How did my nemos died?

[cutebarra77]

Hi sgreef forumers,

I started my marine tank setup last Sat with the help of a friend and kicked off the cycling process last sunday.

Setup

Tank: 90cm by 60cm by 60cm

Return pump: Eheim 2160

Skimmer: Dymax LS10

Sand: 50% live and 50% dead

LR: about 15-20kg (bought from a forumer and pasir ris fish farm)

Wave maker: 1 x power head from sunsan

Sump filter: charcoal and ceramic rings

Lights: T5 - 1 blue and 1 white

LS: 5 x clowns and 12 x damsels

On Sat, I kept the fishes alive overnight in my sump with the setup (see pic) as I waited for the sand to settle.

Then the tank was cleared on Sunday morning and I transferred them to the main tank.

Day 0 (Sun) - Fed the fishes with some dry granules

Day 1(Mon) - 1 clown and 2 damsels died, fed with frozen mysis shrimps

Day 2 (Tues)- 2 clowns and 3 damsels died, fed with frozen mysis shrimps

Other observations:

- Only the damsels ate and swimming lively.

- the clowns were not eating and seemed tired and breathing heavily...

- did the water test on Day 1 and 2:

Day 1: pH-8.8, NH4-0.5, NO2-0, NO3-0

Day 2: pH-8.2, NH4-0.5, No2-0, NO3-0.

- there were no white spots or slime on the dead bodies...

Not sure what went wrong. Pls help...

This was how I kept them alive overnight in the sump.

Closer look

Tank setup

The dead clown

[FuEl]

The tank is not cycled yet.

[vinccc2009]

Those look like green chromis.

And your tank not cycled. Be patience, ls should only be introduced after at least 2weeks or so.

[cutebarra77]

Thanks for the replies, FuEL and vinccc2009,

that's what I thought too...

Must be patient and build a solid foundation.

[Slimymadness]

sad to see the fishes gone just like that simply because one does not take time to read up properly on tank setup and protocols. a $1 fish does not equate a worthless existence....

[Terryz_]

Your tank is not cycled yet, I am curious who your friend is?

Even the basics of cycling the tank is not made known to you?

A basic ANN cycle will take a least a month...

The fishes will died of Ammonia poisoning, you NH4 level is on the rise which is normal for ANN Cycle...

DO more research on initial setup and proper way of cycling the tank before buying any livestock..

Edited June 7, 2011 by Terryz_

[Terryz_]

And do not use FW charcoal for your tank, It is not meant for Reef tank, If not wrong, it leeches back into the tank...

Buy the GAC (Granular Activated Carbon)...

[cutebarra77]

And do not use FW charcoal for your tank, It is not meant for Reef tank, If not wrong, it leeches back into the tank...

Buy the GAC (Granular Activated Carbon)...

Actually, I'm not going to do a reef tank. I have no interests in reef yet. My idea was to condition the tank first and then go for some lion fish.

[cutebarra77]

Your tank is not cycled yet, I am curious who your friend is?

Even the basics of cycling the tank is not made known to you?

A basic ANN cycle will take a least a month...

The fishes will died of Ammonia poisoning, you NH4 level is on the rise which is normal for ANN Cycle...

DO more research on initial setup and proper way of cycling the tank before buying any livestock..

I would like to apologise to those whom were upset by my actions. I admit that my research was not enough, but I did recall that I read somewhere in the internet that one of the methods for tank cycling is to use some hardy fishes. of course, this method is cruel.

[Terryz_]

Actually, I'm not going to do a reef tank. I have no interests in reef yet. My idea was to condition the tank first and then go for some lion fish.

You will still need Carbon for the clarity of the tank water as Lionfish are messy eater and your tank will become yellow very fast...

[Terryz_]

I would like to apologise to those whom were upset by my actions. I admit that my research was not enough, but I did recall that I read somewhere in the internet that one of the methods for tank cycling is to use some hardy fishes. of course, this method is cruel.

It is not recommended as it is cruel and not fair to the fishes, they are living things too... The use of the fishes is to add some ammonia in the water to kick off the ANN cycle... It is the same as adding some prawn or not adding anything, the died matters from your LR and Sand is enough to start the ANN cycle..

[cutebarra77]

It is not recommended as it is cruel and not fair to the fishes, they are living things too... The use of the fishes is to add some ammonia in the water to kick off the ANN cycle... It is the same as adding some prawn or not adding anything, the died matters from your LR and Sand is enough to start the ANN cycle..

