BOTLFED
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I've been a FW guy for about 10 years and recently turned my 160 gal into a SW. Started this on Nov 26th. Id like to know if I got some bad advise or is something wrong with my tank.
Took a sample into the store (Jan2nd) I frequent and he tells me my nitrates are too high and to change 20%, wait 24 hours and come back with a sample again. Do that and nitrates still too high. I go to another popular store and he tests for nitrites. He said those were high and not to put anything in the tank till those drop. He also told me a 20 % change and to open the canister filters and change the carbon plus see if anything is wrong. Its been a week since Ive done this and the nitrites are exactly the same.
The first place told me 12 damsels would be fine for cycling, but I knew and still think hes full of it. The 2nd store told me 32 damsels!!!! I dont know which store to listen to or who to believe. They both knew the date I set up my tank, and they both knew they were testing the water to see if the water was ok to introduce fish. Should I just start all over or did I just set the cycle back a few weeks???
BTW, I started with 12 damsels. 4 died in 2 weeks. Bought 4 more and 1 died today.
Took a sample into the store (Jan2nd) I frequent and he tells me my nitrates are too high and to change 20%, wait 24 hours and come back with a sample again. Do that and nitrates still too high. I go to another popular store and he tests for nitrites. He said those were high and not to put anything in the tank till those drop. He also told me a 20 % change and to open the canister filters and change the carbon plus see if anything is wrong. Its been a week since Ive done this and the nitrites are exactly the same.
The first place told me 12 damsels would be fine for cycling, but I knew and still think hes full of it. The 2nd store told me 32 damsels!!!! I dont know which store to listen to or who to believe. They both knew the date I set up my tank, and they both knew they were testing the water to see if the water was ok to introduce fish. Should I just start all over or did I just set the cycle back a few weeks???
BTW, I started with 12 damsels. 4 died in 2 weeks. Bought 4 more and 1 died today.