What the heck am I doing wrong?!?!

[High tide]

Originally Posted by Fox

Hehe ya my wife got all excited when she heard vodka would help and wanted to take a trip to the ocean...lol

I have had my LFS test my water 3 weeks ago and came up with the same results I was getting...they recommended I wait another 2 weeks as that would put it at the 7 week mark...

I am using a T5 HO light...I have done one small water change (about 10%) after I went to my LFS and they thought it might help.

The only inhabitant is a small hermit crab which hitchhiked his way in with some live rock rubble I picked up 3 weeks ago to give the bottom some character. Other than that just a few very small cheap and free hardy corals I couldn't pass up (green star polyp, candy cane, duncan and zoa...all doing very well).

My skimmer is producing foam and did within a day of putting it on. I empty it about every 2 days and it has maybe 1/2 -1 ounce of material in it...

Someone suggested putting a couple of mollies in...is that wise when the ammonia is not reading 0? I am going to hit my LFS and check out the Cycle stuff that was mentioned as well...

Cheers

That's hilarious! Seriously though, vodka dosing should only be done if your over 19 and with friends!

Where did you get your sand? Are you feeding the tank anything? There must be a reason your cycle is taking so long.

I wouldn't bother with mollies for several reasons...take my word for it. I wouldn't bother with cycle either.

The tank will cycle, give it time and try to figure out the cause.... and then you'll find the answer.

[Fox]

Earlier someone suggested putting in a piece of shrimp so I had done that but I don't recall how long ago. I am also feeding my Duncan and Candy cane corals frozen mysis shrimp.

The sand I picked up on boxing day from Big Al's...its live sand, crushed arrogate or whatever its called.

[Diana]

It could be a case of you adding too much food waste to the tank for it to handle at such an early stage (even though you do have a lot of live rock), this could be the case especially if you are not using another mechanical filter other than the skimmer. The decaying shrimp could be giving you the ammonia reading.

I would suggest stop feeding the tank..... The corals do not NEED food, feeding them aids in growth but honestly I would wait until your tank is aged a big longer before you start feeding corals, especially meaty foods like mysis.

The hermit crab in there will find enough food off the rock.

Stop all feeding for now, and do a few small water changes (5%) over the next few days to a week, and see if the ammonia reading goes down.


-Diana

[High tide]

The piece of shrimp probably spiked the ammonia again and feeding those corals is extending it. Stop feeding until your levels have dropped and then feed sparingly after it's completely cycled.

[Fox]

Great advice! I knew I had to be doing something to be causing it!

Thanks!!!

[High tide]

Anytime!!

[Fox]

Good news...My tank is finally cycled and I put my clean up crew in on Friday...I lost 1 snail within 24 hours but everything else I put in is doing well...so far...Crossing fingers!!!

[High tide]

Right on, good news! Just remember to take it easy on the feeding and remove anything dead(snail). Happy reefing!