Thanks for the advice, Terryz.

Noted on the more humane method and would definitely adopt for future ANN cycle.

Will also introduce the right way for other first timers too.

[gargamelron]

Thanks for the advice, Terryz.

Noted on the more humane method and would definitely adopt for future ANN cycle.

Will also introduce the right way for other first timers too.

You just committed a SIN...

[desideria]

yes I agree, your tank is not cycled, you introduced the fishes on the 2nd day..or was it the night itself? That's insane.

If you want to cycle, throw in a couple of peeled market prawns, that will do and let them rot.

It takes about 2 weeks ( and that's with added help of copious amounts of bacteria) to finish the cycling period... 1 month is the usual time.

this time around, if the rest of your fishes uplorry, please leave it empty.. and don't add so many fishes in at one shot since your tank isn't mature.. do it slowly.

Your ammonia levels should always be ZERO ...

please use proper carbon and not charcoal.

[Zoa guy]

yup, how can u expect your tank to be cycled so fast. Even for a 3ft thats alot of fish u are adding so early. There are many good carbon that arent too expensive like rowa carbon, chemipure. Whats gonna happen to these fishes when u introduce your lionfish?

[stevenchia]

See the clown fish died so unfairly (with eyes open big big) not even have a bite before it died or host with anemone..

Because of someone never read up... or ask any senior for help in forum when setting up. Hope they

Hope the rest of the clown fish doesnt meet the fate..

Do read up of types of clown fishes that are easy to keep also... False clown fish are harder to keep and prompt to disease too.

[kira76]

Actually could be due to cyanide poisoning. I lost 5 clownfish like that too. Was doing fine today, next day up lorry liao with white slim coating without other warning signs. Read that most clownfish in SG are wild caught using cyanide. Thus decided to only get cative breed clownfish from now on.

Having said that, cycling tank using hardly fishes isn't really advicable. Esp so when TS intend was to keep lionfish. Unless you intend for these clownfishes to become feeders for your lionfish.

[Zoa guy]

so just try to read up next time before adding fishes.

[Zoa guy]

people makes mistakes often, just learn from it. gd luck

[Terryz_]

Actually could be due to cyanide poisoning. I lost 5 clownfish like that too. Was doing fine today, next day up lorry liao with white slim coating without other warning signs. Read that most clownfish in SG are wild caught using cyanide. Thus decided to only get cative breed clownfish from now on.

Having said that, cycling tank using hardly fishes isn't really advicable. Esp so when TS intend was to keep lionfish. Unless you intend for these clownfishes to become feeders for your lionfish.

From the Ammonia reading, it is confirm ammonia poisoning... They can kill within a day...

[kira76]

From the Ammonia reading, it is confirm ammonia poisoning... They can kill within a day...

Lol, didn't see the parameters reading. Guess you are right.

[yikai]

oh please clowns are not caught using cyanide.

if you catch your own clowns you would know they are extremely easy to catch and using cyanide on them will be a waste.

clowns that are wild caught almost always die from brooklynellosis which is a very common disease infecting wild caught clownfish.

[cutebarra77]

Thanks for all the valuable advices and 'scoldings'.

I guessed my 1st step was wrong to use live fish for the cycling.

Everyone makes mistake somehow and I will learn from this experience.

[iskay]

Actually, I'm not going to do a reef tank. I have no interests in reef yet. My idea was to condition the tank first and then go for some lion fish.

Our forum have sections with good articles on how to start a tank properly. If your idea was to go for Lion fish, by buying the clownfishes and chromis you are intending them to be live lunch or dinner for your lion fishes.

Use a livestock-less cycling method. Read and understand the nitrogen cycle, fish compatibilty and husbandry.Feel free to ask questions. we are happy to share our experience on this wonderful hobby with you.

BTW, you need more liverock for it to become an effective biofilter.

[cutebarra77]

Our forum have sections with good articles on how to start a tank properly. If your idea was to go for Lion fish, by buying the clownfishes and chromis you are intending them to be live lunch or dinner for your lion fishes.

Use a livestock-less cycling method. Read and understand the nitrogen cycle, fish compatibilty and husbandry.Feel free to ask questions. we are happy to share our experience on this wonderful hobby with you.

BTW, you need more liverock for it to become an effective biofilter.

Thanks for the advice, iskay.

Do you mean I shd refer to the 'FOWLR' discussion topic?