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RE: Help Pls..

Iman — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:12:21 GMT

Thank you for the kind reply, Hailey.

The Ammonia@0ppm(mg/L), Nirtrite@0ppm, Nitrite@5.0ppm(mg/L). Salinity@1.024.

Current stock: 02 blue yellow tail damsels, 01 tube worm, 01 Orange Plate Coral (Short Tentacle).

Water changes once a week at around 20%.

When adding new fish, i drained off all the water from the bag and put them in a container (plastic container with holes around) that hands on top of the aquarium. After a day, then i allow them to be mixed into the aquarium and remove the container.

RE: Help Pls..

Hailey — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:54:07 GMT

It seems to me that you are adding fish way too fast. A tank that young probably shouldn't have any fish in it for at least a month if not more, and it should be a month minimum in between adding new fish. New saltwater tanks are incredibly unstable (as shown by the dropping pH) and need to be treated extremely carefully.

Also, you seem to be trying to add too many fish, and fish that are too large. A coral beauty is a pretty big for fish a 20g even without any other fish...it should probably be alone in that tank if you decide to get one, but personally I wouldn't keep one in under a 30g. And even if the fish are smaller like most damsels and clowns, you can really only fit two or three tops. You have to stock saltwater tanks very lightly because of the need for pristine water and the aggression level of the fish. You can stretch it a bit in a truly mature tank (over one year old, and closer to two is better), but not in a brand new tank.

I have some questions I need answered to help you further. You said your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are "ideal", but what are they in numbers? Also, what is your salinity/specific gravity? And what exactly is your current stocking list (please include any invertebrates)? How often are you doing water changes, and how much have you changed each time? And when you add new fish, how do you acclimate them (please be specific and describe the process)?

Help Pls..

Iman — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:17:51 GMT

Recently, I have came into saltwater tank keeping again after quitting it 10 years ago.

My present tank is only 20 Gal and it has been 3 weeks and 4days old. I have added a pair of clown fish two weeks ago but they died a day later. Last Monday, i have added a Coral beauty Angel, it survived till yesterday and i suspected it died of suffocation (the grills were wide open). Currently, only two damsel fishes are left and they are breathing at a very fast pace though eating well just like the Coral Beauty Angel.

i have bought the test kit but to my surprise, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all ideal except the ph is at 8.0. I have added PH plus to increase it then.

Should i recycle the tank and start all over again or i should just let it be? I can't add fishes anymore as whatever fishes added in will start to breath heavily and died of suffocation eventually.

Your professional advise please.