Cycling Fish are Dead

steviep1982 · 04-24-2006, 12:44 PM

I set up my tank, I used Bio-Balls instead of sand. I am running a 55 gallon. My Hydrometer gave me a good reading, I heated the tank to 78, I ran all my tests on the test kit witht he water, everything was within levels before starting. I setup the tank on the 14, and let it run until the 17 without fish. On the 18th, I added two blue damsels, the damsels were find until yesterday, when both died, What should I do now, I had no idea that I could cycle without fish, but now that I am start...what should I do. I can give you water level readings within an hour, if that will help. I was trying to do this the right way, and I guess I screwed up, it's getting pretty discouraging.

thanks,

Steve

Electric Monk · 04-24-2006, 01:37 PM

Easy to follow guide here:

http://www.algone.com/fishless_cycling.htm

leveldrummer · 04-24-2006, 01:44 PM

did you acclimate the damsels before putting them in the tank, transfer shock can kill fish very easily. also, get the readings. we might be able to help tell you were you went wrong.

steviep1982 · 04-24-2006, 02:39 PM

Yes, I let the bags float for about half an hour, they were fine for three or four days and were swimming normally, then they stopped eating and stopped being very active, and died, I will give you levels in a little bit.

**Fishfirst** · 04-24-2006, 03:04 PM

sounds like ammonia posioning to me... naturally this is during the cycling process, which you probably were experiancing. The bioballs are not a sand replacement... they are a filtration method that is used in a wet/dry filtration unit. I'd recommend a book first, "the new marine aquarium" by Mike Patella, or "The conscientious marine aquarist" by bob fenner. Also reading about cycling a tank and my article how to setup a tank would help.

fishfingers · 04-24-2006, 11:40 PM

I agree, sounds like some type of poisening from amonnia or nitrite spikes. Seeing as you don't seem to know what actually happens in a cycle I suggest you to a bit of reading, and in the meantime cycle with LR.

steviep1982 · 04-25-2006, 08:29 AM

I don't mean taht I used the Rubber bio balls as a substrate, I used sphere like little rocks, some type of thing instead of sand, the girl said it was easier to keep clean. I don't mean that I put the rubber bio balls in there.

**Fishfirst** · 04-25-2006, 09:08 AM

sorry for the miscommunication

sphere like rocks? lemmie guess, crushed coral? or something else? if you could get a pic that would be easiest

**TheOldSalt** · 04-25-2006, 12:00 PM

You probably fed them too much, running up the ammonia too high for even damsels to withstand.

Wait a week while the tank cycles a bit, and then see how things stand after another test.

steviep1982 · 04-26-2006, 12:25 PM

Here are my levels, i bought some pure amonia, my nitrate levels are already measurable, so i'm going to ad 12 drops of amonia a day, until everything is back to zero, does that sound ok? That's two drops per gallon on my 55 gallon tank.

High Range PH 8.0
Amonia .50
NO2 0
NO3 10

Is this ok. What should I do now?

04-24-2006, 12:44 PM	#1
steviep1982 Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 User Feedback: (0)	Cycling Fish are Dead I set up my tank, I used Bio-Balls instead of sand. I am running a 55 gallon. My Hydrometer gave me a good reading, I heated the tank to 78, I ran all my tests on the test kit witht he water, everything was within levels before starting. I setup the tank on the 14, and let it run until the 17 without fish. On the 18th, I added two blue damsels, the damsels were find until yesterday, when both died, What should I do now, I had no idea that I could cycle without fish, but now that I am start...what should I do. I can give you water level readings within an hour, if that will help. I was trying to do this the right way, and I guess I screwed up, it's getting pretty discouraging. thanks, Steve

04-24-2006, 01:37 PM	#2
Electric Monk Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 77 User Feedback: (0)	Easy to follow guide here: http://www.algone.com/fishless_cycling.htm __________________ Cleaner shrimp.....Aquarium mafia 2xCleaner shrimp ('Da boys) 2xPeppermint shrimp 1xTropical lobster 1xGold Chromis 1xBanggai Cardinal 1xSix line Wrasse 2xScooters 1xLawnmower 1xRoyal Grammer 1xCoral Beauty Angel 1xCopperband Butterfly 1xClown fish 1xSand sifting starfish 1xWhite, green, yellow, red and button polyp Green Mushroom going triffid on me 1xLeather Coral (and 2 babies) 1xAtlantic anemone 2xMithraculus crab Snails and crabs everywhere!!!!

04-24-2006, 01:44 PM	#3
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933 User Feedback: (1)	did you acclimate the damsels before putting them in the tank, transfer shock can kill fish very easily. also, get the readings. we might be able to help tell you were you went wrong. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

04-24-2006, 03:04 PM	#5
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,501 User Feedback: (1)	sounds like ammonia posioning to me... naturally this is during the cycling process, which you probably were experiancing. The bioballs are not a sand replacement... they are a filtration method that is used in a wet/dry filtration unit. I'd recommend a book first, "the new marine aquarium" by Mike Patella, or "The conscientious marine aquarist" by bob fenner. Also reading about cycling a tank and my article how to setup a tank would help. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

04-25-2006, 08:29 AM	#7
steviep1982 Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 User Feedback: (0)	Not those bio balls I don't mean taht I used the Rubber bio balls as a substrate, I used sphere like little rocks, some type of thing instead of sand, the girl said it was easier to keep clean. I don't mean that I put the rubber bio balls in there.

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04-24-2006, 02:39 PM	#4
steviep1982 Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 User Feedback: (0)	Yes, I let the bags float for about half an hour, they were fine for three or four days and were swimming normally, then they stopped eating and stopped being very active, and died, I will give you levels in a little bit.

04-24-2006, 11:40 PM	#6
fishfingers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia Age: 18 Posts: 129 User Feedback: (0)	I agree, sounds like some type of poisening from amonnia or nitrite spikes. Seeing as you don't seem to know what actually happens in a cycle I suggest you to a bit of reading, and in the meantime cycle with LR.

04-25-2006, 09:08 AM	#8
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,501 User Feedback: (1)	sorry for the miscommunication sphere like rocks? lemmie guess, crushed coral? or something else? if you could get a pic that would be easiest __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

04-25-2006, 12:00 PM	#9
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,234 User Feedback: (6)	You probably fed them too much, running up the ammonia too high for even damsels to withstand. Wait a week while the tank cycles a bit, and then see how things stand after another test.

04-26-2006, 12:25 PM	#10
steviep1982 Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 User Feedback: (0)	Here are my levels, i bought some pure amonia, my nitrate levels are already measurable, so i'm going to ad 12 drops of amonia a day, until everything is back to zero, does that sound ok? That's two drops per gallon on my 55 gallon tank. High Range PH 8.0 Amonia .50 NO2 0 NO3 10 Is this ok. What should I do now?

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