toxic. Sorry, no excuse for that.
This has nothing to do with common mistakes we've all made.

Hence my advice to the OP to do some reading.

I think he knew it was bad hence the request for help. Use your obvious genius to help him get the ammonia in check. You entire line is condescending. Enjoy yourself. I'm sure you need a friend. Best wishes.

 

[ians pico]

First of all I'm just going to point out that being new to the hobby you probably picked quite a challenge for yourself.

Small tanks are extremely difficult to keep stable and should only be done by experts IMO. I would not recommend anything smaller than 40 gallons for beginners. 5 gallon is simply way too small for any fish like a blenny.


Secondly you need a better test kit. Take that API kit to use it as a door stop, that's about what that kit is good for.
Instead of API use Salifert, Red Sea, NyOS, or if you want to spend a bit more get Hanna checkers.

How much of a water change did you do? 20% 50% 100?? Did you know you can kick your tank into a whole new cycle by doing a large water change in that size tank?


Thirdly why buying saltwater from your LFS? Why aren't you mixing your own SW? ON that same thought, what are you topping up the tank with? RO/DI water or tap water?

Last and not least, was your water clear or cloudy when you found the blenny dead? If cloudy then it's mostly the blenny died from suffocation due to lack of O2 from a bacterial bloom.

Got pics of your tank? A pic can tell a hundred things.

I did a 25% water change, I get the water from my local fish store because it’s a higher end store, and they sell fresh mixed saltwater and RODI water. I don’t have to top off because I have a lid and through the week I don’t have any evaporation at all. No tap water has been introduced to the tank, the water was clear when I found the blenny, no bacteria blooms, no excessive algae, this photo was Thursday, the day before the feeding and water change, two days before the fish death, and original posts photo. No recent daytime photos so everything is closed up, but the only one that’s worrying me is the hammer.

 

[A;exr54]

I’ve been in this hobby for over 30 years.
I personally think keeping a 5g reef tank is much harder then keeping a 125g tank.
Any tiny mistake, any tiny wrong dose - you see it and feel it. If a snail dies - levels spike.
Top off can easily mess with stability in salinity, ph, etc. If you don’t have a ATO set to very low thresholds.
Corals want good parameters to be stable more then anything.
Having good parameters but being jumpy can lead to unhappy tank inhabitants - and possibly death.

Whoever does need to keep a small pico I hope it’s because its what they want - not because it’s possibly easier or cheaper.

It’s very hard.

 

[BrianAnthony]

Best of luck.. I have a 12g and things happen very fast. A 5 gallon would be about 2 times faster than me. Wow.

1 fish dying in a 75 gallon or 150 gallon not a big deal as far as parameter spikes. 1 fish dying in a 5 gallon... Is a big deal.

Don't mind Harry... He must be one of those people who make themselves feel better by talking down to others, then try to cover it up with A politically correct view... Hence the people killing animals comment. I'm sure ole Harr sucks down chicken and beef and then goes and empties his mouse traps. But a fish died... OMG! Blah blah blah...

Anyways... Nano tanks are awesome. They are more difficult for parameter stability and kudos for doing your best and reaching out. If you need any help with it, please reach out to me via the conversation button. I've been through it with my 12 gallon.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’ve been in this hobby for over 30 years.
I personally think keeping a 5g reef tank is much harder then keeping a 125g tank.
Any tiny mistake, any tiny wrong dose - you see it and feel it. If a snail dies - levels spike.
Top off can easily mess with stability in salinity, ph, etc. If you don’t have a ATO set to very low thresholds.
Corals want good parameters to be stable more then anything.
Having good parameters but being jumpy can lead to unhappy tank inhabitants - and possibly death.

Whoever does need to keep a small pico I hope it’s because its what they want - not because it’s possibly easier or cheaper.

It’s very hard.

Agree totally.

I have a Fluval 13.5 gal in the office and a 90 gal display in the lounge, and the Nano is a bunch more work

 

[ians pico]

Best of luck.. I have a 12g and things happen very fast. A 5 gallon would be about 2 times faster than me. Wow.

1 fish dying in a 75 gallon or 150 gallon not a big deal as far as parameter spikes. 1 fish dying in a 5 gallon... Is a big deal.

Don't mind Harry... He must be one of those people who make themselves feel better by talking down to others, then try to cover it up with A politically correct view... Hence the people killing animals comment. I'm sure ole Harr sucks down chicken and beef and then goes and empties his mouse traps. But a fish died... OMG! Blah blah blah...

Anyways... Nano tanks are awesome. They are more difficult for parameter stability and kudos for doing your best and reaching out. If you need any help with it, please reach out to me via the conversation button. I've been through it with my 12 gallon.

Thank you!

 

[BrianAnthony]

Best of luck.. I have a 12g and things happen very fast. A 5 gallon would be about 2 times faster than me. Wow.

1 fish dying in a 75 gallon or 150 gallon not a big deal as far as parameter spikes. 1 fish dying in a 5 gallon... Is a big deal.

Don't mind Harry... He must be one of those people who make themselves feel better by talking down to others, then try to cover it up with A politically correct view... Hence the people killing animals comment. I'm sure ole Harr sucks down chicken and beef and then goes and empties his mouse traps. But a fish died... OMG! Blah blah blah...

Anyways... Nano tanks are awesome. They are more difficult for parameter stability and kudos for doing your best and reaching out. If you need any help with it, please reach out to me via the conversation button. I've been through it with my 12 gallon.