Water testing

[smeggys]

hey,

Posting here as I’m pretty new to saltwater. A little background on my tank:

Set up end of August 24. Fluval flex 57 with hydra ai 26hd light no skimmer yet, added 3x hermit crabs, after 1.5 months parameters were looking pretty good and stable, so I got 2 clownfish, starfish and cleaner shrimp and a spotted mandarin (I know that was a super bad idea now so please don’t judge me, he was fed as I added copepods daily)

Everyone was doing amazing up until 2/3 weeks ago when got more live rock (I didn’t like how little I had to start with, and the hermits were knocking them over) so I got more, used d&d putty to glue all the rock together (used the whole thing) and the tank went very cloudy and the whole tank crashed. Both my clownfish died, goby died, and cleaner shrimp died. The oxygen levels depleted and then the parameters started going bad. It’s like maybe it’s going through a new cycle? I have now added a bubble magnus mini skimmer and I’m now having “the ugly stage”. Due to my partner feeling bad for me he has bough me 2 new clowns (not really the right time but they are here now), and I bought 3 turbo snails to help with Algae. So current stock is :

- 2x small common clowns
- 3x turbo snails
- 2x blue legged hermit crabs
- 1x sea serpent star
- 1x zoa frag (1 large head and one new baby one (only had one when I bought it!))
- 1x pulsing Xenia frag
- 2x polyps frags

these are my parameters that I tested today:

Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrate - 25
Nitrite - 0
Ph - 8.1
Kh - 9
Calcium - 410
Magnesium - 1560
Phosphate - 0.5
SG - 0.024
Temp - 25.6

Water change was done 2 days ago (30%)

Any way I can improve this? Or is it just water changes and waiting?

Thank you!

(Ps, just turned up the white to show a better photo)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What are you using to test parameters in your tank?

 

[smeggys]

What are you using to test parameters in your tank?

Salifert:
Nitrate
Phosphate
Ph

Red Sea:
Calcium
Kh
Magnesium

API:
Ammonia
Also have sachem alert which reads 0

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don't think you need to investigate or wonder about it. The reef putty did it. Exactly as you said, it lower oxygen level and kills the fish. You can google it, or even search this forum, unfortunately it happens a lot. Its very important to oxygenate the water when using that stuff. I'm sorry that happened to your fish

 

[smeggys]

I don't think you need to investigate or wonder about it. The reef putty did it. Exactly as you said, it lower oxygen level and kills the fish. You can google it, or even search this forum, unfortunately it happens a lot. Its very important to oxygenate the water when using that stuff. I'm sorry that happened to your fish

Thank you, I did some research into it and I posted to a reefing group on Facebook and got ripped into as I had a goby and people were trying to say that he did it when he died, which I don’t believe happened would you say that it’s just going through a new cycle?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

lol people here are generally friendlier.

No, the tank won't and can't cycle again.

Do you have a skimmer? A skimmer is the best way to remove the 'stuff' in the water from the putty curing.

if no skimmer, then perform a few water changes and run some activated carbon to leach up some of the 'stuff'.

Let the water get filtered for a day or two and when you feel good about the water, you're good to add fish again. There is nothing wrong with your tank, its just an unfortunate one-time accident, and now you know how to avoid it. Good luck

 

[smeggys]

lol people here are generally friendlier.

No, the tank won't and can't cycle again.

Do you have a skimmer? A skimmer is the best way to remove the 'stuff' in the water from the putty curing.

if no skimmer, then perform a few water changes and run some activated carbon to leach up some of the 'stuff'.

Let the water get filtered for a day or two and when you feel good about the water, you're good to add fish again. There is nothing wrong with your tank, its just an unfortunate one-time accident, and now you know how to avoid it. Good luck

Yes I have bought a skimmer now, a bubble Magnus nano skimmer (rated up to 70l) have done a massive 70% water change when it happened and been doing 10-30% every week since. The fish now seem to be doing great and corals are looking great and growing nicely, just lots of algae as you can see in the photo. It’s just the parameters since that happening have been not so great.

 

[smeggys]

lol people here are generally friendlier.

No, the tank won't and can't cycle again.

Do you have a skimmer? A skimmer is the best way to remove the 'stuff' in the water from the putty curing.

if no skimmer, then perform a few water changes and run some activated carbon to leach up some of the 'stuff'.

Let the water get filtered for a day or two and when you feel good about the water, you're good to add fish again. There is nothing wrong with your tank, it’s just an unfortunate one-time accident, and now you know how to avoid it. Good luck

So glad people are friendlier here, I got a bit defensive on the fb group as people were so rude! Like I’m happy to take advice and I think no questions are stupid to ask, just want my tank to be as successful as possible!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Yes I have bought a skimmer now, a bubble Magnus nano skimmer (rated up to 70l) have done a massive 70% water change when it happened and been doing 10-30% every week since. The fish now seem to be doing great and corals are looking great and growing nicely, just lots of algae as you can see in the photo. It’s just the parameters since that happening have been not so great.

The algae looks like new tank algae to me. The first 6 months to a year is called "the ugly period". Increase the number of snails as the algae increases.

Do some research on building the tank biomme, or watch brs video on tank biomme. This will help your tank mature and have enough good bacteria and micro organisms to help fight off algae naturally.

 

[smeggys]

The algae looks like new tank algae to me. The first 6 months to a year is called "the ugly period". Increase the number of snails as the algae increases.

Do some research on building the tank biomme, or watch brs video on tank biomme. This will help your tank mature and have enough good bacteria and micro organisms to help fight off algae naturally.

Thank you! I have 3x turbo snails but thinking about getting 3 “zombie” snails, as well as a cleaner shrimp, I have added live copepods but I think they have been eaten, I will look into tank biomme, any good YouTube vids about it you would recommend?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

This is a good one, and a good intro

 

[smeggys]

This is a good one, and a good intro

Thank you so much for you help!!