JDigitals 10G "Hawaiian Biotope".

JDigital · #1 11-20-2008, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

Thanks...

Test results.

Elos PH: 8.3
Elos NH3/4: 0
Elos NO3: 0
NO2: No Kit
Salinity 1.026 (refractometer)
Temp: 26-27C

Doesn't look like anything is out of wack.. So I am at a completely loss... neither fish had any ick that I could see. Both were eating well (for what that's worth over the course of 48hrs)...

Elos NO2: 0.00 - 0.02

Pretty hard to tell the difference... but its not above 0.02 (by my eye)

sphelps · #2 11-20-2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

Elos NO2: 0.00 - 0.02

Pretty hard to tell the difference... but its not above 0.02 (by my eye)

Could have dropped back down in the last couple days. I would definitely say that was the issue. Waste wasn't introduced to spike a proper cycle and as a result insufficient bacteria was present when the fish were added and you got a little nitrite spike.

I would try adding some food or better yet some protein skim to the tank and measure your nitrite over the next few days, if it stays at zero you'll be good.

JDigital · #3 11-20-2008, 01:36 AM

Sand was fully Live when added.. and the tank would have had a solid 3 weeks to seed from the sand... Inverts were added end of 3rd week... I think there was enough to build up the proper cycle.

Ah well...

sphelps · #4 11-20-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

Sand was fully Live when added.. and the tank would have had a solid 3 weeks to seed from the sand... Inverts were added end of 3rd week... I think there was enough to build up the proper cycle.

Live sand may help a cycle by supplying some bacteria but it's not enough and a cycle can take up to 6 weeks. You obviously had the right bacteria in there I just don't think enough was built up to support two fish at once. Remember it's a 10 gallon tank, it's the same as adding 10 fish at once to a new 50 gallon. Seems obvious to me what the issue was. Hermit crabs will survive almost anything and they can't supply enough waist to produce the bacteria needed for fish.
Not trying to argue here, just get to the bottom of your issue. I mean what else could it be?

JDigital · #5 11-20-2008, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

Not trying to argue here, just get to the bottom of your issue. I mean what else could it be?

For the clown, I really think it was just the fact that it was crammed between the overflow teeth (I'm guessing all day as the clown was under the overflow when I left at 6am) for a very small specimen, I think it could stress out being stuck like that... The wrasse, is a mystery, I'm GUESSING it got nicked by the anemone (which I admit was an implulse buy) and being such a small fish, couldn't handle the sting...

My testing in the 3rd and 4th weeks showed the cycle, so I know it went thru it, I just never tested again before adding the fish. I realize that todays test of Nitrite read 0.00 to 0.02, but I'm not getting any reading for Nitrates even if the Trites dropped in the past 24 hours...

noirsphynx · #6 11-20-2008, 08:49 PM

I saw a hawaiian strawberry crab today at the lfs. As soon as I saw it I thought of your themed tank. It would look purdy against your black sand.

JDigital · #7 11-21-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noirsphynx

I saw a hawaiian strawberry crab today at the lfs. As soon as I saw it I thought of your themed tank. It would look purdy against your black sand.

I think Red Coral might be getting a Hawaiian shipment in soon. So I will have to pick thru it if it comes.