Help!!!!!

[jaehyeokeom]

Hello, I am new to saltwater aquariums. I had no idea that I have to cycle a tank before I add any livestock. I brought two clowns from lfs, bought aragonite sand and three live rocks in 15gallon fluval tank. I understand some ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates swings can happen during a cycle. Since I already have two fish, should I use prime to lower those levels?
Will using prime slow down the process of cycling? How much should I feed clownfish during the cycle?
I recently did 100% water change bc my nitrates were over 160 (I think this was due to using old lfs water) Will having a skimmer help? Should I use bottled bacteria to speed up the process? What should I doooooo!

 

[Cell]

You are fine since you added live rock. Now breathe.

 

[jaehyeokeom]

You are fine since you added live rock. Now breathe.

I am just terribly worried I might end up killing the two fish..sorry If I sounded like I was out of breath LOL

 

[Tamberav]

Test ammonia for one

Bottled bacteria is ok to use. I like biospira.

The live rock may already be cycled if it was in the water at the LFS for awhile and brought home.

Don’t use dirty LFS water ever

 

[Yates273]

Take a deep breath and remember one thing. Nothing happens fast with saltwater. Since you used live rock you should be good to go. But remember patience is key. Just keep monitoring your water to make sure everything is ok

 

[jaehyeokeom]

Test ammonia for one

Bottled bacteria is ok to use. I like biospira.

The live rock may already be cycled if it was in the water at the LFS for awhile and brought home.

Don’t use dirty LFS water ever

Shouldn’t tank have at least 3ppm ammonia to keep cycle running? While the cycle needs ammonia to keep it running, clownfish are harmed by any level of ammonia. What should I do if ammonia reaches above 0? Should I lower the ammonia by adding more biomedia or bacteria or immediate water changes?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Add bacteria and do a water change if ammonia spikes. Get a Seachem badge to monitor but test too.

 

[Tamberav]

Shouldn’t tank have at least 3ppm ammonia to keep cycle running? While the cycle needs ammonia to keep it running, clownfish are harmed by any level of ammonia. What should I do if ammonia reaches above 0? Should I lower the ammonia by adding more biomedia or bacteria or immediate water changes?

No. It doesn't need ammonia to keep cycle running. Once bacteria are there, they are there. You said you used live rock? Like wet rock out of one of their bins? If so, you may not need to cycle.

Do water changes to keep ammonia under control. This is called a soft cycle.

Signs of ammonia poisoning will be red gills, fast breathing, hovering at top/bottom, etc.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Do you have a pictures of the tank?

 

[jaehyeokeom]

No. It doesn't need ammonia to keep cycle running. Once bacteria are there, they are there. You said you used live rock? Like wet rock out of one of their bins? If so, you may not need to cycle.

Do water changes to keep ammonia under control. This is called a soft cycle.

Signs of ammonia poisoning will be red gills, fast breathing, hovering at top/bottom, etc.

LFS had their live rocks in a cardboard box. I don’t think they were wet. At what level of ammonia should I do water change?

 

[jaehyeokeom]

Add bacteria and do a water change if ammonia spikes. Get a Seachem badge to monitor but test too.

is seachem badge accurate?

 

[jaehyeokeom]

Do you have a pictures of the tank?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

is seachem badge accurate?

not from what I've heard from a good number of people on here

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

What's the reasoning for having the water level so low? Is the water high enough for the heater?

 

[jaehyeokeom]

What's the reasoning for having the water level so low? Is the water high enough for the heater?

I can’t make the water level higher than the tank is at rn because my tank has a lid. My heater is not fully submersible, so its top will stick out. Once I put a lid on top, the heater will just shift below again.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

I can’t make the water level higher than the tank is at rn because my tank has a lid. My heater is not fully submersible, so its top will stick out. Once I put a lid on top, the heater will just shift below again.

Is it not an Eheim Jager? They're fully submersible

 

[jaehyeokeom]

Is it not an Eheim Jager? They're fully submersible

Nope, but I might get one fully sumbersible. My current heater (junk bought from LFS) won’t make temp go above 74F. Is eheim jager good at keeping temps?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Nope, but I might get one fully sumbersible. My current heater (junk bought from LFS) won’t make temp go above 74F. Is eheim jager good at keeping temps?

Yes, they're one of the better heaters on the market. The top of them look just like the one in your picture so I was confused haha Does the lid for the tank not have a section you can take out over the back of the tank? Or is the cut-out over the left chamber? I have a Fluval Flex 15 gallon but haven't used the lid so I'm having a hard time picturing what side the cut-out was on

 

[Tamberav]

LFS had their live rocks in a cardboard box. I don’t think they were wet. At what level of ammonia should I do water change?

Okay that is dry rock and not live.

Add biospira to cycle the tank quickly.

I would do a change when water creeps above 0.25.

This is what you should buy and add to quickly cycle tank.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/instant-ocean-bio-spira-start-up-nitrifying-bacteria-aquarium-additive-845-fl-oz-1452355?cm_mmc=PSH%7CGGL%7CCAL%7CSBU05%7CSH14%7C0%7CsfqVDtvf2PQaJRBRT9pity%7C58700007475749315%7CPRODUCT_GROUP%7C0%7C0&gbraid=0AAAAAD97F17ORXrhSnMA6U1ihul6G2kbX&gbraid=0AAAAAD97F17ORXrhSnMA6U1ihul6G2kbX&gclid=CjwKCAjwiY6MBhBqEiwARFSCPmomBqq0sTG_917ZXiOcphUpGRkGltLUBSEKdCrJIQZRu08EpJjwUBoC-b0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Cell]

It doesn't even seem like the water is high enough to reach the overflow. I guess there may be a lower opening? Is the return pump plugged in and water circulating?

Can you pull the heater and take a quick pic too? I don't see how that isn't a Jager, it looks exactly like one from above.