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View Full Version : Water Quality on New Tank *** HELP ***


Matthew Riley
02-18-2007, 05:55 AM
I need some help with a water quality issue. I'll try to give as much information as possible here.
I have 60 gallon salt system, started 5 weeks ago. This is going to be a reef tank. It is my 5th tank and I've learned over the years to take my time, so everything has been introduced slowly. The tank has reached it's cycle end and all the water parameters are stable. I have a chiller keeping temp at 79F. Lighting is not an issue at this point as there are no animals in the system that need it.
Here's the problem. I have introduced 10 hermits, 10 snails and 4 Chromis fish. They were dead within 24 hours. I let a week pass, had a local aquarium store test my water again and all parameters were stable. Added 10 hermits and 4 chromis's again and the fish were dead in less than 24 hours. Hermits are still alive at this point. I have a grounding wire in the tank to handle any leaking powerheads. I use my own r/o water maker and the filters were replaced just prior to starting to add the initial water. I'm totaly at a loss as to why the water isn't able to support the animals....any help would be appreciated.

tjigger
02-22-2007, 10:03 PM
What was the Am reading?

If the tank is only 5 weeks old it isn't cycled, and Green Chromis are not as hardy as other damsels and need a more stable tank.

The hermits will cycle the tank. It will just take longer.

Dazedman00
03-04-2007, 09:49 AM
Sounds like what happened to me about 5 months ago. I set up my tank and let it sit with about 35-40 lbs of live rock and 2 hermits. I then bought a few damsles. I thought my tank had finished cycling at about 8 weeks. All of my tests where good and the water was stable. At the end of my 9th week I added about 40 lbs more "Cured" live rock to my tank. I clean my rock in a 5 gal bucket and is the same water that is in my tank. I am assuming by me adding the live rock I sparked the tank to cycle and lost all of my fish. I did 4 water changes over 4 weeks and then checked my water and wall was good. My tank has been crystal clear ever since and my new live stock has flurished ever since. Here are some pictures (http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f95/Zallatin/Fish%20Tank/) if you wish to check my tank out.