Problems

[InfernoST]

Keep an eye out on your QT's parameters as it may go through another cycle.

[CaptainAhab]

You need the powerhead, a heater and an ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive. Could be as easy as a raw shrimp (or portion there of), fish food or pure ammonia.

[bobothefish]

was the trash can used to cure ever used for trash?

[AdamHorton]

Hi everybody, I'm back from vacation...

We only lost one damsel while I was gone, so there are five left. They are all doing very well. I took measurements yesterday and here they are:

Ammonia: 2.5 ppm
Nitrite: 10 ppm
Nitrate: 8 ppm

...so this means that my display tank never actually cycled, though it probably cycled somewhat. The cause of everything isn't known, but I think the right thing to do is pretty clear at this point: start completely over.

This means I get the opportunity to change a lot of things, though. This time I want to cycle the tank using live rock. I already have 100 lbs that I'm trying to keep sort of live in a trash can (BTW, none of the trash cans I use for LR have ever been used for trash) that I'll use to seed about 150 lbs more. I don't know if there's anything else I should provide, other than good water circulation.

I've drained the tank except for a bunch of wet sand in the bottom. What's the best way to clean it so that I know nothing bad is still in there from whatever happened to the tank before? I'm assuming vinegar or bleach for the inside of the display tank?