The fact that you have any amonia showing up indicates that you have added too much too fast. Either that, or you jumped the gun and stocked before the cycle was complete. I assume that since you had some stock in the tank that was doing ok prior to this, that the tank has been running for at least a little while.
You should never have detectable levels of either amonia or nitriite. Nitrates are more tolerable, but not desireable if too high. Your nitrate level would not be excessive on its own, but since you have amonia reading, it is pretty certain that you also have nitrite levels as well. Add in the nitrate, and you have your answer on why things don't look good.
I would suggest that you need to temper your enthusiasm for rapidly stocking your tank and add one fish at a time, allowing at least a month between to allow the bacteria cycle to catch up to the added bio load. For now you need to do water changes; do them large and often until things stabilize.
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I retired and got a fixed income but it's broke.
Ed
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50 gallon FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.
130 gallon reef, 20 gallon sump, 10 gallon refugium.
10 gallon quarantine.
60 gallon winter tank for pond fish.
300 gallon pond with waterfall.
Last edited by BMW Rider; 03-29-2008 at 05:42 PM.
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