Urgent! Need help/Cycling with fish

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

I have been shadowing the forums and have learned a lot so today I have come to ask for help by experienced or anybody that can help.
I had planned to start a FOWLR aquarium later to convert to Reef and I mention this to my long time girlfriend. She was excited with the idea and for my birthday she decides to surprise me with my very own tank, filter and fishes. My first reaction was impressed then my second reaction was how you get every set-up. Lattering learning she just went to petco and bought everything that same day. I was furious because I am just learning about cycling and aquarium equipment so I rush to my local petco purchase Seachem Stability and Seachem Prime and start trying to cycle with this. The worst part she bought so expensive fish that were on my list of fishes to add. I have recorded every test result I have taken I'll take pictures of aquarium after I am able to post them. Please help I am a little lost.

Test results: using API saltwater master test kit

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1395395841.166351.jpg

March 17, 2014 2:28 PM
High Range pH 8.4
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) 0.5-1.0ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) 0ppm
Nitrate(NO3-) 0ppm

March 18, 2014 10:52 AM
High Range pH 8.0
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) 0.25-0.50ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) 0ppm
WNitrate(NO3-) 5ppm

March 19, 2014 8:05 PM
Salinity (32) PPT
Specific Gravity (1.024)
High Range pH (8.4)
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) (0.5)ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) (0)ppm
Nitrate(NO3-) (5)ppm

March 20, 2014 11:19AM
Salinity (33) PPT
Specific Gravity (1.0245)
High Range pH (8.2)
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) (0.50)ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) (0)ppm
Nitrate(NO3-) (5.0)ppm

March 20, 2014 9:00 PM
Salinity (32) PPT
Specific Gravity (1.024)
High Range pH (8.2)
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) (0.5)ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) (0)ppm
Nitrate(NO3-) (5.0)ppm

March 20, 2014 11:20 PM
Salinity () PPT
Specific Gravity ()
High Range pH (8.2)
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) (0.25)ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) (0)ppm
Nitrate(NO3-) (5.0)ppm

March 21, 2014 2:40 AM
Salinity () PPT
Specific Gravity ()
High Range pH (8.4)
Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) (0.25-0.50)ppm
Nitrite(NO2-) (0)ppm
Nitrate(NO3-) (5.0)ppm

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

List of inhabitants
Amphiprion ocellarius
Mithraculus sculptus 2x
Chromosome viridis 4x~>3x
Turbo fluctuosa 2x
Duncanopsammia axifuga
Lysmata wurdemanni
Nassarius arcularius 8x
Pterapogon kauderni
Condylactis gigantea 2x
Paracanthurus hepatus

DragKnee · Mar 21, 2014

You have like river rocks in there .. not recommended at all. You should buy at least some dry rock (check out bulkreefsupply.com or marcorocks for example) and get a few pieces of live rock to seed it.

You want porous rock for beneficial bacteria and living organisms to thrive in.

Looks like you only have a single clown in there ... definitely wouldn't add any more fish, and the fact that you are reading ammonia means you're poisoning the fish.

You've basically gone about this all wrong, and I understand it's not your fault since your girlfriend got this stuff for you ... but you should've went back to Petco and returned the fish. To get a good biological system going, you're going to want the right rock, but the right rock needs to be cycled first as well (usually lots of dead organics in dry rock). I know Petco has a 2 week policy for dead fish, I don't know if they'd take live fish back, but I'd recommend starting this endeavor all over .. and do it right.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

I tried to returned the fish they said they couldn't they done have a guarantee for saltwater fish only freshwater. So I will purchase more live rock tomorrow and get ride of the smooth rock.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

I am stuck with the fish I have a clown, three green chromis, blue hippo tang, and idk what the other fish is. 8 mass around snails two turbo snail peppermint shrimp and two emerald crabs.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

*nassarious

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

Anything else to try to cycle with fish?

DragKnee · Mar 21, 2014

Also I see you have an airstone. Can't say I've ever seen someone use an airstone in a marine tank.

Your filter should break the water at the surface, and then I recommend getting like a powerhead inside the tank. (Say a WP10, WP25 for example on the lower cost end). I'd recommend a HOB Skimmer since your tank isn't an RR tank like the AquaMaxx HOB-1.

I can also tell you that tank is too small for a blue hippo. They grow fast, and the recommended minimum tank size is a 180g.

You can dose stuff like Brightwell Microbacter7 to help the cycle, but you've kinda hurt yourself where you're basically starting at the end result and trying to work your way back to the beginning. Do you have any real local fish stores that sell marine fish/corals/rock? I avoid Petco, and I would definitely recommend avoiding Petco if you are new to the hobby. At least everyone who I have spoken to who works there thinks they know what they're talking about ... but I always leave with my head spinning.

I'd recommend finding a "real" fish store around you and talking to them. Get some actual live rock & dry rock from them and go from there.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

I have the power head at the left side can't really see it with heater.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

For skimmer I have the lees protein skimmer a very low end got at petco for a quick fix until I look at better protein skimmer and sumps.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

Girlfriend got it

DragKnee · Mar 21, 2014

Alright that's good you have a powerhead, I'd get rid of the air stone.

I edited my post above so read that again.

Oh, and most local fish stores that specialize in marine fish will usually take them in for store credit/money which is another viable option for you.

I hate using HOB filters for saltwater tanks ... did it with a couple of them, made things very difficult for me and ended up going with a HOB Overflow into a sump till I got a Reef Ready tank. Maybe I'm pushing you a bit far here, but I always have the idea of getting it done right the first time, so down the road when you do get things established, you're not disappointed with what you have.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

Thank you for responding I am going search the web I am sure Los Angeles should have a fish store around

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

I will inquire about there services maybe a rental spot or something if store credit is not available.

McAllyn · Mar 21, 2014

Where did the water come from?

At this point, you're at the mercy of the snake-oils, Bio-Spira comes to mind, for one. Those "fish-safe" in 24 hours type materials. They are horrible to use, but unless you can find a local fish store or you have a friend with an established tank that can re-home your fish temporarily, those critters are in trouble.

If you can get your hands on a carbon reactor, that will help maintain some semblance of water quality.

Mac

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

The water came from tap water and she used instant ocean marine conditioner. I don't recall having any friends with aquariums. I will visit a local fish store I looked on yelp and it seems to have shown me a few. I will be in the mercy of them fish oils then.

If i get more live rock can I be able to start a cycle? Or at least save a few fish?

Daniel@R2R · Mar 21, 2014

That was a cool gesture by a very supportive girlfriend...it's unfortunate that she didn't know about the biochemistry involved. You've received some good advice here though, and I'm sure you'll pull through the situation. Trying to find someone who'll take care of the fish for you for now is a good option. Another option would be to setup a quarantine tank for them. That's something that won't need to be cycled per se (though you would need seeded filter media from someone else's tank) and will serve you in the long run. One of the best practices you can have is to quarantine all new acquisitions. Good luck! Welcome to the hobby! Sounds like you're going through the "trial by fire" method.

Orbela · Mar 21, 2014

Can you explain the quarantine tank? a bit please and thank you.

Daniel@R2R · Mar 21, 2014

A few other guys have already written some much better explanations than I can give, so I'll link a few of their write-ups here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152882

Another good "how-to" write-up. You can skip the seeding time if you can find someone with filter media that's already been seeded...this allows you to add the fish to the qt system immediately. Also, a light on your qt is optional.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153265