Back story: Brand new to saltwater. Been reading and watching videos for months now. Started my new 40B Thursday with 40lbs of live special grade sand and around 30lbs of caribsea life rock. Filled it up with Red Sea coral pro saltwater from the lfs, heated it to temp (76-77 on inkbird), dosed 4oz fritz turbo start bacteria, acclimated a three spot damsel from Petco (I know), and added him to the tank. His buddy didn’t even make it out of the bag. No lights yet. Working on two AI Primes.
I tested ammonia Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and today with my salifert kit. All read 0. Just cloudy water.
Since ammonia was at 0, I tested for nitrite and nitrate today as well. If I read it right, nitrite was around 0.2, and nitrate was around 10.
Fish still looks good. Hiding in rocks but eating well when fed. Slowly swimming farther away from his spot to eat.
Actually have four questions:
1. Should I expect ammonia to rise with one fish?
2. When is it okay to add more fish? I’d love to add a couple small clowns. I suspect when nitrites read 0, but that leads to my next question.
3. If nitrites are essentially harmless in marine tanks, why do people say wait for them to read 0 to add more fish if ammonia is already reading 0?
4. Unrelated- I’m feeding the damsel Omega One small pellets. Parts of my sand are turning pink. We accidentally left a lamp on across from the tank all weekend. Is this the beginning of some algae, or is it just low flow areas where food is breaking down?
I know it’s only been a few days since I started the tank. I know people say only bad things happen fast. Maybe this is my way of learning to be patient. Just trying to make sure I’m doing it right.
Thanks in advance!
I tested ammonia Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and today with my salifert kit. All read 0. Just cloudy water.
Since ammonia was at 0, I tested for nitrite and nitrate today as well. If I read it right, nitrite was around 0.2, and nitrate was around 10.
Fish still looks good. Hiding in rocks but eating well when fed. Slowly swimming farther away from his spot to eat.
Actually have four questions:
1. Should I expect ammonia to rise with one fish?
2. When is it okay to add more fish? I’d love to add a couple small clowns. I suspect when nitrites read 0, but that leads to my next question.
3. If nitrites are essentially harmless in marine tanks, why do people say wait for them to read 0 to add more fish if ammonia is already reading 0?
4. Unrelated- I’m feeding the damsel Omega One small pellets. Parts of my sand are turning pink. We accidentally left a lamp on across from the tank all weekend. Is this the beginning of some algae, or is it just low flow areas where food is breaking down?
I know it’s only been a few days since I started the tank. I know people say only bad things happen fast. Maybe this is my way of learning to be patient. Just trying to make sure I’m doing it right.
Thanks in advance!