newb help!!

[iceman86]

also at first my powerhead was a bit too strong and was moving sand around so i went and got a smaller one yesterday and it also hasn't made a difference.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by iceman86

.

Was this alive when you added it??

[iceman86]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Was this alive when you added it??

it still is alive. just not too healthy.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by iceman86

it still is alive. just not too healthy.

I meant the big white skeleton, not the little greenish blob.

[iceman86]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I meant the big white skeleton, not the little greenish blob.

Skeleton? I just thought it was a rock. I picked it up from the aquaruim that i got my live rock from

[Snaz]

Selling dead coral skeletons as live rock is the worst sign of an LFS. Don't give these bozos any more of your businesses.

[reefwars]

Hey buddy give us your whole equipment list, livestock list including amount of rock and sand. How did you go about trasfwring it to your house? ?

If it doesn't look better by tomorrow text me in the morn Could swing by when I'm coming through Edmonton Sunday and help you get a plan going

[fishytime]

looks to me like a lot of dry rock compared to live rock?.....if so, I would think that three weeks is too soon for two fish in tank with very little live rock.....slooooow down.....everything you add at this point is going to throw the tank out of balance....if you dont allow the tank to balance its self out between additions, it will be in a constant state of trying to catch up biologically to what you are adding, making the whole process an uphill battle....


get some water change water mixing and do a w/c, run some carbon somehow, look for some amquel or prime or prodibio "start"....the prodibio start would probably be the best route as it will both neutralize any ammonia and kick start the beneficial bacteria and help feed it

[Enigma]

Yes, I think a big water change (don't use tap, you can get the "Great Value" distilled water at Walmart for cheap . . . In prepackaged jugs . . . Don't use the machine) is in order. A few big water changes are probably the best thing you can do for your tank right now. Mix it in a bucket (powerhead works well) to your tank's SG, bring it up to temp, siphon out tank water, and add the newly mixed saltwater. I'm sure you know is, but after some posts i've read on another forum . . . not everyone does.

The API test I have an issue with is the nitrate one. The ammonia and nitrite tests should be just fine for you right now.

You may need to add some bacteria (I know Red Coral has some products to help a tank cycle), and maybe some Ammo Lock. You might like to stuff a bag of Purigen into your overflow (or some where else all of the water will pass through).

I know you feel like crap right now, but don't worry. You'll get through this. We all have a lot to learn when we start out, and sometimes an answer to the challenges we face isn't easy or forthcoming. There will be livestock losses for one reason or another. That's a fact of reefing.