Hello all.
I need some help here. After 20 some odd years in freshwater I never thought that any aquarium could make me think that I am in over my head.
For Charlie's 2nd birthday last week I set up a 20 gallon Nemo tank for him in his room. I cheated the cycle by using stuff from work (Big Al's) so as to be able to add fish asap.
Right now as of this morning (15-07-04) here are the specs for the tank:
20 gallon tank
Salinity is at 23ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 10ppm
Ph 7.8 to 8.0 depending on the day
82 degrees
Crushed coral base (1 inch thick) with some live sand (just a little, 1 pound maybe 2)
2 pieces of live rock (3 pounds worth)
1 small piece dead coral
1 medium clam shell
Running on a Fluval 402 with Eheim media and some crushed coral
150 watt Rena excel heater
Current inhabitants are
2 ocellaris clowns
2 green chromis
5 blue legged hermit crabs
The problem is that the fish are up at the top gasping. With my limited salty knowledge I did what a freshwater person would do. I changed 8 gallons of water last night. Things seem better until this morning again up to the top.
I can't figure out what the problem is with the Ph. Which is what I suspect is the main problem here. Being too low that is. When I add the salt to the bucket the ph goes to 8.3. After it is in the tank though it always drops back down to 7.8 to 8.0 again.
I check the carbonite hardness and general hardness of the tap water. My buffering capacity is fine.
What is making the ph in the tank drop? Is this the cause of the gasping fish. I want to fix this problem but honestly I HATE saltwater. I have never had any intrest in owning a salty tank, but he is my son and well any parent will tell you.
I wanted to put some nice Rams or a Discus in his room and was convinced by others to go nemo.
I am truly frustrated and am to the point of chucking the whole thing and going back to my cichlid idea.
Can anybody please help me out here?
I need some help here. After 20 some odd years in freshwater I never thought that any aquarium could make me think that I am in over my head.
For Charlie's 2nd birthday last week I set up a 20 gallon Nemo tank for him in his room. I cheated the cycle by using stuff from work (Big Al's) so as to be able to add fish asap.
Right now as of this morning (15-07-04) here are the specs for the tank:
20 gallon tank
Salinity is at 23ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 10ppm
Ph 7.8 to 8.0 depending on the day
82 degrees
Crushed coral base (1 inch thick) with some live sand (just a little, 1 pound maybe 2)
2 pieces of live rock (3 pounds worth)
1 small piece dead coral
1 medium clam shell
Running on a Fluval 402 with Eheim media and some crushed coral
150 watt Rena excel heater
Current inhabitants are
2 ocellaris clowns
2 green chromis
5 blue legged hermit crabs
The problem is that the fish are up at the top gasping. With my limited salty knowledge I did what a freshwater person would do. I changed 8 gallons of water last night. Things seem better until this morning again up to the top.
I can't figure out what the problem is with the Ph. Which is what I suspect is the main problem here. Being too low that is. When I add the salt to the bucket the ph goes to 8.3. After it is in the tank though it always drops back down to 7.8 to 8.0 again.
I check the carbonite hardness and general hardness of the tap water. My buffering capacity is fine.
What is making the ph in the tank drop? Is this the cause of the gasping fish. I want to fix this problem but honestly I HATE saltwater. I have never had any intrest in owning a salty tank, but he is my son and well any parent will tell you.
I wanted to put some nice Rams or a Discus in his room and was convinced by others to go nemo.
I am truly frustrated and am to the point of chucking the whole thing and going back to my cichlid idea.
Can anybody please help me out here?