cdness
2006 - Present
** This is longer than I intended to type... **
No need to start over as any damage has already been done. Now is the time to react slowly and let the biological processes fix things...
A couple notes:
1. Tap water is a big no-no, even for starting a tank. Most people don't know what's in their tap water and you could have some contaminants that are safe your you, but not safe for the fish... However if you know your water well, it may be doable... What was the TDS of your tap water?
2. Tangs in a 30 gallon tank are also a big no-no. You may get away with it for a little while, but they will not do well long term. The saying "I'll upgrade when he grows up" hardly ever happens. It's best to stock your tank with what will be good in there long term.
3. I see a canister/HOB filter in the tank... While they CAN work, they are not the best choice for saltwater as they can become nitrate factories when they get dirty. Again most people say "I'll clean it weekly" but that doesn't always last long term and they run into issues. Consider ditching the canister/HOB and getting a hang on back skimmer. Or if you feel adventurous, drill the tank and add a sump... I will never have a sumpless tank ever due to the flexibility of the system and the increased water volume. It is well worth the effort.
4. I see an SPS frag in that tank at the top... 2 months is a very short time to be adding corals, especially SPS corals.
5. LFS not concerned with helping you is a red flag for me. You need to find a different LFS or consider getting your stuff online... It sounds like the LFS is seeing a new wet-behind-the-ears hobbiest and knows he can make some money off your mistakes. Even if he leads you down that path to failure... Take your business elsewhere and show them you don't appreciate their lack of help.
What I would do next:
1. Get an RODI unit so you can make your own water. This way YOU have control over the purity of the water you are using. You could even win one in the following contest if you enter:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/r2...3897-barracuda-giveaway-sponsored-aquafx.html
2. Turn off your lights for a few days to help kill off the algae cycle. You don't need lights on while cycling the tank. By the way, what are you running for lights anyway?
3. Add a dead shrimp from the grocery store (fresh if possible) in a filter bag (Cut off pantihose work great and are cheap). Let it sit in the tank and rot to create your ammonia. If the tank is cycled, you will not see an ammonia spike after the addition of the shrimp. The bag is there to keep it together for easier removal...
4. Most important though is your self-admitted lack of patience. You will get nowhere in this hobby without first learning patience. Lack of patience is what forces people out of this hobby due to repeated and excessive failure. Read the threads in the newbie section of Reef2Reef. Learn more about the tank and the biological cycles. Learn about proper support of corals and their requirements. Use to forums to learn from other people's mistakes so you can avoid them in your path in the hobby. In the end, patience is needed so you can tell yourself to slow down and learn before making educated choices...
The first thing to read and learn about is how to treat Ich successfully... 8 weeks minimum, 11 is better with zero fish in the tank... But read to find out why.
No need to start over as any damage has already been done. Now is the time to react slowly and let the biological processes fix things...
A couple notes:
1. Tap water is a big no-no, even for starting a tank. Most people don't know what's in their tap water and you could have some contaminants that are safe your you, but not safe for the fish... However if you know your water well, it may be doable... What was the TDS of your tap water?
2. Tangs in a 30 gallon tank are also a big no-no. You may get away with it for a little while, but they will not do well long term. The saying "I'll upgrade when he grows up" hardly ever happens. It's best to stock your tank with what will be good in there long term.
3. I see a canister/HOB filter in the tank... While they CAN work, they are not the best choice for saltwater as they can become nitrate factories when they get dirty. Again most people say "I'll clean it weekly" but that doesn't always last long term and they run into issues. Consider ditching the canister/HOB and getting a hang on back skimmer. Or if you feel adventurous, drill the tank and add a sump... I will never have a sumpless tank ever due to the flexibility of the system and the increased water volume. It is well worth the effort.
4. I see an SPS frag in that tank at the top... 2 months is a very short time to be adding corals, especially SPS corals.
5. LFS not concerned with helping you is a red flag for me. You need to find a different LFS or consider getting your stuff online... It sounds like the LFS is seeing a new wet-behind-the-ears hobbiest and knows he can make some money off your mistakes. Even if he leads you down that path to failure... Take your business elsewhere and show them you don't appreciate their lack of help.
What I would do next:
1. Get an RODI unit so you can make your own water. This way YOU have control over the purity of the water you are using. You could even win one in the following contest if you enter:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/r2...3897-barracuda-giveaway-sponsored-aquafx.html
2. Turn off your lights for a few days to help kill off the algae cycle. You don't need lights on while cycling the tank. By the way, what are you running for lights anyway?
3. Add a dead shrimp from the grocery store (fresh if possible) in a filter bag (Cut off pantihose work great and are cheap). Let it sit in the tank and rot to create your ammonia. If the tank is cycled, you will not see an ammonia spike after the addition of the shrimp. The bag is there to keep it together for easier removal...
4. Most important though is your self-admitted lack of patience. You will get nowhere in this hobby without first learning patience. Lack of patience is what forces people out of this hobby due to repeated and excessive failure. Read the threads in the newbie section of Reef2Reef. Learn more about the tank and the biological cycles. Learn about proper support of corals and their requirements. Use to forums to learn from other people's mistakes so you can avoid them in your path in the hobby. In the end, patience is needed so you can tell yourself to slow down and learn before making educated choices...
The first thing to read and learn about is how to treat Ich successfully... 8 weeks minimum, 11 is better with zero fish in the tank... But read to find out why.
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