So about 8 weeks ago I did a big upgrade to my 29gal biocube. I removed the back wall and added a 7gal sump / fuge and since then Ive had nothing but problems.
I used live rock rubble and crushed coral in the fuge, I agitated very little sand, considering what I was doing. I fully expected a small re-cycle so I moved all the corals out of my tank into a temporary holding area (the kiddos tank). And BAM, ammonia and nitrate spike just as expected, along with a huge snail die off. I took all the CUC out immediately as soon as I saw everything was starting to go, to avoid further ammonia build up.
Running carbon, chemi-pure blue and poli filter
I did remove majority of the fish as well, but there were 2 I simply couldn't catch and through the third day into the spike they seemed to be doing fine so I gave up on trying to catch them (was this my mistake?? Hmmmm)
As of now Ive done nothing to the tank other than let it run its course with the help of water changes and some bacterial additives, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere.
I get ammonia down to 0, and nitrates are staying at 20-30ppm, all other levels are fine. Theres nothing in the tank other than 2 small fish who are getting fed about once every 3 days have recently learned to eat from a veggie clip (to keep as much extra waste build up under control as possible, no food floating around the tank). Im doing 5-10 gallon water changes weekly.
Im afraid to add CUC, picked some up yesterday and they are currently living in a bucket because I don't feel like loosing another $30, but Im wondering if adding the CUC would help??
Am I having this issue because the tank wasn't fallow with having the 2 fish in it and allowed to cycle properly?
Should I replace the sand?
Im just at my witts end. Kiddo wants his tank back so he can start his seahorse build and Im not moving my corals until my tank is ready, I just don't know what else to do.
I used live rock rubble and crushed coral in the fuge, I agitated very little sand, considering what I was doing. I fully expected a small re-cycle so I moved all the corals out of my tank into a temporary holding area (the kiddos tank). And BAM, ammonia and nitrate spike just as expected, along with a huge snail die off. I took all the CUC out immediately as soon as I saw everything was starting to go, to avoid further ammonia build up.
Running carbon, chemi-pure blue and poli filter
I did remove majority of the fish as well, but there were 2 I simply couldn't catch and through the third day into the spike they seemed to be doing fine so I gave up on trying to catch them (was this my mistake?? Hmmmm)
As of now Ive done nothing to the tank other than let it run its course with the help of water changes and some bacterial additives, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere.
I get ammonia down to 0, and nitrates are staying at 20-30ppm, all other levels are fine. Theres nothing in the tank other than 2 small fish who are getting fed about once every 3 days have recently learned to eat from a veggie clip (to keep as much extra waste build up under control as possible, no food floating around the tank). Im doing 5-10 gallon water changes weekly.
Im afraid to add CUC, picked some up yesterday and they are currently living in a bucket because I don't feel like loosing another $30, but Im wondering if adding the CUC would help??
Am I having this issue because the tank wasn't fallow with having the 2 fish in it and allowed to cycle properly?
Should I replace the sand?
Im just at my witts end. Kiddo wants his tank back so he can start his seahorse build and Im not moving my corals until my tank is ready, I just don't know what else to do.
