happyfishlover

This is my first post so hello everybody.

I've had a 16 gallon tank running for about 2 weeks. I cycled it with cured live rocks and we gave a water sample to the fishstore and they said our ammonia and nitrate levels were all good. So I haven't changed the water yet, it's been running on a bio/mechanical/chemical filter and I have the temperatuer at about 77F.

SO. Today I bought some first fish! I noticed one of the three Yellowtail Blue
Damselfish is darker then the others and wasn't quite as active. So I put them into the aquarium today and the two brigt ones quickly came out for some food and swam about. I coulden't find the other darker fish for the longest time. Eventually I saw it in a small corner surrounded by coral, sitting on the bottom, and kind've gasping? So what's wrong with him? He won't come out to eat, and he looks kind've pained. I'm really worried about him because, after sitting there for about an hour he's dissaperad again. Is this normal?? I read that damsels are ussally at the bottom or middile of the tank. Help please.

happyfishlover

bump

He's still gasping non-stop. I'm really worried.

nemo addict

hi welcome to fish lore ,,, how many fish do you have in this tank and whatare they

a 16 gallon you shouldnt really have damsels in as the tank is to small ,,
your fish is proberbly stressed ,,
also your temprature is a bit high and this will cause less oxegen in the water,
also being a new tank adding 3 fish at the same time has proberbly made your ammonia level to rise back up ,,,

happyfishlover

Thanks for the reply. All I have is the three damsels.
So I lowered the temperature, but I don't know what to do about the ammonia. Should I just wait it out untill he get's better?

morganrules

how is 77f to hot nemo. base SW temp is 80

happyfishlover

You were right about the temperature morgan, I raised it up to 79 because I noticed the fish were spending all thier time swimming around the heater. The little dark damsle died, but that's ok because he was sold to us sick.
Do you know what I can do about algae? I have an overwhelming amount and I thought the fish were supposed to eat it.

morganrules

the one that was breathing in a corner is he the one that passed on if not he sounds like hes very stressed out. do you have a clean up crew for the algae like snails and hermit crabs if not i would definitely reccomend getting a few of each they help out alot. what color is algae.

nemo addict

for most fish 80 is the high not base i keep mine at 75 which s lowest for most fish ,, suggested that temprature lowered as the higher the temprature the less oxegen in water and by taking down may ov helped with this and it wasnt 77 it was 79

happyfishlover

I do have both snails and hemits. The algae is a brown color. I think I'm going to buy an algae scruber at the fish store. Do you think that will help?

morganrules

is the brown algae on the sand or glass or on both.

nemo addict

your tank is new and will go through different algae stages just keep phosphates down and you should in a month or so reach the algae you desire coraline

you have diatoms at the moment , you will get hair and cyno this is nothing to worry about its known as new tank syndrome as long as maintaince is carried out regular this should just pass

morganrules

if its on your sand you could get something to stir up the sand if its on your glass go ahead and get the magnet. like nemo said your going through algae cycles