My tank is set up incorrectly

[elkman]

So at this point I feel I have set my tank up incorrectly and i’m looking for some help, I recently got some constructive criticism and I really want to try to make my tank the best it can be, so I’m gonna be completely honest with my set up and any help on what I should do next would be awesome, I have a 20 gallon tank a nem who is dying, and creatures die about every month, I have four coral frags. I don’t have an ATO. I don’t have a canister filter. I have a hang on back filter rated for 30 gallons. I have a heater and a powerhead. In my tank, I have a clown fish. A royal Gramma a tail spot blenny and a yellow watchman goby I also have five Trocus snails, 3 nasarius snails and a turbo snail, I have around seven blue legged hermit crabs I also have a pom-pom crab, a porcelain crab, and a pistol shrimp, and a feather duster I had that went missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated on what to do next

 

[MikeyZo]

First thing, I’d post your parameters for us to see. What salt are you using, how old is the setup, etc.

And what exactly is your concern? That thr nem is dying and something dies each month?

 

[Fish Fan]

What are you using for water here? Do you buy saltwater, or make your own? Are you using tap water or RODI filtered water to make your saltwater and to replace evaporated freshwater?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Generally speaking, looking back, do you think you were rushing things with your set up? People here can help you take a half-step back, regroup, and then move forward. Don't give up.

 

[ZC aquatics]

Is your ammonia high?

 

[ZC aquatics]

I need a
Bit more detail on the ammonia,nitrate,ph and salinity

 

[BryanM]

So at this point I feel I have set my tank up incorrectly and i’m looking for some help, I recently got some constructive criticism and I really want to try to make my tank the best it can be, so I’m gonna be completely honest with my set up and any help on what I should do next would be awesome, I have a 20 gallon tank a nem who is dying, and creatures die about every month, I have four coral frags. I don’t have an ATO. I don’t have a canister filter. I have a hang on back filter rated for 30 gallons. I have a heater and a powerhead. In my tank, I have a clown fish. A royal Gramma a tail spot blenny and a yellow watchman goby I also have five Trocus snails, 3 nasarius snails and a turbo snail, I have around seven blue legged hermit crabs I also have a pom-pom crab, a porcelain crab, and a pistol shrimp, and a feather duster I had that went missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated on what to do next

As others have said we really need a lot more info about the tank. RODI? Mix your own salt? lighting? Age of tank? Water change amount and schedule?

There are some very good reefers here that can and will help - we're all thinking the same thing, too much, too fast. In terms of nems, we're really not recommending them in tanks less than a year old, they are just finicky (And yes, I made this same mistake).

 

[elkman]

Hi, yes rodi water, I mix my own salt the brand is instant ocean reef crystals, my light is the noosphyce k3 pro tank is about 5 months old and I try to change 5 gallons every week

 

[elkman]

I need a
Bit more detail on the ammonia,nitrate,ph and salinity

Parameters: Salinity: 1.026 pH: 8 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0.15 Nitrate: 10 Phosphate: 0

 

[elkman]

Generally speaking, looking back, do you think you were rushing things with your set up? People here can help you take a half-step back, regroup, and then move forward. Don't give up.

Yeah, that’s really what I’m looking for, I do think I rushed and went too fast, and I’m really just trying to figure out what to do at this point

 

[elkman]

What are you using for water here? Do you buy saltwater, or make your own? Are you using tap water or RODI filtered water to make your saltwater and to replace evaporated freshwater?

I use rodi water and mix my own salt

 

[elkman]

First thing, I’d post your parameters for us to see. What salt are you using, how old is the setup, etc.

And what exactly is your concern? That thr nem is dying and something dies each month?

Well, I posted something on another form and this form also about how my anemone is doing bad and they all said how my tank was set up wrong and such, how I rushed, and I agree I did rush, but I’m trying to figure out where to go now, my parameters Salinity: 1.026 pH: 8 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0.15 Nitrate: 10 Phosphate: 0, the tank is five months old, and I mix my own salt using instant ocean reef crystals

 

[BryanM]

Parameters: Salinity: 1.026 pH: 8 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0.15 Nitrate: 10 Phosphate: 0

0 phos is not good. you need some for all sorts of things.

The range of acceptability is large.... but if it were me I'd dose NeoPhos to get that up to .1, and then monitor.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can we see a tank pic? A 20 gallon should be able to handle 4 fish and some corals. I don't really see anything wrong with the parameters and equipment, so need a visual to see whats going on.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Well, I posted something on another form and this form also about how my anemone is doing bad and they all said how my tank was set up wrong and such, how I rushed, and I agree I did rush, but I’m trying to figure out where to go now, my parameters Salinity: 1.026 pH: 8 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0.15 Nitrate: 10 Phosphate: 0, the tank is five months old, and I mix my own salt using instant ocean reef crystals

Are you using API test kits? Those are known for being inaccurate

 

[MikeyZo]

And what are you using to test salinity?

 

[ZC aquatics]

I need a
Bit more detail on the ammonia,nitrate,ph and salinity

Parameters: Salinity: 1.026 pH: 8 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0.15 Nitrate: 10 Phosphate: 0

You want the nitrate at 0

 

[ZC aquatics]

And what are you using to test salinity?

^^

 

[MikeyZo]

You want the nitrate at 0

I think you mean nitrite

 

[MikeyZo]

And he has a point. In a well stocked established tank, it’s not unheard of to have a slight rise and nitrite. The .15 level won’t hurt anything. But a five month old under stocked tank with a nitrite level of .15 makes me think that maybe you have an underlying ammonia spike from something. So maybe your test kit for ammonia is wrong?

Just a thought