Everything went wrong need help now

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 02:23 PM

OK well I just got my new fish tank and its all going wrong. I tested water in a bucket and then put it in a smaller bucket to carry to my tank. when the tank was full it read 0tds. Then i added salt. I added way to much it was up to 1.040Sg so i had to take some water out then after i put new water in relized that the bucket that i was carrying to my tank was reading 45 and i couldnt test the tanks water cause it has salt in it. So then when i was taking water out i was wearing a glove that stared to let some water in and when i pulled my hand out there was soap bubbles in the glove and i dont know if they got in the water. So what would you do start all over or just keep trying to lower SG. My tank is a 29 gallon and there is nothing in it. Also if you read this please help i really need to know what to do asap. I really dont want to end up keeping how it is then find out i should have empted it after i put sand and stuff in. Thanks for any help Puffer21

AnAnemone · 05/05/2006, 02:26 PM

Start over, no big loss.
Better to be safe.
Also, now's the time to learn from your mistakes.
Good Luck!
TimO

skimmy · 05/05/2006, 02:26 PM

if you have a big skimmer and lots of carbon, i would just try to lower the salinity, otherwise i would just start over, and use r/o water from a supermarket dispenser, not tap water!!

jim293 · 05/05/2006, 02:29 PM

Start over then you know then that everything is right. No big deal.

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 02:30 PM

Ya that is what im using RO/DI for melev. The reason i was hesitant to start over is it will take longer and im in a rush. I know you cant rush saltwater things but my old tank leaked and i need to get this tank up and running so that i can get my fish, snails and hermits in.

XtrmCHoPZ · 05/05/2006, 02:31 PM

if theres nothing in the tank a couple of soap bubbles arent going to hurt anything, theyll eventually break down anyways. Since your tank is small it coiuldnt hrt just to take it down and start over though. When you add salt do it SLOW so there arent any more mistakes!

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 02:36 PM

ya i know that now i weighed it to the directions i guess i did it wrong i guess i will just have to start all over.

Randall_James · 05/05/2006, 02:37 PM

Fish??

ok now it is time to stop and re-read the part "I know I cant rush saltwater things"

You should not even have fish or a clean up crew yet IMO. The tank needs to cycle first (without anyone in it) and allowed to stabilize a bit first. You are surely going to compound this little snafu with a major disaster if you keep going here like this.

Not to play the bad guy (although I seem to a lot) but patience is your biggest ally here and you should embrace it

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 02:45 PM

no i know i had a tank it leaked. that is why im trying to go fast. i have fish in QT that need at least weeks so this tank really should be up in 6 weeks. I would have given the fish away but no one will take them. Also I have been keeping salt water for a year and a half. Also i have all cured live rock. so that the tank will cycle fast. I have my fish in a Qt. and the snails and hermits in a 10 gallon tank with a heater and live rock.

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 03:05 PM

OK just a quick Question I test the water in the white bucket read 0 now in my tank 15 is thatjust cause the tank already had salt in it.

Sk8r · 05/05/2006, 03:10 PM

Puffer, get absolute brand new stuff that has no 'special coating' or 'germicidal coating' or anything of the sort and keep it in a dedicated box. Get a second box to keep your test kits in and don't let the two mix at all (voice of experience.) That way you will definitely know you haven't gotten the measuring cup you used for reef chemicals and are now measuring bug poison or eggs for your cake with it---or vice versa.

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 03:11 PM

What do you mean by that i just got a little lost.

TJcop · 05/05/2006, 03:13 PM

Probably, due to the residue.

What did you do with all of your old water from the leaking tank? Was it possible just to transfer everything over into the new tank? Then you wouldn't have to worry about a cycle.

Best of luck, and I'm glad you dumped the soapy 29 gallons.

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 03:14 PM

I throw the water form my old tank out. And i was going to use the water form the tank that leaked but there was nitrates and also i wanted to use RO/DI.

AustinVines · 05/05/2006, 05:21 PM

I am way newer than you to the hobby so am probably missing something, but could you just do waterchanges with RO/DI until your SG is normal? Where is your LR residing while the leaky tank is out of commission and your fish are in QT? I had LR out of the water for hours (up to 24 for probably 15 pounds) and it cycled on me. Good luck.

