Fish Tank Help

[Darcym1]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hello all....#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I recently purchased a 49G bow-front (in June 2005) and havebeen nervous to do much more with it than what I've done because I've had a couple fish die.So for the last 2 months, I've just been letting it do its thing. I just have 2 damsels (I had 2 neon-looking fish that changedcolors from blue to green-maybe damsels?) but they both died (I nowknow why) but I'm nervous aboutwhatto do now. I have 2+ inches ofsand, 2 large live rock (about $170 worth-ouch), a 150W heater, "LunarLight" brand 2-96W lamp lighting, and a BIOWheelfilter for up 75 G. I would like to know what I could do next and also what you think of the equipment I have-I just bought what the store basically suggested (I now feel they haven't been the greatest help as to setting up my aquarium)....I'd be interested in trying a porcupine puffer and another fish. I also don't have any coral or anemoneas. Any advice?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Let's start off with the basics here first to sort out where you and your tank are at biologically.

First question Have you tested your water, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. Any other tests you've run, specific gravity, ph ???

Next, did you allow the nitrogen cycle to take place before adding your fish? Did you add them all at once?

Unfortuantely, it's likely your local fish store (LFS) fed you a lot of useless info, not knocking them, they are in business to sell stuff not be subject matter experts. $170 worth of live rock, you must have gotten about 30 pounds or so.

The biowheel.... not the best investment you could have made, some folks use them for a while, then find they pretty useless for anything more than a paperweight.

But no worries, we'll get you on the straight track here in short order, meanwhile hold off on buying any more livestock!

[dakar]

And Welcome Aboard! Glad to have you with us as you join the ranks of those bordering on criminally insane, obsessive compulsive shoppers with empty wallets...errrrr... reefers & saltwater hobbiests!

[Darcym1]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I have takenwater samples to my LFS on multiple occasions and it has tested fine on all occasions.....I do not have a home kit to sample my own water but they don't seem to mindtesting it for me. Any other suggestions? I'd like to add a fish or two now that it has cycled for several months....thanks for your help!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#