Total Failure

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Fox

Phew that was a lot of information to go through but I believe I have the answers to all.

To start I would like to clarify a few things. Whenever I have bought fish I have always asked for the advice of the LFS and let them know the history of the tank, I always bring in a water sample and I let them know whats in the tank.

I would also like to clarify that it wasn't a manderine goby I had in there, (thats on my future wish list) its was a dragon goby...the guy who eats the sand and spits it out through his lungs...or did before he died...He is still in the tank somewhere...do I need to rip it apart to find him or will my cleaner shrimp make short work or him if they haven't already?

The tank is 33 gal, no sump with a protien skimmer, in tank fluval, T5 HO lights and a power head. I started the tank on Dec 29th and waiting 9 weeks before I and my LFS (Big Al's) was satisfied that it was cycled.

Anytime a fish was added I dripped them for about an hour...maybe a bit longer using some rubber tubing and a chip clip.

I am using Red Sea marine lab test kit and the quick dip 6 in 1 test strips.
My test results as of tonight are Alk 120-180, pH 7.0-7.4 (hard to tell), Salinity :1.022 Nitrites :0 Nitrates :0 and the one that of course caused the problem I am sure Ammonia : 1.0...

After seeing the ammonia test I did a 10-15% water change...hopefully not too much. I have been doing weekly water changes along with the freshwater tank every weekend...

I hope I answered everything...maybe the one thing I am missing is how often I am testing and what I am testing for...maybe I would have seen this coming. The odd thing is that all my inverts, corals and my anemone are doing great...everyone just keeps telling me I got bad fish but those bad fish are costing me good money...I hope I can get this worked it but its just heartbreaking and I just feel so defeated after soo many losses.

I just need hope that I am not a complete failure at this to keep going!

Thanks to all who replied...

Your salinity is low as is your ph...you also add to quickly. Don't listen to big als. Clean your fluval every week. Check your ammonia if it keeps rising the missing fish is probably decaying. You don't mention (or i Missed) a cleanup crew, this is an essential part of a tank as well. Test your own water most lfs use the tests till they run out who knows if they have expired (this is not all LFS, but with big als...well). Remember most ammonia tests rely on a valid ph test as well...ph is a certain level then ammonia toxicity is higher or lower. Save your money, stabilize your tank then try again.

The point in adding fish slowly to a tank is to build up the bacteria you need...which needs ammonia to form..but a tank can only process so much at one time...the bacteria doesn't keep growing and growing...it grows as more ammonia is added...to much the system cannot cope....so you have to think of it like this...every time you add a fish you are essentially doing a little cycle.
also...since you are new...try testing your replacement water for everything you test your tank for...see how everything compares...

[Fox]

Originally Posted by Pan

Your salinity is low as is your ph...you also add to quickly. Don't listen to big als. Clean your fluval every week. Check your ammonia if it keeps rising the missing fish is probably decaying. You don't mention (or i Missed) a cleanup crew, this is an essential part of a tank as well.

Is t suggested that I tear the tank up in order to find and remove the goby??

I will start cleaning the fluval weekly with the water changes...I do have a CUC in there consisting over small burrowing snails, big (I think Turbo) snails and some little hermit crabs...they are all doing fine.

Originally Posted by Pan

Test your own water most lfs use the tests till they run out who knows if they have expired (this is not all LFS, but with big als...well).

I do test my own...lately I have been needing replacement fish and so I doubt my test results and want a second opinion...

Originally Posted by Pan

Remember most ammonia tests rely on a valid ph test as well...ph is a certain level then ammonia toxicity is higher or lower. Save your money, stabilize your tank then try again.

The point in adding fish slowly to a tank is to build up the bacteria you need...which needs ammonia to form..but a tank can only process so much at one time...the bacteria doesn't keep growing and growing...it grows as more ammonia is added...to much the system cannot cope....so you have to think of it like this...every time you add a fish you are essentially doing a little cycle.
also...since you are new...try testing your replacement water for everything you test your tank for...see how everything compares...

Thanks!