Is it time to start over

[EliMelly]

Don’t forget to heat the water to tank temperature first!

Thought that much was obvious… I suppose there’s other things to know as well lol

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Don’t forget to heat the water to tank temperature first!

Before or after the benifical bacteria

 

[DrkNMighty]

Don’t forget to heat the water to tank temperature first!

Also make sure the salinity of the water is within range. Also only top off your tank with RODI water and not salt and preferably not tap water. There are other things in tap water that could cause problems in your tank that can’t really be tested on at home test kits.

 

[DrkNMighty]

Before or after the benifical bacteria

Before. It should go RODI, then add salt to get to proper salinity, then heat water to match tank, then add saltwater to tank. Beneficial bacteria should be added to the tank as that is where you want it to colonize and work through the nitrogen cycle.

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Ok ok ok, let me get things straight, step one, remove the inhabitants of the tank, step 2 clear the tank of the water, step 3 wake rodi water, then add conditioner, then add salt, then put that water in, put the inhabitants back and call it a day?

 

[EliMelly]

Ah didn’t realize you were this green, I suggest asking fish store to hold fish for you and do some research to set up properly! Good luck with everything.

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Also, what is RODI water

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Ah didn’t realize you were this green, I suggest asking fish store to hold fish for you and do some research to set up properly! Good luck with everything.

I would, but I can’t, they had him in a fishing tank. That was the size of a gallon, and they barely fed him let alone feeding him live things

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Anyway those this work, get water, conditioner, add salt, make it the right temperature, double check that it’s clean, double check one more time, check it again just to be sure, pray a couple times, add the water and then pray again

 

[DrkNMighty]

I would, but I can’t, they had him in a fishing tank. That was the size of a gallon, and they barely fed him let alone feeding him live things

Having him in an uncycled tank isn’t much better. Inverts can be very sensitive to water chemistry. In this case it sounds like your tank wasn’t fully cycled, the addition of tap water risking possible pollutants, and your salinity increasing likely from evaporated water not being replaced with RODI freshwater.
I would recommend, as others have suggested, doing some additional research online. BRS has hours and hours of videos going over the basics of maintaining a saltwater tank.

 

[UncommonSense]

Before or after the benifical bacteria

The beneficial bacteria goes in the display aquarium to be circulated into the whole system, where it establishes itself over time, predominantly on solid surfaces; especially those with lots of surface area.

The water you use for a partial salt water change in your aquarium is RO/DI, mixed to the correct salinity, heated to the correct temperature, then added to the aquarium system after removing a percentage of the total system volume and discarding it.

The freshly mixed salt water does not need beneficial bacteria added, you want this bacteria to establish and thrive in your aquarium.

Like others have said, use only RO/DI water with no salt mixed in it to top-off the aquarium with water lost due to evaporation. If you are adding less than a gallon of fresh water to “top off”, heating it to tank temp isn’t strictly necessary, but is still smart.

After a few months, you will start to slowly see your aquarium’s water chemistry stabilize. Add livestock very slowly, be patient, do your research before making any big changes!

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Instead of fixing the water, can I replace it with water that isn’t messed up?

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

I might be special, but I don’t see why I can’t buy saltwater from the store make it the right temperature add it to the tank, put some beneficial bacteria in. And put everything else back in

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

if you think about it instead of waiting for the cycle just buy Water that is already cycled (I don’t know what I’m talking about)

 

[DrkNMighty]

I might be special, but I don’t see why I can’t buy saltwater from the store make it the right temperature add it to the tank, put some beneficial bacteria in. And put everything else back in

Because it takes time for the beneficial bacteria to establish in the tank. You need the bacteria to process and complete the nitrogen cycle. Otherwise, you will start seeing your ammonia climb and start killing everything in the tank. That is why most people say the cycle takes time.

 

[DrkNMighty]

if you think about it instead of waiting for the cycle just buy Water that is already cycled (I don’t know what I’m talking about)

I don’t think already cycled water is a thing.. it’s the bacteria establishing in the tank that makes it “cycled”.

 

[UncommonSense]

I might be special, but I don’t see why I can’t buy saltwater from the store make it the right temperature add it to the tank, put some beneficial bacteria in. And put everything else back in

That sounds like your best bet if you can’t rehome your livestock to an established aquarium!

Look up “invertebrate acclimation” to help yourself understand how to treat your livestock as gently as possible during a very traumatic move, then switch out the whole tank volume for properly mixed salt water.

Get it up to temperature, acclimate livestock, re-add them, and just do a lot of partial water changes for the first month or two until your beneficial bacterial has established a sustainable population in your aquarium!

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

That sounds like your best bet if you can’t rehome your livestock to an established aquarium!

Look up “invertebrate acclimation” to help yourself understand how to treat your livestock as gently as possible during a very traumatic move, then switch out the whole tank volume for properly mixed salt water.

Get it up to temperature, acclimate livestock, re-add them, and just do a lot of partial water changes for the first month or two until your beneficial bacterial has established a sustainable population in your aquarium!

thank you, and when do I know my beneficial bacteria has establish sustainable population

 

[raythereefer]

Maybe if he bought some live rock and did a near 100 percent water change that could help him get out of this hole he has got himself in to? Other than that listen to what these 2 people are telling you !

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Maybe if he bought some live rock and did a near 100 percent water change that could help him get out of this hole he has got himself in to? Other than that listen to what these 2 people are telling you !

I might have misinterpreted what they said, didn’t he just tell me to do 100% water change