Another newbie here

[lindsaylaw]

Hi! I am new to the (saltwater)hobby. I have a 70g corner tank. I have live sand and a sump. I am having lots of problems getting the Berlin skimmer to work - I might throw it out soon! My tank has been set up for 13 days. Ammonia is zero and nitrite is climbing. I have 2 clowns as starter fish but one is not looking very healthy right now and I may lose him . I have been lurking finding out great information from this board.

[neilanh]

Welcome to AA!

[Zagz]

Welcome to AA! I'd love to see a picture.

[lindsaylaw]

Well one clown has died. The nitrite level was likely too high. I did another partial water change just now and will test again once the waters have mixed a bit more. I am a bit disappointed but not discouraged. I am just going to learn from this mistake. I hope the other clown makes it. If not, I will wait to see the nitrite level stay zero for several days before adding another fish.
BTW I have set up a Berlin system with a plenum and a deep sand bed. I am using live sand, base rock and a bit of live rock.
Also, I solved my problems with the Berlin skimmer - turns out I hooked it up wrong!

[melosu58]

Welcome aboard. Post your questions on the SW forums for more people to see.

[roka64]

Welcome to the site!
Check out my sig block to learn about the fishless cycle and lots of other great info.

[SWFanAtiC69]

You really would of been alot better off to DO a fishless cycle. And also avoid putting ur clowns through all that stress that they are going through. You could of dropped a raw piece of jumbo shrimp in there and would of been fine, and not killed anything.

WELCOME ABOARD!!

[cmor1701d]

I also wouldn't run the skimmer till the cycle was over and you do a large (30% - 50%) partial water change. Please read the SW articles on this forum (Roka64 has the link in his sig). There's a lot of good information there. And....