My first aquarium need a little help

[ErockU]

I just recently purchased my first tank its 55 gallons. I just recently got it up and running. I put in my live sand, 25 ponds of live and rock, and by suggestion 4 green chromis to help the cycling process. Just for shi*s and giggles i decided to chesk my salinity? (salt levels) with my hydrometer and I thinks its a little to low. When I check it the night before i thought it was good. Ive been told its ok for the chromis for now. My question is how should i go about increasing this level. Should i do a water change now or wait until the cycle is over? Can i just add more salt from the bag that i left with the fish in the tank? The chromis are doing great. i fed them today and they ate well. Im just not sure what i should do about this.

[Parrothead]

You never, never use live fish to cycle a tank, your fish store is out for profit, not for the well being of your fish.. This is cruel, the cycle makes the tank water very toxic, not once but twice, once when your amm. spikes, then when the nitrites spike, at the top of the forum page there is a sticky, click here before you ask, go check it out, there is a tank full of information there to help you out......

That being said, exactly what is your salinty at now?????????

Also, Welcome to Reeflands

Don't take my rave above personally, it's not meant for you, it's just some actually most lfs are out for the almighty dollar only, you little chromis' proably will not survive the cycle, but it's alittle late for that now. Learn from your mistake and research and ask here before you buy

[NanoReefJeff]

I started my 14g tank about 8 months ago and I did a lot of research before jumping into it. I would say 70% of people are against cycling with damsels. But anyway maybe you should try a 20% water change with a little bit higher salinity in it. I am definetly not a expert tho, still a rookie. Good luck!

[ErockU]

My head is spinning with the what and what not to do's. I was told not to add fish for at least three months(thats what i planned) I was told add anything you want as soon as you want(I left that store immediatley) and then i was told about the chromis and the guy seemed legit?! My salanity is at 1.019/1.020. Im at work currently and i think thats what it was.

[Parrothead]

Nano and Erock

The best bet would be to raise it slowly, a water change right now with the cycle starting is a 50/50 decision, I would just mix up say about 5 gallons of saltwater at about 1.025, and use it for top off water, this will slowly raise the salinity and it won't stress the chromis out any more that what the cycle is gonna do to them...

[ToddTT]

My head is spinning with the what and what not to do's. I was told not to add fish for at least three months(thats what i planned) I was told add anything you want as soon as you want(I left that store immediatley) and then i was told about the chromis and the guy seemed legit?! My salanity is at 1.019/1.020. Im at work currently and i think thats what it was.

1.019 is not low for your chromis, now. I say this because that is probably exactly what they were exposed to at the LFS. They use lower salinity because it is cheaper to do so.

Fish can tolerate parameters outside of ideal, as long as the changes that get them there are over a period of time.

Don't worry about your salt, raise it slowly over weeks.

The bigger issue is that the chromis might suffer or die during the cycling. I wonder if buying a cheap QT now might be a good choice for housing them until the main tank completes its cycle.

You do plan on owning a small QT, don't you????? Buying it now is a good plan, rather than waiting until you need one in an emergency.

If you have QT questions fire away.

[Parrothead]

Todd, thats a pretty good idea except that there is no cycled water or filtration to add to a qt, plus with out test results we don't know where in the cycle he is.........

[ToddTT]

Todd, thats a pretty good idea except that there is no cycled water or filtration to add to a qt, plus with out test results we don't know where in the cycle he is.........

Can he start a QT with the current display water, and do water changes to keep the QT at acceptable levels? Maybe add some carbon or something to the QT filtering?

Or buy 10 gallons of water from the LFS, or get some from a friend's tank?

Just throwing out ideas, maybe bad ones.

[Parrothead]

Todd,

No such thing as bad ideas, just actions, we would need to get some water parameters from the display tank before deciding on whether to use that water or try to find some water else where, he can also go to lees forums, Saltwater Fish tanks and the medical forum, there is a sticky in there about setting up a qt

[NanoReefJeff]

Robert, I am like a deer in headlights when you say qt what is that??

[Parrothead]

quartine tank, you use it to quartine new fish before you add them to you main tank, go check this out, it will eliminate most of the deer in the headlight syndrome

A Fish Quarantine Process

[ErockU]

I never ever wanted to put any fish in danger. My goal is to have a great tank/great new hobby for life. I just thought I was following good advise. Somebody told me that I could buy some drops that would eliminate/complete the cylce process in hours I wonder can I add that to my tank or do that with a qt tank.

[ToddTT]

I never ever wanted to put any fish in danger. My goal is to have a great tank/great new hobby for life. I just thought I was following good advise. Somebody told me that I could buy some drops that would eliminate/complete the cylce process in hours I wonder can I add that to my tank or do that with a qt tank.

Sounds fishy to me. Pardon the pun.

Since you're in it for life, a quarantine tank is a great, and necessary investment. You will likely (and should) use it many times in the future.

A 10 gallon tank is fine for many small species. Petco sells them for about $15.

And I would recommend an AquaClear 30 hang-on filter. It has a good flow rate which is adjustable, and a design that allows you to add any filter material you choose. About $30

Hagen Aqua Clear 30 Hang-On-Back Power Filter 150 GPH - Compare Prices

A $10 glass canopy, or some eggcrate to prevent the fish from jumping out.

Lighting can be a lamp next to the tank, or a cheap canopy light if you're ready to spend about $30 on that.

You should already have a spare heater for when you mix new saltwater, so buying another one may not be necessary just yet. Just convenient.

Reading all of the stickies here will teach you a lot, and ask as many questions as you want.

And if you want to pick up what many call the bible for beginners:

Find The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Microcosm/T.F.H. Professional) 2nd Edition 2008 Robert M. Fenner 1890087998 9781890087999 - Direct Textbook

But if you read the stickies here, you won't need the book as much.

[Parrothead]

I never ever wanted to put any fish in danger. My goal is to have a great tank/great new hobby for life. I just thought I was following good advise. Somebody told me that I could buy some drops that would eliminate/complete the cylce process in hours I wonder can I add that to my tank or do that with a qt tank.

Skip the drop, there is no magic cycle, please remember that patience is the key to success in our hobby, not magic, Todds suggestions are good, also invest in a good test kit, you will need it to monitor your tanks progress, what you need right now would be a kit to test for amm, nitrites, nitrates and pH, later you will need cal., alk, mag, and a few others but lets get cycled first