Beginner help

zeliflush

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Hello I’m gonna give a quick overview
160l long tank, 26.7c, oase canister filter
I started this tank around the 20th of July with live sand and natural sea water. Aswell as bottled bacteria. I added 2 small clownfish and everything was going good ammonia and nitrite wise, last week I bought a fire fish some Xenia and gsp and since then the ammonia has been not ideal same for nitrites I have done water changes to combat that. But I recently went to the lfs and bought seachem prime aswell as seachem stability as the ammonia and nitrite wouldn’t go down. They told me to do a water change which I did (but they also told me to not change the water and instead dose with prime and stability as I’m not giving the bacteria a chance to work on the ammonia and nitrites. But it still won’t go down what should I do, and how much can I dose. Sorry for that spam just new to this hobby. The Xenia and gsp are doing fine the fire fish looks like it’s doing fine. And the clownfishs gills are a bit red. Any advice is appreciated I will post todays test results when I get home
 

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What test kits are you using?

How much rock do you have?

The tank is likely cycled if it has been that long.

Your corals look fine, how do the fish look? Are they breathing heavy? Eating?

What are they showing for ammonia? Nitrite is not toxic in saltwater so I wouldn't even worry about that one.

It is questionable weather prime does anything for ammonia. I would not be overdosing stuff (even fairly safe stuff) chasing numbers when inverts look happy.

If inverts look well and fish are struggling, it could be disease.

Can we please get a photo of the tank.
 

Mr. Mojo Rising

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If your fish are alive since July then the tank is cycled, thats 2 months. Can you share what is the actual ammonia and nitrite and nitrate reading? What kind of test kit are you using? That way our suggestion based on actual numbers.

If something is wrong with the clownfish then you should get a picture and post here for the meds to ID and diagnose.

Really no need to be adding bottled chemicals to the tank if everything is alive and fine.
 
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zeliflush

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Hello
What test kits are you using?

How much rock do you have?

The tank is likely cycled if it has been that long.

Your corals look fine, how do the fish look? Are they breathing heavy? Eating?

What are they showing for ammonia? Nitrite is not toxic in saltwater so I wouldn't even worry about that one.

It is questionable weather prime does anything for ammonia. I would not be overdosing stuff (even fairly safe stuff) chasing numbers when inverts look happy.

If inverts look well and fish are struggling, it could be disease.

Can we please get a photo of the tank.
 
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zeliflush

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Hello I’ll attach some photos now
The test kit is a Red Sea reef
What test kits are you using?

How much rock do you have?

The tank is likely cycled if it has been that long.

Your corals look fine, how do the fish look? Are they breathing heavy? Eating?

What are they showing for ammonia? Nitrite is not toxic in saltwater so I wouldn't even worry about that one.

It is questionable weather prime does anything for ammonia. I would not be overdosing stuff (even fairly safe stuff) chasing numbers when inverts look happy.

If inverts look well and fish are struggling, it could be disease.

Can we please get a photo of the tank.

Hello I’m gonna give a quick overview
160l long tank, 26.7c, oase canister filter
I started this tank around the 20th of July with live sand and natural sea water. Aswell as bottled bacteria. I added 2 small clownfish and everything was going good ammonia and nitrite wise, last week I bought a fire fish some Xenia and gsp and since then the ammonia has been not ideal same for nitrites I have done water changes to combat that. But I recently went to the lfs and bought seachem prime aswell as seachem stability as the ammonia and nitrite wouldn’t go down. They told me to do a water change which I did (but they also told me to not change the water and instead dose with prime and stability as I’m not giving the bacteria a chance to work on the ammonia and nitrites. But it still won’t go down what should I do, and how much can I dose. Sorry for that spam just new to this hobby. The Xenia and gsp are doing fine the fire fish looks like it’s doing fine. And the clownfishs gills are a bit red. Any advice is appreciated I will post todays test results when I get home
These would be the attached photos
 

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zeliflush

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What test kits are you using?

How much rock do you have?

The tank is likely cycled if it has been that long.

Your corals look fine, how do the fish look? Are they breathing heavy? Eating?

What are they showing for ammonia? Nitrite is not toxic in saltwater so I wouldn't even worry about that one.

It is questionable weather prime does anything for ammonia. I would not be overdosing stuff (even fairly safe stuff) chasing numbers when inverts look happy.

If inverts look well and fish are struggling, it could be disease.

Can we please get a photo of the tank.
I havent fed the fish in 2 days due to me being scared of Completely killing everything in the tank. But they seem hungry should I feed them ?. Breathing wise there not really going up to the surface or opening there mouth too much. There just swimming around
 

Tamberav

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I havent fed the fish in 2 days due to me being scared of Completely killing everything in the tank. But they seem hungry should I feed them ?. Breathing wise there not really going up to the surface or opening there mouth too much. There just swimming around

Feed the fish, just don’t over feed.
 

Tamberav

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Tank looks good, you will probably get diatoms and uglies soon.

Test looks 0 to me, these tests have a margin of error. Nitrite doesn’t matter. It’s not toxic.

Looks like happy corals and happy fish. Fire fish will often just hide if something is off.
 
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zeliflush

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Maybe I’m just being paranoid sorry guys
Guess I'll be the one to say it...where's the emergency?
Tank looks good, you will probably get diatoms and uglies soon.

Test looks 0 to me, these tests have a margin of error. Nitrite doesn’t matter. It’s not toxic.

Looks like happy corals and happy fish. Fire fish will often just hide if something is off.
Yeah it’s starting to grow on the rocks and sand bed. And I’m sorry for wasting your time just a bit paranoid. So the redish gills on the clownfish are fine?
 

Lavey29

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And for the record nitrites are irrelevant in reef aquaria and don't need to be tested if your tanks biome and filtration function properly.
 

Tamberav

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Maybe I’m just being paranoid sorry guys


Yeah it’s starting to grow on the rocks and sand bed. And I’m sorry for wasting your time just a bit paranoid. So the redish gills on the clownfish are fine?

It’s okay to be paranoid, too complacent and everything goes to heck.

I can't tell anything from the pic but I would just keep an eye on the clown. I assume nothing was quarantined and parasites can also cause inflamed gills. I would mostly watch for any scratching or heavy breathing or if the fish quits eating.
 
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zeliflush

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It’s okay to be paranoid, too complacent and everything goes to heck.

I can't tell anything from the pic but I would just keep an eye on the clown. I assume nothing was quarantined and parasites can also cause inflamed gills. I would mostly watch for any scratching or heavy breathing or if the fish quits eating.
Alright thank you I shall keep a heavy eye on it over the week then and if anything happens i shall update . And yes that was the correct assumption as this tank setup already cost me quite a bit, I appreciate the help though thank you :)
 

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