JasonNewToThis
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Here's my situation:
About three months ago I set up my first saltwater tank exactly as they told me at my LFS as follows:
30 gal. long tank
Ehein 2213 canister filter
150-watt heater
fluorescent lighting that came with the hood
thin CC bottom
about 6 lbs. LR
(4) damsels
De-chlorinated tap water
During the first two months, the nitrate level went up slightly and then back down to <0.3. brought a water sample to the LFS who told me that the tank had cycled (during this time 2 of the damsels died - water in the tank got too warm I think because it was hot outside - after that i made sure i left the AC on in the house!). i returned the damsels, purchased another 4 lbs. of live rock and 30 lbs. base rock (now have a total of 10 lbs. live rock and 30 lbs. base rock), three snails and a yellow tang. i also performed a gravel cleaning and 7 gallon water change. about a week after all this, i checked the nitrates and they were around 3.0. i freaked out and went immediately to the LFS. they told me that the tank had never really cycled and it was now going thru that process and not to touch anything. during the last three weeks the nitrates have gone up to a very high level (i have been bringing a sample to the LFS once a week). as of this morning the nitrate levels are stilloff the chart and the tang is just about dead. What do I do? the LFS said that if the fish dies i need to drain the tank and start over. is this the case? should i replace the CC bottom with a DSB? If so how deep and what kind of sand? Can the tank finish cycling without draining it? If so, how do I go about that process? Please help me with options. Thank you very much for your help. i really want to have nice tank and thought i would if i followed my LFS exact directions. i have done that and it obviously isn't working.
About three months ago I set up my first saltwater tank exactly as they told me at my LFS as follows:
30 gal. long tank
Ehein 2213 canister filter
150-watt heater
fluorescent lighting that came with the hood
thin CC bottom
about 6 lbs. LR
(4) damsels
De-chlorinated tap water
During the first two months, the nitrate level went up slightly and then back down to <0.3. brought a water sample to the LFS who told me that the tank had cycled (during this time 2 of the damsels died - water in the tank got too warm I think because it was hot outside - after that i made sure i left the AC on in the house!). i returned the damsels, purchased another 4 lbs. of live rock and 30 lbs. base rock (now have a total of 10 lbs. live rock and 30 lbs. base rock), three snails and a yellow tang. i also performed a gravel cleaning and 7 gallon water change. about a week after all this, i checked the nitrates and they were around 3.0. i freaked out and went immediately to the LFS. they told me that the tank had never really cycled and it was now going thru that process and not to touch anything. during the last three weeks the nitrates have gone up to a very high level (i have been bringing a sample to the LFS once a week). as of this morning the nitrate levels are stilloff the chart and the tang is just about dead. What do I do? the LFS said that if the fish dies i need to drain the tank and start over. is this the case? should i replace the CC bottom with a DSB? If so how deep and what kind of sand? Can the tank finish cycling without draining it? If so, how do I go about that process? Please help me with options. Thank you very much for your help. i really want to have nice tank and thought i would if i followed my LFS exact directions. i have done that and it obviously isn't working.