Fish just sink to the bottom and die...HELP!

[SKiboyOO7]

Here is what i have:
42 gal. Hex Tank
Canister filter for a 75 gal tank
Lace Rock and fake coral with live sand

The tank has been running now for three weeks, I went to put three fish into the tank to get the cycling going. I took my time adding so the acclimation process was done properly. When the fish hit the water they sank to the bottom still breathing but it was like they were stuck at the bottom, one fish went belly up still breathing after about 3 mins they all died. What is going on with my tank? I did a water test and everything is right on....HELP!

 

[jammerz]

what is everything? and whats right on?

 

[KahluaZzZ]

My water wasn't ready 3 weeks after. Got ammonia and nitrite swings. Both are poisonous. Took maybe 6 weeks on my 55 gallons. Did you had hardy fishes ? What were they. I had damsels, hardy and all..but they got sick 'cause my cycle wasn't finished. Like jammerz said..what's right on ??

Better get more details..

 

[SKiboyOO7]

the fish were electric blue damsels and the water was
8.2 for ph, Nitrite was 0ppm, Ammonia was .25 to 0 right in the middle, and nitrate was 0ppm.

 

[1979camaro]

your tank is not cycled yet...you should have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite before you add fish...you also do not mention your salinity or temp...either way, your numbers are not "right on" and that is most likely what killed your fish

 

[KahluaZzZ]

anyways...you got lucky ..yeah..'cause damsels are pests. Cute and cheap but you'll see if you buy some again. Try catching them when you have live rock.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

This early winter i had temp problems due to very very poor heater. A cheap 200W Hagen. Temp could have 8 celcius difference from night to day. BTW my apartment's walls are so sh!++y ..you don't have to go outside to know the temperature.
Not good for fish/corals. Everything is better with my Ebo-Jager 250 W. Precise and controls the temp perfectly.
Now for salinity. I accidently broke my floating hydrometer...before it broke, my salinity was supposed to be 1.024. With my new swing arm...i read 1.021.
Anyways...i'll buy very soon a refractometer..i think salinity is so much important that i or everyone should invest in something that gives an accurate result.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

8 celcius ?? Mhhh maybe 6

 

[SKiboyOO7]

Is there anything i can do to help the cycle process along, as far as the salinity goes my floating hydrometer is reading right in the middle and the temp is at 78.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

yes there is :

http://www2.shopping.com/xPC-Hagen_Cycle_Water_Treatment_4_oz_Plastic_Bottle

or you can put dead shrimps ( food ) in your tank.

But after 3 weeks, maybe you could just wait

 

[SKiboyOO7]

Thank you for your help sorry these must be stupid questions i don't trust the pet store anymore they seem lost and confused with these questions.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

hey those aren't stupid questions at all. Better post some questions than mess up your system. I started in september...so i've been there not so long ago . Search my first posts and you know what i mean. More experienced aquarists like 1979Camaro, Wayne, Sam Reef, Aresgod and i forget others were there to help me during the painful cycling process.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

And yeah...a lot of pet stores guys don't have a clue about SW. Sometimes it's good 'cause you can lower the prices

 

[1979camaro]

i wouldn't buy cycle, its just a waste of money

your best decision long term would be to buy some live rock, live sand is good, but live rock is much much better in terms of biological filtration. i know its expensive, but even just ten or fifteen pounds would do wonders.

another thing is you need to add fish slowly when the time comes. one a month, maybe less, until things really get settled down

 

[KahluaZzZ]

oh i tough i read that you already had live rock. Yep this is the best addition.
But i know couples of guys who uses cycle and are satisfied with it..
Sure it can be replaced with other stuff, but it isn't useless

 

[1979camaro]

everything i have read/heard about cycle says it just plain does not work...conflicting reports it seems

 

[KahluaZzZ]

yep.......

 

[KahluaZzZ]

Oh well in any case, aim for the live rock, SKiboyOO7

 

[SKiboyOO7]

I put about 7 pounds of live rock that I ordered online in my tank yesterday and there was an ammonia spike. This is normal and part of the process right? Everything else I read says this is normal so im just making sure. What is the next step also?

 

[KahluaZzZ]

Well yes. Ordering even cured rock online ( not that i did but ) will cause some die-off so naturally, ammonia will be there. Yep this is normal. I had damsels when i cycled ( not a smart move ) and removed partially some ammonia with Amrid and other ammonia removing stuff. The best thing to do is wait. The ammonia eventually will go away, nitrite will take place..When those too are undetectable, you'll smile.