Hello All-
In the beginning of September 2012 I purchased a 150 gal tank with a 40 gal sump. When I was a teenager my dad and I did some freshwater and saltwater aquariums (only up to 55), but this is my first time doing the experience on my own. I decided I wanted to go with a larger tank and in the long-run as a reef tank. During the month of September I added my substrate and dry/live rock. I went with roughly 175 lbs of dry rock to seed with roughly 50 lbs of what was considered "highly cultivated" live rock. In addition, I went with about a 1 inch bedding of substrate on the bottom. At this time I was using purple up and Seachem buffer for ph. I also installed my own RO/DI water system and prepared my water for first time and exchanges; in addition was running my protein skimmer.
I waited roughly nine weeks with continued testing and finally purchased 5 yellow tail damsels to test out the tank. At this time my water was 76 F, 1.024 salinity, 8.3 ph, no traces of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. In addition, I never noticed really any activity with ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate to determine that a cycled had occurred. I acclimated the damsels over a 1.5 hour period by doing the following: dip bag into tank for 30 min, exchanged 1 cup water bag with 1 cup of tank water, wait 15 minutes, repeated those steps for 4 exchanges, then netted them from the bag into the tank. Within 24 hours all five of the damsels were dead and I was severely taken back by this because I thought I was doing everything correctly and slowly. This also took some of my energy from the aquarium, but I decided to give it more time and continue testing.
Now comes this week, the tank has now been running for four months without any livestock. The parameters are the same as before: 76 F, 1.024 salinity, 8.3 ph, no traces of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. I thought to myself the aquarium should be good to go for at least a few fish. I went to the local store and picked up three False Percula Clownfish. I had the owner feed them in his tank, and they viciously ate and were very active. I did the same acclimation process as I did with the damsels. It has now been roughly 30 hours and one of the clownfish has already passed. In addition, the other two seem to be breathing heavily and very lethargic with their movements (leaning on rock/bottom, not swimming around as they did when first in the tank). This worries me because the one that passed was acting in the same fashion as the other two. I am very disappointed with what I have put these fish through, but I really have no idea what I have done wrong.
Does anyone have any recommendations about what steps I should take? Anything would be appreciated. I have included pictures of the tank and some of the growth it has on the rocks.
Thanks,
James
In the beginning of September 2012 I purchased a 150 gal tank with a 40 gal sump. When I was a teenager my dad and I did some freshwater and saltwater aquariums (only up to 55), but this is my first time doing the experience on my own. I decided I wanted to go with a larger tank and in the long-run as a reef tank. During the month of September I added my substrate and dry/live rock. I went with roughly 175 lbs of dry rock to seed with roughly 50 lbs of what was considered "highly cultivated" live rock. In addition, I went with about a 1 inch bedding of substrate on the bottom. At this time I was using purple up and Seachem buffer for ph. I also installed my own RO/DI water system and prepared my water for first time and exchanges; in addition was running my protein skimmer.
I waited roughly nine weeks with continued testing and finally purchased 5 yellow tail damsels to test out the tank. At this time my water was 76 F, 1.024 salinity, 8.3 ph, no traces of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. In addition, I never noticed really any activity with ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate to determine that a cycled had occurred. I acclimated the damsels over a 1.5 hour period by doing the following: dip bag into tank for 30 min, exchanged 1 cup water bag with 1 cup of tank water, wait 15 minutes, repeated those steps for 4 exchanges, then netted them from the bag into the tank. Within 24 hours all five of the damsels were dead and I was severely taken back by this because I thought I was doing everything correctly and slowly. This also took some of my energy from the aquarium, but I decided to give it more time and continue testing.
Now comes this week, the tank has now been running for four months without any livestock. The parameters are the same as before: 76 F, 1.024 salinity, 8.3 ph, no traces of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. I thought to myself the aquarium should be good to go for at least a few fish. I went to the local store and picked up three False Percula Clownfish. I had the owner feed them in his tank, and they viciously ate and were very active. I did the same acclimation process as I did with the damsels. It has now been roughly 30 hours and one of the clownfish has already passed. In addition, the other two seem to be breathing heavily and very lethargic with their movements (leaning on rock/bottom, not swimming around as they did when first in the tank). This worries me because the one that passed was acting in the same fashion as the other two. I am very disappointed with what I have put these fish through, but I really have no idea what I have done wrong.
Does anyone have any recommendations about what steps I should take? Anything would be appreciated. I have included pictures of the tank and some of the growth it has on the rocks.
Thanks,
James
