New Tank - Lots of problems - brown rocks, dead fish!

J

jefff

Registered Member
Dec 14, 2005
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We just got a 12 gallon Nano cube tank and had it for about 7 days. Fish store told us to add 2 damsels to condidtion the tank. the tank has 3 live rocks. After adding the fish, and turning the light on, the top rock started to turn burn and the sand turned brown. one fish died and the other is not looking to good.

Tested the water and the nitrates are high but all else is good.

We are totally new to this and are confused. Any advice or thingswe should check? Was it too soon to add a fish? Why the brown rocks? How to get it out?
Thanks in advance

jf
 
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well first off a lot off ppl here would advise you to not cycle your tank w/ fish b/c it is inhumane. clear ammonnia works just as well if not better. secondly, what do you mean by all else is good? give specific examples of what you tested your water for. third... as far as a 12 gallon salt water tank goes... only the most expierienced marine aquarists would try something that small. although it is a lot cheaper to run a tank like urs at 12 gallons compared to something like mine at 75 gallons, it is much much much much much more delicate and requires much much much much much more maintenance and know how. other ppl will probably have better advice than me but i thought that i'd just let you know what i had on my mind.
 
Brown is the typical color of a cycling tank. You will have bouts of algae for sometime before things start to look up. Since you are starting with a small aquarium I would read to the point of brain overload and do everything by the book. The best advice I can give is that in smaller volume of water things happen fast. Let the tank cycle out, and start experimenting with water quality so you get to know what your tank requires. Don’t add anything alive to your system while you are in the experimental phase. Once you know how to handle a small system add things slowly so you don’t get any ammonia spikes. Don’t over stock this tank or else it can become your disaster. Good luck.
 
Sorry about the rough start.

I'd be interested to hear more about the tank.
Lighting?
How much live rock? If you don't know pounds, how full does it look?
Circulation and filtration?
Test results: specific gravity, ammonia, nitrite, alkalinity, pH?
 
Tank:12 Gallon Nano Cube Deluxe Aquarium & LED (JBJ)
Item Number: JJ0007

The 12 gallon Nano Cube is a complete marine aquarium biotope, the perfect size for desktops or kitchen counters. The 12 gallon glass cube features smooth, rounded corners for panoramic viewing, along with 3-stage filtration (mechanical, biological, chemical) to keep the water clean and healthy for your marine life! With JBJ 48 watt compact flourescent 50/50 lighting, plus LED for night viewing, you can even try your hand at a mini-reef environment full of beautiful coral! Complete with an energy-saving remote electronic ballast with qucik disconnect and flip-top canopy for easy cleaning and feeding access, the Nano Cube is a self-contained miniature ocean full of all the wonder and beauty of the Big Blue!

Specifications:
(2) 24 watt 50/50 compact flourescent lighting.
LED for night viewing.
Remote electronic ballast with quick disconnect.

15 lbs of live rock
live sand
water tested fine except high nitrates. exact details not know right now.

Been a week with 1 fish and he does not look happy. at the bottom, hiding.
jf
 
Do you have the test kits or did your LFS test the water? If you don't own them, I'd go out and buy some... you'll need to know your chemistry levels when adding fish and for normal questions.
 
I wouldn't run you lights while your in the middle of a cycle, a water change may be needed to keep the fish alive. are you using plain tap water or a RO/Di water filter or rain water?
 
The problem is by looking "good" it has to be completly read 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, as it wont be detactable by any aquarium test kit which means its safe.
 
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