AIKakashi
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I'd rather ask a stupid question than it turn into a bad situation for my fish.
I have a 29 gallon saltwater tank for my smaller fish. (my 70 gallon tank is now doing fine.)
Before I put the 2 chromis damsels and the clownfish I have in there now, here's how it started.
I have a 30 gallon filtration system in the tank, the brand name is a "Shuruba power filter".
the Nitrates and Nitrites tested 0, no harmful amonia, the ph was at 8.4, the alkalinity was at 180 and the salinity was at 1.024. (Based on my hydrometer), the temp is set at 78 degrees, everything was looking really good. so after letting it run for about a month, I added two blue/green Chromis and my smallest clown from my previous tank. (they're still eating well and seem to not be too stressed considering the below.)
I test the water frequently, I missed yesterday so I tested the water today and it says the nitrates are at 20 (which the kit says is 'ok' and the nitrites are at 3.0 which is stress, and my salinity dropped to 1.023
I called the aquatics store saltwater specialist right away and he says it sounds like over feeding. (Which could be because I found out when my brother comes to visit he looks at the fish and dabs some food in there even though I've already fed them.) not to mention I was told to feed them 2x a day, and put as much food as they could eat in 30 seconds.
So he told me that its most likely over feeding.
this is the advice he gave me, and I want to know if its sound advice.
1. He told me to cut the feedings back to every other day until the nitrites go down.
2. he said I could do a water change, but it may be of no help because Nitrites come from over feeding and while I'll take out a small amount of Nitrite and nitrate from water changes, it will also take out some of the good bacteria. probably more so than leaving it alone and cutting the feeding down to everyother day for now.
does this sound like good advice, or should I do a 2 gallon water change maybe... and someone mentioned there is a product called Aqua Star.
the description for this product is
Aqua Star should be used when setting up a new aquarium and with every water change.
Aqua Star acts fast. Within Minutes, it neutralizes chlorine, chloramine,
toxic ammonia and heavy metals, making tap water safe for fish. Adds protective Slime coating.
Aqua Star can also be used to reduce dangerous ammonia levels in established aquariums or when transporting fish.
Neutralizes 5ppm chlorine, 2ppm chloramine, 1ppm ammonia.
Directions for use
1ml ( 15 drops ) to 70 litres of water or 1 teaspoon ( 5ml ) to 350 litres of water.
Suitable for both fresh and salt water
so which do you think will help? leaving it alone and cutting the food, or a water change, buying some Aqua Star, and then cut back on the feeding?
I want to do what's less stressful for the fish. The three of them seem to be doing fine, and despite the Nitrite saying "Stress" they are still eating and swimming during the day, and hiding in the plants and under the rock caves I've made at night. So I don't want to upset their balance while things are still looking good with them.
oh also.... someone mentioned I should add a bottom feeder of some sort, like a saltwater crab for example. They'll eat what flakes drops to the bottom. I'm a bit cautious about this one because I haven't read any proof that a bottom feeder helps eat the left over food reducing Nitrites and nitrates.
I have a 29 gallon saltwater tank for my smaller fish. (my 70 gallon tank is now doing fine.)
Before I put the 2 chromis damsels and the clownfish I have in there now, here's how it started.
I have a 30 gallon filtration system in the tank, the brand name is a "Shuruba power filter".
the Nitrates and Nitrites tested 0, no harmful amonia, the ph was at 8.4, the alkalinity was at 180 and the salinity was at 1.024. (Based on my hydrometer), the temp is set at 78 degrees, everything was looking really good. so after letting it run for about a month, I added two blue/green Chromis and my smallest clown from my previous tank. (they're still eating well and seem to not be too stressed considering the below.)
I test the water frequently, I missed yesterday so I tested the water today and it says the nitrates are at 20 (which the kit says is 'ok' and the nitrites are at 3.0 which is stress, and my salinity dropped to 1.023
I called the aquatics store saltwater specialist right away and he says it sounds like over feeding. (Which could be because I found out when my brother comes to visit he looks at the fish and dabs some food in there even though I've already fed them.) not to mention I was told to feed them 2x a day, and put as much food as they could eat in 30 seconds.
So he told me that its most likely over feeding.
this is the advice he gave me, and I want to know if its sound advice.
1. He told me to cut the feedings back to every other day until the nitrites go down.
2. he said I could do a water change, but it may be of no help because Nitrites come from over feeding and while I'll take out a small amount of Nitrite and nitrate from water changes, it will also take out some of the good bacteria. probably more so than leaving it alone and cutting the feeding down to everyother day for now.
does this sound like good advice, or should I do a 2 gallon water change maybe... and someone mentioned there is a product called Aqua Star.
the description for this product is
Aqua Star should be used when setting up a new aquarium and with every water change.
Aqua Star acts fast. Within Minutes, it neutralizes chlorine, chloramine,
toxic ammonia and heavy metals, making tap water safe for fish. Adds protective Slime coating.
Aqua Star can also be used to reduce dangerous ammonia levels in established aquariums or when transporting fish.
Neutralizes 5ppm chlorine, 2ppm chloramine, 1ppm ammonia.
Directions for use
1ml ( 15 drops ) to 70 litres of water or 1 teaspoon ( 5ml ) to 350 litres of water.
Suitable for both fresh and salt water
so which do you think will help? leaving it alone and cutting the food, or a water change, buying some Aqua Star, and then cut back on the feeding?
I want to do what's less stressful for the fish. The three of them seem to be doing fine, and despite the Nitrite saying "Stress" they are still eating and swimming during the day, and hiding in the plants and under the rock caves I've made at night. So I don't want to upset their balance while things are still looking good with them.
oh also.... someone mentioned I should add a bottom feeder of some sort, like a saltwater crab for example. They'll eat what flakes drops to the bottom. I'm a bit cautious about this one because I haven't read any proof that a bottom feeder helps eat the left over food reducing Nitrites and nitrates.