What the heck am I doing wrong?!?!

[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!