new tank need help

[oswaldo1424]

Tank size-10g
Age of tank-new
Lighting-50/50
Salinity-32
Water temperature-78
Nitrites-?
Nitrates-?
Calcium (If applicable)-
Magnesium-?
Alk or pH-?
Dosing anything?-no
Any recent changes to tank-
Inhabitants (fish)-2domino damsel and some live rock


just started a new tank im a beginner had water set up for a couple days added 2 domino damsels and died next day any ideas?

[rodbuster229]

Your tank is still cycling wait at least a month before adding anything to it. Get test kits for nitrates phosphates calcium magnesium alkalinity and I might be missing one or two and test your water and once phos and nitrates are zero then you can add fish

[jason142]

Phosphates are not that important in the beginning and most test kits are very inaccurate. You are going to want nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia in the beginning. What are you planning, just a small sw tank with some small fish or are you wanting to get into a full blown mini reef?

[oswaldo1424]

i was trying to towards a mini reef just need to get pointed in the right direction any advise would help thanks

[Octoman4]

salinity and water temp dude... damsels are very resiliant and most can handle the ammonia spike ...

[Octoman4]

salinity and water temp dude... damsels are very resiliant and most can handle the ammonia spike ...

didnt read full post start with some hermit crabs was the live rock cured?

[oswaldo1424]

what should my salinity level be at and water temp?

[oswaldo1424]

im not sure if it was cured my cousin gave it to me from his tank

[Octoman4]

what should my salinity level be at and water temp?

depends on who you ask, fish like lower salinity, corals like it high... IMO just stick with 1.022 which is around 30 and temp should be around 78F... if the rock came from another tank that has been running for a while then it should be cured... check your, nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites for now...if you loose a few damsels thats ok kinda the reason to use them to start with. snails and hermit crabs are good to have first as well... once again this is IMO so if some one says other wise then take what you take from it

[oswaldo1424]

what levels should my nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites be at and if they are off how do i adjust?

[oswaldo1424]

i checked my salinity level and on one end of the tank its 28 and the other end 34 any ideas? should i add a power head?

[Octoman4]

Typically ammo you want 0 nitires 0, nitrates any where from 0-15ppm, but you want 0 on all realistically...ya add a power head to circulate you water better

[offroad537]

Everything. Should be low low ammonia should be very little or none ammonia is bad and well kill your fish wait about a mouth before you add fish

[jason142]

I keep my salinity at around 1.025 for my reef. Have you tested for those other 3 levels yet?

[oswaldo1424]

not but will after work ill post up the levels tonight