Sorry--this might get long but I have many, many questions just to get comfortable with where I am after the "disaster".....
I will give the really short version to get up to date -- then the questions.
Bought a "used" 55 gallon tank with minimal live rock and few fishes. Everything made the "move" ok ....(*note* NASTY looking crushed coral)...and actually "seemed" to be doing quite well for a month or more after the move. Added 25+ pounds of Live Rock (over several weeks). Noticed a brown "mess" take over the place--on the beautiful live rock and glass...on the coral bottom .....but also noticed the fish seemed to be snacking on the "hairy looking stuff".....but also added "clean-up crew" (snails, tiny crabs) Began to notice the nitrates beginning to creep up...not an alarming level..but noticable difference....did 10% + water changes each week (duh--tap water) but nitrates stayed slightly elevated.
This next incidence may have started the whole disaster domino......2 damsels just "went missing".....could not find them ANYWHERE !!!! Looked and looked....picked up rocks (many, many times).....searched through tubes (with a flashlight) ...opened up heater tube...looked EVERYWHERE...no little fishies :(
Hubs thought the filter was likely nasty (and possibly the critter parts made it that far) and we carefully "cleaned " it...did not disturd the Chem-stars or Bio-rings--but rinsed the new filter pads and foam and ONLY replaced every other one of those.
About 2 weeks later I did buy 2 new fish....and everyone was happy --(sound of doom) then I noticed several snails were "missing"--empty shells (???). So, maybe the wrasse found them tasty--no idea what happened....but still others were thriving and sliming around....doing their nasty jobs.
2 weeks later (72 hours ago) I noticed the yellow tang "jumping" suddenly and darting around the tank......checked the water again and (oh-no!!) AMMONIA !!! Worked and worked doing massive water changes (25+ gallons) each day but feared "stirring up" all the crap was making it worse.....over 48 hours the whole tank was dead.... :(
Lost yellow tang, malanarus wrasse, koran angelfish, and my fav little clown fish :faint:
NOw, 3 days later I have a tank with the live rock still somewhat covered in brown stuff....nasty crushed coral I plan to replace with nice sand......a couple of snails and a couple of little crabbies left.....Boo-Hoo......
Question: mainly for the benefit of the live rock and "system"....
1) will the live rock be "OK" in the tank while I re-work the filter system to protein skimmer?
2) should I have lights on ?? or off??
3) What can I do for the next month or so (please--be specific--day to day, week to week) to get this mess turned around and start fresh after Christmas ($$$)?
Thanks.....
~debi~
I will give the really short version to get up to date -- then the questions.
Bought a "used" 55 gallon tank with minimal live rock and few fishes. Everything made the "move" ok ....(*note* NASTY looking crushed coral)...and actually "seemed" to be doing quite well for a month or more after the move. Added 25+ pounds of Live Rock (over several weeks). Noticed a brown "mess" take over the place--on the beautiful live rock and glass...on the coral bottom .....but also noticed the fish seemed to be snacking on the "hairy looking stuff".....but also added "clean-up crew" (snails, tiny crabs) Began to notice the nitrates beginning to creep up...not an alarming level..but noticable difference....did 10% + water changes each week (duh--tap water) but nitrates stayed slightly elevated.
This next incidence may have started the whole disaster domino......2 damsels just "went missing".....could not find them ANYWHERE !!!! Looked and looked....picked up rocks (many, many times).....searched through tubes (with a flashlight) ...opened up heater tube...looked EVERYWHERE...no little fishies :(
Hubs thought the filter was likely nasty (and possibly the critter parts made it that far) and we carefully "cleaned " it...did not disturd the Chem-stars or Bio-rings--but rinsed the new filter pads and foam and ONLY replaced every other one of those.
About 2 weeks later I did buy 2 new fish....and everyone was happy --(sound of doom) then I noticed several snails were "missing"--empty shells (???). So, maybe the wrasse found them tasty--no idea what happened....but still others were thriving and sliming around....doing their nasty jobs.
2 weeks later (72 hours ago) I noticed the yellow tang "jumping" suddenly and darting around the tank......checked the water again and (oh-no!!) AMMONIA !!! Worked and worked doing massive water changes (25+ gallons) each day but feared "stirring up" all the crap was making it worse.....over 48 hours the whole tank was dead.... :(
Lost yellow tang, malanarus wrasse, koran angelfish, and my fav little clown fish :faint:
NOw, 3 days later I have a tank with the live rock still somewhat covered in brown stuff....nasty crushed coral I plan to replace with nice sand......a couple of snails and a couple of little crabbies left.....Boo-Hoo......
Question: mainly for the benefit of the live rock and "system"....
1) will the live rock be "OK" in the tank while I re-work the filter system to protein skimmer?
2) should I have lights on ?? or off??
3) What can I do for the next month or so (please--be specific--day to day, week to week) to get this mess turned around and start fresh after Christmas ($$$)?
Thanks.....
~debi~