Fish dying.

This is really distressing! Tank is 1 month old. Put in 2 Perc Clowns to start the cycle and monitored it, water was always consistent at Nitrite 0.05; Ammonia 0.25; Nitrate 10.This held steady for 3 weeks so we added an Auriga Butterflyfish (about 2") and 2 days later the Nitrite climbed to 0.2.

We did a partial water change as the fish were showing signs of stess, this brought the Nitrite down to 0.05. The next morning it was back up to 0.1 so we did another partial water change (20% again) Nitrite back to 0.05.

The next morning the Butterfly and 1 of the clowns were dead, they showed no sign of stress the night before. Nitrite still at 0.05 and other readings the same as always.

We gave this a few days and monitored water, no change so we bought 2 black Cardinal fish to continue with cycling the tank. This morning, 2 days later, they are both dead and the only change is Nitrite back up to 0.1. Nitrate still 10 and Ammonia still 0.25.

We have been using a product called Cycle. I did not think a Nitrite level of 0.1 was enough to kill fish and we still have 1 of the original Clowns who is doing well.

What happened? What can you recommend?

Thanks!

 

What happened is you have been adding fish too quickly. I suggest taking them all out and letting the tank finish cycling. 3 or 4 weeks. Then start adding fish slowly. Max of 1 per week.

 

I would not use Cycle, I think you can get false testing results. Stop using it and let your tank complete its cycle naturally with your live rock. Goodluck! Let us know how its going..

 

Cycle without fish? Without fish how can it cycle? Is the LR enough? Thank you for any suggestions on how I should proceed.

 

Yes that's why live rock is called live. It has organisms on it that create ammonia to spark the cycle. Also you can get a cocktail shrimp from the grocery store and let it rot in the tank water. That will more or less create the same effect as far as waste goes as a fish would.

Cycling without fish is actually a really common method.

 

your nitrogen cycle isn't done until you have no nitrite or ammonia. if you have live rock your nitrates should also have a drop. im not really gonna go more in depth because for Fish only the nitrogen part is the most important.

its probably taking a while because you have more base rock then live rock the base must become live over time. i don't particulary consider the cycling additives very effective in fresh water even less in salt

 

adding fish too fast You want your nitrate to be as low as possible mine is 0.00

 

Thanks everyone.

 

OK, now I am very unpset! I lost my last Clown last night, it did not show any signs of stress either.

My parameters are;
PH 8.2
Temp 76.2
SG 1.023
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 0.1
Nitrate 20

Are they bad enough to kill fish?
Or, is something else going on?

Thanks for your help!

 

Yes, having ammonia and nitrite in your water is enough to kill fish. Let your tank cycle until you test 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, then your nitrogen cycle is complete. However, even then your tank isn't really cycled until it has established for a couple months. If you keep adding fish at a rapid pace after it tests 0 nitrite 0 ammonia it will not be ready for a larger bioload. You can add one fish, then wait a few weeks. Then another fish, then wait again. You need to slow down. Nothing quickly happens in this hobby except death and accidents.