Please help I’m scared and unexperienced

[scaredmantisshrimp]

I recently bought a mantis shrimp and two dang fish and for the first couple hours everything’s going well. I went to bed and woke up to a salinity of 1040. I nearly fainted, and since I had no water conditioner, I emptied about half of it out and frantically dumped in tapwater. Next thing you know my tank is full of ammonia, nitrates and nitrates. I did some research and put some beneficial bacteria in. I’m not sure if I’m handling this situation right I have been advised to do a 100% water change with RODI freshwater and add salt. Is worth mentioning I have a 30 gallon tank with live rocks and artificial decorations. I am new just want lots of opinions to help make a decision.

 

[UncommonSense]

I recently bought a mantis shrimp and two dang fish and for the first couple hours everything’s going well. I went to bed and woke up to a salinity of 1040. I nearly fainted, and since I had no water conditioner, I emptied about half of it out and frantically dumped in tapwater. Next thing you know my tank is full of ammonia, nitrates and nitrates. I did some research and put some beneficial bacteria in. I’m not sure if I’m handling this situation right I have been advised to do a 100% water change with RODI freshwater and add salt. Is worth mentioning I have a 30 gallon tank with live rocks and artificial decorations. I am new just want lots of opinions to help make a decision.

Specifically, mix RODI freshwater with marine aquarium salt, to the correct salinity (1.025); THEN add to aquarium.

Alternatively, buy premixed saltwater from a local fish store.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Im confused. You had a ton of responses on the same thread you created earlier? Which seems to answer the questions you are asking here? Seems UncommonSense assisted with a lot of beneficial information

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-it-time-to-start-over.1110434/

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Specifically, mix RODI freshwater with marine aquarium salt, to the correct salinity (1.025); THEN add to aquarium.

Alternatively, buy premixed saltwater from a local fish store.

Im confused. You had a ton of responses on the same thread you created earlier? Which seems to answer the questions you are asking here? Seems UncommonSense assisted with a lot of beneficial information

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-it-time-to-start-over.1110434/

I understand I just like to be sure

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I understand I just like to be sure

Best advice I could give you at the current moment is to hold off on anymore live stock until you have performed your research and asked the questions needed before moving forward. Everyone has to start out somewhere, but this forum is packed full of helpful information and people to help you succeed.

When it comes to cycling your tank and the basics it looks like everything was covered pretty well in your last thread.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Also BRS TV would be a great start for your research as they deep dive in just about everything you will ever need to know

https://www.youtube.com/@BRStv

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Best advice I could give you at the current moment is to hold off on anymore live stock until you have performed your research and asked the questions needed before moving forward. Everyone has to start out somewhere, but this forum is packed full of helpful information and people to help you succeed.

When it comes to cycling your tank and the basics it looks like everything was covered pretty well in your last thread.

Thank you, I just wanted to be sure

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Also BRS TV would be a great start for your research as they deep dive in just about everything you will ever need to know

https://www.youtube.com/@BRStv

Ima watch right now

 

[UncommonSense]

To be more specific about water chemistry:

from here on out, every time you add any water ( saltwater for partial water changes, or RODI freshwater to top-off for evaporation loss) to your aquarium, be sure it is as close as possible in temperature to the desired/current aquarium operating temperature.

Remember those beneficial bacteria you’re trying to carefully cultivate and get established in your new system? They don’t like abrupt, significant changes in water chemistry either! Things like rapid temperature changes or salinity changes can have severe consequences on the health of your system! — in fact, it is always recommended to use water from your aquarium when cleaning any filter components that serve as the biological (beneficial bacteria) filtration!

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

To be more specific about water chemistry:

from here on out, every time you add any water ( saltwater for partial water changes, or RODI freshwater to top-off for evaporation loss) to your aquarium, be sure it is as close as possible in temperature to the desired/current aquarium operating temperature.

Remember those beneficial bacteria you’re trying to carefully cultivate and get established in your new system? They don’t like abrupt, significant changes in water chemistry either! Things like rapid temperature changes or salinity changes can have severe consequences on the health of your system! — in fact, it is always recommended to use water from your aquarium when cleaning any filter components that serve as the biological (beneficial bacteria) filtration!

Thank you good to know

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Also BRS TV would be a great start for your research as they deep dive in just about everything you will ever need to know

https://www.youtube.com/@BRStv

Wow, I really wish I watched this before I started this is so helpful

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Wow, I really wish I watched this before I started this is so helpful

BRS makes a ton of helpful videos, just keep trucking along watching them. One of the best sources of information for anyone starting out in this hobby.

Here on R2R you can find threads deep diving information as well if you need more clarity. Easy way to search anything your curious about on here would use google and add "site:www.reef2reef.com" after your question.

Here is an example of a google search

anemone care site:www.reef2reef.com

 

[UncommonSense]

Wow, I really wish I watched this before I started this is so helpful

Enjoy! You’ll learn fast! Just wait… I was going down the rabbit hole of designing my own custom 250+ gallons/day water production RODI system off their kits within a week or two of learning about BRS!

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Thanks

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Enjoy! You’ll learn fast! Just wait… I was going down the rabbit hole of designing my own custom 250+ gallons/day water production RODI system off their kits within a week or two of learning about BRS!

Cool, I was wondering when you first started out where did you get your RODI system?

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Cool, I was wondering when you first started out where did you get your RODI system?

Check out their website, they sell RODI units. I run a 5 stage 150g a day unit

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

Wow, I did not expect it to be that expensive

 

[UncommonSense]

Wow, I did not expect it to be that expensive

You can get creative and do a lot yourself; I have a 200+ gallon actual water volume freshwater system (255gal system on paper based on how tanks are sold by outside dimension volume)… I like keeping discus… that means I benefit from very clean RO water, and I need a lot really fast at times!

A 4-stage 75gpd (gallons per day) Reverse osmosis filtration system with a modified BRS reactor, or Deionization filter add-on kit would suffice for a bit cheaper! — you just need to plan ahead when you need water as it can only make three gallons per hour!

 

[scaredmantisshrimp]

You can get creative and do a lot yourself; I have a 200+ gallon actual water volume freshwater system (255gal system on paper based on how tanks are sold by outside dimension volume)… I like keeping discus… that means I benefit from very clean RO water, and I need a lot really fast at times!

A 4-stage 75gpd (gallons per day) Reverse osmosis filtration system with a modified BRS reactor, or Deionization filter add-on kit would suffice for a bit cheaper! — you just need to plan ahead when you need water as it can only make three gallons per hour!

What do you think about this one https://a.co/d/bcbkwIH

 

[UncommonSense]

What do you think about this one https://a.co/d/bcbkwIH

I’m sorry, but that’s a very strange link and I don’t really want to click on it.