General questions

[Sam]

I started a 30 gal tank in march and put 15 lbs LR and 10lbs LS. I
cycled it for 2 months and then added several fish all at once which
turned out not to work, b/c they all died except my fire shrimp. I
then waited until Sep and added several turbo snails, a red-footed
snail, several hermit crabs, and coral banded shrimp, and blue damsel
fish which all seem to be doing well. However I have not seen a real
shift in the ammonia levels/nitrite/etc. My ammonia levels have
stayed around .5-1.0 ppm and I have had no nitrites and 10ppm
nitrates(maybe I got those last two mixed up) I have a large biowheel
filter, but the rest of the filtration I just use the live rock. My
questions are-should i have any power heads? My LFS suggested at some
point getting a UV sterilizer-is this necessary in a 30 gal tank, does
it sound like I'm doing something drastically wrong?

Thanks

[Adira]

Sam wrote:

> I started a 30 gal tank in march and put 15 lbs LR and 10lbs LS. I
> cycled it for 2 months and then added several fish all at once
which
> turned out not to work, b/c they all died except my fire shrimp. I
> then waited until Sep and added several turbo snails, a red-footed
> snail, several hermit crabs, and coral banded shrimp, and blue
damsel
> fish which all seem to be doing well. However I have not seen a
real
> shift in the ammonia levels/nitrite/etc. My ammonia levels have
> stayed around .5-1.0 ppm and I have had no nitrites and 10ppm
> nitrates(maybe I got those last two mixed up) I have a large
biowheel
> filter, but the rest of the filtration I just use the live rock.
My
> questions are-should i have any power heads? My LFS suggested at
some
> point getting a UV sterilizer-is this necessary in a 30 gal tank,
does
> it sound like I'm doing something drastically wrong?
>
> Thanks
>

I have a 29 gallon with 40 lbs of live rock and a protein skimmer, I
would get rid of the biowheel and get a protein skimmer. UV
sterilizers are pricey, and I think the cost doesn't justify it on a
tank that small. I would guess you got your big ammonia spike when
all your fish died.

--
Remember, wherever you go, there you are.

[BigBru]

First, find a new LFS. Second increase circulation, the return flow of good
skimmer will help. Third, more patience. Don't add any livestock until you
get your water quality issues under control. Try a different test kit.
Ammonia should not hand around that long.
Bruce
"Adira" > wrote in message
99...
> Sam wrote:
>
> > I started a 30 gal tank in march and put 15 lbs LR and 10lbs LS. I
> > cycled it for 2 months and then added several fish all at once
> which
> > turned out not to work, b/c they all died except my fire shrimp. I
> > then waited until Sep and added several turbo snails, a red-footed
> > snail, several hermit crabs, and coral banded shrimp, and blue
> damsel
> > fish which all seem to be doing well. However I have not seen a
> real
> > shift in the ammonia levels/nitrite/etc. My ammonia levels have
> > stayed around .5-1.0 ppm and I have had no nitrites and 10ppm
> > nitrates(maybe I got those last two mixed up) I have a large
> biowheel
> > filter, but the rest of the filtration I just use the live rock.
> My
> > questions are-should i have any power heads? My LFS suggested at
> some
> > point getting a UV sterilizer-is this necessary in a 30 gal tank,
> does
> > it sound like I'm doing something drastically wrong?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
>
> I have a 29 gallon with 40 lbs of live rock and a protein skimmer, I
> would get rid of the biowheel and get a protein skimmer. UV
> sterilizers are pricey, and I think the cost doesn't justify it on a
> tank that small. I would guess you got your big ammonia spike when
> all your fish died.
>
> --
> Remember, wherever you go, there you are.