Been 2 Hell & Back!

Right where to start - approx 3-4 weeks ago, following the addition to my tank of 2 Yellow Tailed Blue Damsels - all was going to plan - the shrimp, turbo snails and 2 new additions were happy as can be, levels were fine and I couldn't have been happier. Then.....................

I decided to add a couple of Percula Clowns, this was to be my final live stock, 2 percs and 2 damsels, the same day I lost one of the Clowns, and wasn't too sure why, I spoke to the shop and they said they would replace it, a day or so later, the other clown died - I was straight on to the shop for guidance/advice - levels were retested (but only by me) and back I went to my LFS for 2 replacement Clowns - these two went in and a first were fine - approx 1 week later, I had lost them both. I spoke to the shop and they advised to return with a sample of my water for them to test. Now this is where anyone looking to setup a Nano/Orca tank should take note:-

The Shop Readings Came out as follows:-

SG - 1.026 - a little too high
Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia - all present and ammonia had shot through the roof **
PH level about 7.9 - too low

I will continue my story in a sec - but for now this is where the advice needs to be given:-

Learn how to take readings perfectly - if you have never taken water readings before and measured them against a colour chart - you will need advice and tuition so you take the correct readings - thinking it looks blue and a bit green - so blue is the reading and that is okay - is not good enough - for me taking readings incorrectly cost me 4 percula clowns and around - £50. I then took my two damsels back to the shop for them to have, as I didn't want my poor tank conditions to harm them.

The damsels may have been okay - as they are tolerant to nitrites/ammonia, which was why they had survived.

So for fish that can take less than perfect condtions - go for damsels, chromis' etc - ask your LFS for details.

..............................the story continues

so my tank went from having 1x cleaner shrimp, 1x peppermint shrimp, 3 turbo snails, 2 blue damsels and 2(4) percula clowns to having just the clean up crew. The tank from approx 3 weeks ago looked fairly boring and empty - except for the shrimp and snails which to be fair to them and always remained happy and were loving the extra space they had.

So for 3 weeks, I returned to the LFS to take tank readings - every week, I came away disappointed as ammonia was present on every test, although decreasing steadily. Finally on Saturday 07th April, my tests results has returned to 0 for everything.........................I was allowed fish again - so this time I wanted to be sensible - so I (taking advice from my wife) bought 1 green chromis and 1 spotted hawk. They have now been in my tank for a few days, are extremely happy and the hawk is hilarious.

So my advice to anyone wanting it is, patients is a virtue, take your time, if your not sure ask, get all the help offered to you and don't put the first fish in to your tank until your levels have been checked by your LFS (unless your are experienced).

I have taken a steep learning curve and learnt the hard way, but in the end it has been worth it.

I now will be taking my time before adding anymore live stock.

Pictures will appear soon of my now replenished tank..