Fish Dieing??? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

[fletch]

Originally Posted by amcarrig

I don't know that I'd recommend more water changes? If water changes have been performed regularly on a new tank, it's probable that the initial cycle was stalled and that the tank still needs to complete its full cycle which will not happen if more water changes are done at this time.

I Agree

[Covey]

If you don't get the ammonia under control it will kill the clean up crew as well. Your tank has not cycled let. Until the ammonia and nitrite cycled don't add anymore livestock to your tank. More live rock or live sand if you can get it is your best option. Get more live rock and don't add anymore livestock for 2 weeks.

[fletch]

I would also like to add that IMO I don't believe that there is a problem with copper in your tank, If there were then the invertebrates would be the first to die not the fish.... JMO John

[Birdlady]

Originally Posted by fletch

I would also like to add that IMO I don't believe that there is a problem with copper in your tank, If there were then the invertebrates would be the first to die not the fish.... JMO John

True. Good Point.

The bottom line is, nature will take care of itself, you just need to give it time to catch up. Don't panic, and don't rush. Personally, I don't add anything extra to cycle my tank. Hold off on the additional water changes, don't add anymore livestock until your numbers come in line. Don't rely on your LFS to guide you , in an of itself. Get a good book, Mike Paletta has a nice , inexpensive , beginner book The New Marine Aquarium....it is very good. Understand what is going on in your tank.

The nitrogen cycle is the basis for all else that occurs in your tank. If you don't have a full and complete cycle, you will continue to have problems. Short short version,
Fish poop----->ammonia------>nitrite-------->nitrate------>nitrogen gas (bubbles up and out of the system)

You will get there, don't worry! We have all been where you are now! It's all good!

[Speedy]

I would strongly recommend that you setup your wet/dry ASAP. Take advantage of the ammonia in your water now, to help seed the w/d. The 28 lbs of lr don't have enough surface area to stock the bacteria you need for that size tank.

I would setup the wet/dry. Make sure the return pump and overflow provide enough flow for your tank.

I'd give the W/d about a month to stock, 2 months if you want to be sure.

I would return whatever fish you have in the tank right now. Damsels are the only ones that are known to handle the torture of the Cycle. But it's kinda torture. If after removing the fish your ammonia disappears and you want to make sure you stocked the bioballs with bacteria, you can use a little bit of urine (I know it's pretty nasty but it's old school and it works) to spike the ammonia in your tank. Then run tests on it to make sure the ammonia drops accordingly.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HOBBY READ THIS:
This hobby REQUIRES alot of patience. It is a virtue that this hobby will help you achieve and improve. Starting a tank takes a lot of time, if not done correctly you will suffer loss of investments and loss of time, not to mention that it will make the process longer. For example, all those fish that died in your tank probably contributed to other problems in your tank, that having been introduced into a better older and more stable environment, they probably wouldn't have died.

About the investment, this hobby is expensive. If you have money, it still matters think that when a $50 fish dies, it's $50 you could have invested in making your tank a better living environment, or $50 you could have waited and invested in a fish that would have flourished beautifully in the tank.

BTW, you HAVE to, HAVE TO, MUST do research BEFORE you buy ANY livestock. If you would've asked about the blue tangs in this forum you probably would've heard that they tend to be very weak and almost always get ICK. You would've also heard that your tank was probably too young to be housing such delicate fish. Would've saved you a bundle of money having asked first.

You have to be patient. When I cycle my tanks I throw a blanket over them(figuritively speaking), I forget they are there, except for the top-off water. I don't do anything else to them for a period of time (2 months, is my choice). I only turn the lights on for a couple of hours a day (for the coralline) and while I'm at work so I won't even be tempted to do anything to it. Then after the 2 months, I do the the first water test, I do a water change, and I add carbon. IF, (<- big IF) EVERYTHING checks out then I consider a first inhabitant. Lately I have chosen hearty corals to be my first inhabitants, polyps (1 month) then shrooms (2 weeks) if the shrooms make it past the 2nd week, I consider it safe to start adding livestock CAREFULLY and with at least 3 weeks between each addition.

It takes time and requires patience, but there is not a single beautiful tank that didn't require them both when starting out, and even after established and fully stocked they still require patience.

[Big Wally B]

Just my simple opinion, but I'd find a new LFS. Even for a fish only tank you may not have sufficient life support equipment and your parameters cannot be "good". Do as BirdLady said and get yourself a decent test kit (<$30). Put a damsel in to continue cycling the tank, and then you can add fish if/as your tests approve/improve. I don't think with what you have, your parameters will ever be "good". I'd elaborate but I gotta run.

Remember, in saltwater Speed Kills

[redviper748]

So whenever my test come out correct, what should be the first thing that I should put in my tank?

I heard there are other fish besides damsels that you can use to cycle your tank that are cooler looking. Is there anything?

Thanks everyone for all your help. I really appriciate it.

[Speedy]

Pssst Viper.... no fish is cool looking if it's dead. Catch my drift.

Wait it out. Read the above message. Do that stuff first, then after a couple of months when the tank is stable, do some research and buy a fish.

Meanwhile, consider that anything you put in there will most probably die, and delay the process further.

[redviper748]

Is there anything else that I need to put in my tank to make sure that it will cycle properly?

[kb.bear]

Top off water