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 05:38 PM

Well i could have did lowered the SG but i thought i got soap in the tank that is why i got rid of the water. Also my live rock is in a bucket. I had just got my fish so they needed t be QT they had internail parisites so they will be there for at least 6 weeks.

TOURKID · 05/05/2006, 05:46 PM

if its a huge rush maybe you have a friend or your lfs can give you used water? you know.. already cycled biological water. at least half your tank with that the other with fresh r/o salt water.

are your rocks covered in used water? i think if you keep it heated and a pump in there you wont get another cycle.

what did u do with your biological filter from your old tank? did you keep it wet? that would help too.,....

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 05:48 PM

I just keeped the rock.

TOURKID · 05/05/2006, 06:00 PM

hu?

TJcop · 05/05/2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by puffer21
I just keeped the rock.

What is the rock in right now? I assume it has tank water with it, and you have a powerhead and heater at the minimum, right?

Randall_James · 05/05/2006, 06:39 PM

Using "seasoned tank water" is of minimal value.

It might provide some seed stock of bacteria but the vast majority of the beneficial bacteria live on and in the substrate, rock and surfaces of the tank.

The water itself is pretty much neutral when it comes to removing ammonia from the system.

IF the rock was in a tank that was operating just fine, was not dried or left out of water for an extended period of time, it will do a fairly good job of removing the ammonia to a point. This rock in the tank with new water is a better place for fish than a bucket. DO HAVE water changes ready as if the ammonia starts to overwhelm the rock you will need to step in with water changes.

puffer21 · 05/05/2006, 07:06 PM

My fish are not in a bucket there in a tank.

Randall_James · 05/05/2006, 08:08 PM

good deal, just monitor for ammonia (an alert badge is really a good idea, they are slow to react but at least you have a visual aid to tell you things are ok at a glance)

puffer21 · 05/06/2006, 07:25 AM

ya i have one of the badges.

05/05/2006, 02:23 PM	#1
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	Everything went wrong need help now OK well I just got my new fish tank and its all going wrong. I tested water in a bucket and then put it in a smaller bucket to carry to my tank. when the tank was full it read 0tds. Then i added salt. I added way to much it was up to 1.040Sg so i had to take some water out then after i put new water in relized that the bucket that i was carrying to my tank was reading 45 and i couldnt test the tanks water cause it has salt in it. So then when i was taking water out i was wearing a glove that stared to let some water in and when i pulled my hand out there was soap bubbles in the glove and i dont know if they got in the water. So what would you do start all over or just keep trying to lower SG. My tank is a 29 gallon and there is nothing in it. Also if you read this please help i really need to know what to do asap. I really dont want to end up keeping how it is then find out i should have empted it after i put sand and stuff in. Thanks for any help Puffer21 __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 02:29 PM	#4
jim293 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 169	Start over then you know then that everything is right. No big deal. __________________ Jim293 110 gallon reef tank Current Tank Info: 72 Gallon bow front/ 110 Gallon Reef Tanks

05/05/2006, 02:30 PM	#5
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	Ya that is what im using RO/DI for melev. The reason i was hesitant to start over is it will take longer and im in a rush. I know you cant rush saltwater things but my old tank leaked and i need to get this tank up and running so that i can get my fish, snails and hermits in. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 02:36 PM	#7
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	ya i know that now i weighed it to the directions i guess i did it wrong i guess i will just have to start all over. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 02:37 PM	#8
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Fish?? ok now it is time to stop and re-read the part "I know I cant rush saltwater things" You should not even have fish or a clean up crew yet IMO. The tank needs to cycle first (without anyone in it) and allowed to stabilize a bit first. You are surely going to compound this little snafu with a major disaster if you keep going here like this. Not to play the bad guy (although I seem to a lot) but patience is your biggest ally here and you should embrace it __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/05/2006, 02:26 PM	#2
AnAnemone Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chipita Park, Colorado Posts: 310	Start over, no big loss. Better to be safe. Also, now's the time to learn from your mistakes. Good Luck! TimO

05/05/2006, 02:26 PM	#3
skimmy T3am Zissou Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 1,123	if you have a big skimmer and lots of carbon, i would just try to lower the salinity, otherwise i would just start over, and use r/o water from a supermarket dispenser, not tap water!!

