Failed once, afraid I might be doing it again

[mdvaldosta]

37G tank, 1 small live rock (I think, probably dead now), gravel bed, filter on the back of the tank, no heater (72*).

Set the tank up with correct salinity and tap water treated with stress coat. Ran for 24 hours like the pet shop said and added a fish a week until I had 3 fish (clown, damsel, yellow tang). Then added one of those colorful slugs. Realized I had a problem when the slug died after 2 days. Pet store guy advised to do a partial water change and not feed the fish for a few days and all will be fine.

Looked up some info on the net, went and got a test kit and found the Ammonia level above 8ppm and Nitrites and Nitrates off the charts. The PH was fine. Did 20% water changes every day for a week and ammonia got down to .25ppm but nitrites and nitrates remained off the charts.

The Damsel died a few days later, out of the blue and I noticed the other two fish had ick (I think), they had some white dots sticking to them and began loosing pigmentation. Panicked and did 3 50% water changes over the next 3 days. Ended up loosing all the fish. I

t was a sad day indeed, I was attached to the fish. I cleaned out the tank completely because I was worried about the ick eggs and started fresh. Ran the tank for a week and added 1 damsel. Once again I can't get the ammonia down or the nitrates and nitrites. The fish still looks ok but I'm worried about him.

What I don't understand is how can the ammonia be so high when I've only fed the fish 3 flakes the whole week and he's by himself in a 37 gallon tank. I've been adding ammo lock and bio start as per instructions on the bottle. I've tested my tap water and it's only got .25ppm of Ammonia.

I'm confused, I thought I was intelligent but apparently not.

[Hara]

Please read the following article on the cycling process:
http://testing.aquariumadvice.com/ar...q=2&fldAuto=15

The ammonia is killing things and will continue to do so until your tank is properly cycled. That is a small tank with virtually no biological filtration established.

[mdvaldosta]

Well ****, I wish the LFS told me that... I feel bad for the Damsel now.

[Devilishturtles]

Get yourself a heater and much more LR.

37G tank, 1 small live rock (I think, probably dead now), gravel bed, filter on the back of the tank, no heater (72*).

Gravel? That will do nothing but cause you nitrate problems down the road. IMHO, you'd be much better off with a sand bed.

[demodiki]

Or even without a sandbed...just get rid of the gravel.

[vsnsofadrgn]

get more lr (1-1.5 lbs per gal, if no skimmer, 2 lbs per gal), then fully cycle tank, ammonia and nitrite to 0, then do 50% water change, then add fish SLOWLY. lfs just wnats the sale, so be sure to get on AA for advice.