Water results - Updated

E

Evangrant12

How is my water? My tank is a 40 gallon stretch hex FOWLR , 60 lbs live sand 25lbs of live rock . Approximately 2 weeks old and two damsels!


Ph---8.2
Ammonia---.0
Nitrite---.10
Nitrate--- 0 to .5
SPG---1.021

Tell me what yall think
 
@Evangrant12 wrote:
How is my water? My tank is a 40 gallon stretch hex FOWLR said:
You need to raise your salinity to get it between 1.025 and 1.026 ideally. I'd get the damsels out of the tank. It's mean to make them breathe the ammonia as it is poison on their lungs.
Click to expand...
 
I am a newby myself and so pardon me greatly if I step on any toes. However, at 2 weeks into your new tank, there is no possible way it has completely cycled. So, unless you are the one person on the planet to ever start a new aquarium and NEVER have a cycle, it will cycle. When it does, you will have spikes and swings. It is then that the fish will be helpless in a toxic environment.

On a side note... I often wonder if that is not why that species is so well known for being psychotic and mean... Maybe it is from the poisoning they endure.
 
@dwittster wrote:
I am a newby myself and so pardon me greatly if I step on any toes. However said:
Hahaha yea, I've wondered that myself too.

@Evangrant12 wrote:
My ammonia is zero said:
A cycle generally doesn't last just a week, unless you have everything in the tank that was established before hand and had no die off. Which can be done, but not usually. Even if you move a tank from one location to another location, you could have a mini cycle.

If you haven't given the tank a source for ammonia, then you're just in a big waiting game. You're better off getting them out now, before you add anything else ... otherwise you will come to regret it in the future. We tell you this, from our own experiences. Obviously, you don't have to take our advice. You'll learn your lessons the hard way like everyone else :).
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
@Evangrant12 wrote:
My ammonia is zero said:
Just like ammonia, nitrite is also toxic and can be harmful to fish. Even trace amounts of nitrites can cause severe stress fish and can lead to respiratory hardship and a weakened immune system, which then will make the fish more susceptible to disease and death.

Cheers,
Click to expand...
 
oh Yes im not claiming that my tank has completely cycled yet, I know that it takes more then a week. lol and for the damsels I dont see any harm in why you all want them removed right at this moment...? I dont have anything else in the tank besides the rock and sand ... Now when I start adding corals and other fish they are gone! They are literally just my starter fish, and I'm going to let them ride through my cycle and find another home for them after its fully cycled.

At my local LFS they said that a lower salinity rate is actually better for FOWLR tanks because it makes them breathe faster and causes more energy...? Myth or fact??? IDK
 
@Evangrant12 wrote:
oh Yes im not claiming that my tank has completely cycled yet said:
I think you're missing the point here. It's cruel to force them to breathe in poison and cause them health issues due to you wanting them to breathe in ammonia. Starter fish? What LFS are you going too? Salinity is salinity and I wouldn't think it would change from a FOWLR to a reef tank. Considering the ocean is consistent from non coral areas to coral areas.
Click to expand...
 
yes, I know it's cruel but this is my first ever salt tank and mainly the guy at the store was telling me that I could add a couple damsels he quite frankly never told me they would be breathing in poison! hahah you do have a point on the salinity idk what the heck he is talking about???
 
Well.......to be honest, fish can tolerate lower salinity levels so generally, FOWLR tanks are run from ~1.020-1.025. Keep in mind that running lower salinity levels does two things, first it saves on salt, [smilie=lol.gif] next is that it reduces the osmotic pressure within the fish which allows it to use less energy "breathing"(excreting salt) while allocating more of its molecular energy to its immune system . This a way to help stop stressed fish from becoming sick( or looking sick), and can also be used to aid in the treatment of fish that are already sick.


Cheers,
 
@Evangrant12 wrote:
yes said:
Being honest here, I don't understand the "lol's" and "haha's" concerning these damsels being stressed.
I also don't understand why you say you know it's cruel to keep the fish in a stressed environment, but don't feel it's necessary to remove them now. There's no reason to force the damsels to endure poisoning and high stress when you could just feed and cycle your tank without any fish being harmed. Then when your tank is ready and stable you can add whatever fish you really want for the long run.
Click to expand...
 
Hello,

My name is Stanley and I am a Reeferholic. Welcome to the meeting. Since you are new you must understand first that the folks here are just trying to help from experience. Please do not take anything said as anyone trying to be offensive. So far you have kept a very positive attitude and that is good. You must understand that one of the major focuses of Marine Aquarium Societies is to treat any and all species responsibly. Yes, your Local Fish Store is a good resource for information but I would suggest that you do not take everything they say as gospel.

You ask why folks keep telling you to remove the Damsels. First, while it is true that they are a hardy species and most likely will survive the exposure to the toxic chemicals it is just not nice to put them through it when there are other if not better alternatives of supplying a bio load for the cycle, such as an un-cooked piece of shrimp from you local grocery store. You can even put it in an old stocking to keep it all together and easily removed. Second, Damsel fish are territorial and will defend their territory. Any future fish will be harassed to the point of sickness and even death. OK, you said you would take them out, that they are just starter fish, and find a good home for them. So just imagine someone was starting up their pool for the year. It looks like a pond so they ask you go in and swim in it and clean it and live in it while they shock it with tons of chlorine or muriatic acid and whatever else until it is suitable for everyone else and once it is all set you can get out and leave so everyone else can enjoy it. Does that sound fair?

On the salinity/specific gravity issue. This is one of those things where everyone has their opinion and you need to listen, study and decide for yourself. Yes it is true that the ocean has a salinity of 1.026 but not all of it. Some reefs have lower some higher. So it would seem ideal to keep it there but there is also evidence that a lower salinity is less stressful to fish. I myself keep mine at 1.023 for reasons bimmerz has mentioned but I do not keep SPS. You decide what you want for your tank inhabitants.

I wish you the best in you adventure, enjoy yourself, learn a lot, and do not treat things too lightly. Your tank inhabitants depend on it.
 
Well Ive used damsels to cycle tanks before. Theyre extremely durable personnally I wouldnt worry about it. I think your water for now is fine. If later you add corals and such, yeah your water quality is more important. I personnally use tap water to cycle with and Mollies or guppies or Damsels.
 
Wow nice to fish! what about kidnapping them and sticking them in a glass box for life!!! [smilie=devil.gif] being a fisherman I find that amusing. Also after 20 years of keepin fish Ive killed my share.
 
I have a very good library that I've accumulated over the years and just about every one of my "fish" books says to start the cycle with a few very hardy fish. Damsels are VERY hardy fish and inexpensive as "starter" fish. Let's go easy on the new guy [smilie=smile.gif]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top