Please anyone water problems

Hello, I am having trouble with water, everything is high, nitrates, ammonia etc. I have a 125 gallon that I set up as fresh to get the tank cycled, then switched over to salt. I used mollies to cycle it and they are still in it and doing fine, I also got a true perc and 2 maroon clowns about 30lbs lr and 60lbs sand/crushed coral arogonite. My true perc won't eat now and the water tested bad. I tested it and had my lfs test it also, the only thing in good order is the ph. I have since changed about 60 gallons of water and cleaned the filters, and nothing has changed, I don't know what to do. Please any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh and the tank has been set up for about 2 months.

 

It sounds like you are in the midst of a big cycle. Posting some number would be helpful, there is a sticky with suggestions as for what would help us to help you.

When was your last water change? To try and save the fish you may find some success with daily 15 to 20 % water changes until your numbers are "not so high"...(I'm thinking that the fish start eating again)...

Then back off on the water changes to 5-10% daily to every few days till you get through the cycling.

Good luck.

 

Fresh water and saltwater bacterias are not the same, you cannot cycle one way then switch.
You will go through a full blown cycle so I would return any fish and inhabitants you have and ride it out until its safe to put them back in. Cycling with fish, even mollies is and old and somewhat cruel method of starting a new system.
Grab a cup or two of real live sand from a friends saltwater system and give the cycle a jump start.

Doing water changes during a cycle prolongs the process since you are basically removing the foods (ammonia and nitrites) the bacteria need to replicate and colonize.

 

Ok well here are the numbers I got on the test, the phosphates are at .5, ammonia .50, nitrates tested off the card, nitrites 5.0 and ph is at 8.2. My last water change was yesterday and I changed 35 gallons.

 

Agreed, yet the water change may be the only way to save the fish...

 

a 125 gallon tank with only 30 lbs of rock will not colonize enough bacteria to handle the bio load of your fish. you need at least 1 lb. of rock per 1 gallon of water. return fish from where you got them and get more rock (doesn't have to be live rock). since you already have ammonia, don't do any water changes and just wait for your tank to cycle. when your ammonia and nitrites have returned to zero, you can add 1 fish. each time you add a fish you will get a small cycle (because the bacteria will multiply to handle just the ammonia that is available). after your ammonia reads zero again you can add another fish. you have to be patient and go slow ( thats just the way this saltwater stuff is, because nothing good happens fast). it actually took my tank 4 months to cycle

 

do you have a QT tank??

you need to either do that or take the fish back to the LFS. or they will die.

you don't need to return them, just ask the lfs to hold them up for you until your water problem solves.
agreed with the above, IMO you cant start fresh and then go to salt because of the above said(AZdesertrat)

 

no I sure don't have a qt yet, I wish I did. Well my perc died last night, but all other fish seem fine. I will be taking them to a friend who has a well established tank for the time being. Once my tank is ready I will be getting them one at a time to make sure the bio filter will be able to support them. I will also be getting a few bags of live sand and more lr also. I knew I didn't have enough but was going to add more as time went on until I had enough. I do appreciate all the help and advice. I didn't know the bacteria was different but now it does make sense. I will be posting more and trying to read and learn more so I won't lose anymore fish.