05/05/2006, 02:31 PM	#6
XtrmCHoPZ Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 787	if theres nothing in the tank a couple of soap bubbles arent going to hurt anything, theyll eventually break down anyways. Since your tank is small it coiuldnt hrt just to take it down and start over though. When you add salt do it SLOW so there arent any more mistakes!

05/05/2006, 02:45 PM	#9
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	no i know i had a tank it leaked. that is why im trying to go fast. i have fish in QT that need at least weeks so this tank really should be up in 6 weeks. I would have given the fish away but no one will take them. Also I have been keeping salt water for a year and a half. Also i have all cured live rock. so that the tank will cycle fast. I have my fish in a Qt. and the snails and hermits in a 10 gallon tank with a heater and live rock. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 03:05 PM	#10
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	OK just a quick Question I test the water in the white bucket read 0 now in my tank 15 is thatjust cause the tank already had salt in it. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 03:10 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Puffer, get absolute brand new stuff that has no 'special coating' or 'germicidal coating' or anything of the sort and keep it in a dedicated box. Get a second box to keep your test kits in and don't let the two mix at all (voice of experience.) That way you will definitely know you haven't gotten the measuring cup you used for reef chemicals and are now measuring bug poison or eggs for your cake with it---or vice versa. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/05/2006, 03:11 PM	#12
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	What do you mean by that i just got a little lost. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 03:13 PM	#13
TJcop Throws Money Into Water Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 796	Probably, due to the residue. What did you do with all of your old water from the leaking tank? Was it possible just to transfer everything over into the new tank? Then you wouldn't have to worry about a cycle. Best of luck, and I'm glad you dumped the soapy 29 gallons. __________________ ~T.J.~ Current Tank Info: Starting over...again.

05/05/2006, 03:14 PM	#14
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	I throw the water form my old tank out. And i was going to use the water form the tank that leaked but there was nitrates and also i wanted to use RO/DI. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 05:21 PM	#15
AustinVines Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: One guess Posts: 219	I am way newer than you to the hobby so am probably missing something, but could you just do waterchanges with RO/DI until your SG is normal? Where is your LR residing while the leaky tank is out of commission and your fish are in QT? I had LR out of the water for hours (up to 24 for probably 15 pounds) and it cycled on me. Good luck.

05/05/2006, 05:38 PM	#16
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	Well i could have did lowered the SG but i thought i got soap in the tank that is why i got rid of the water. Also my live rock is in a bucket. I had just got my fish so they needed t be QT they had internail parisites so they will be there for at least 6 weeks. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 05:46 PM	#17
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	if its a huge rush maybe you have a friend or your lfs can give you used water? you know.. already cycled biological water. at least half your tank with that the other with fresh r/o salt water. are your rocks covered in used water? i think if you keep it heated and a pump in there you wont get another cycle. what did u do with your biological filter from your old tank? did you keep it wet? that would help too.,.... __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/05/2006, 05:48 PM	#18
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	I just keeped the rock. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 06:00 PM	#19
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	hu? __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/05/2006, 06:39 PM	#21
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Using "seasoned tank water" is of minimal value. It might provide some seed stock of bacteria but the vast majority of the beneficial bacteria live on and in the substrate, rock and surfaces of the tank. The water itself is pretty much neutral when it comes to removing ammonia from the system. IF the rock was in a tank that was operating just fine, was not dried or left out of water for an extended period of time, it will do a fairly good job of removing the ammonia to a point. This rock in the tank with new water is a better place for fish than a bucket. DO HAVE water changes ready as if the ammonia starts to overwhelm the rock you will need to step in with water changes. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/05/2006, 07:06 PM	#22
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	My fish are not in a bucket there in a tank. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

05/05/2006, 08:08 PM	#23
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	good deal, just monitor for ammonia (an alert badge is really a good idea, they are slow to react but at least you have a visual aid to tell you things are ok at a glance) __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/06/2006, 07:25 AM	#24
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	ya i have one of the badges. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)