Hi, I am new to Saltwater. I recently bought a 57 gallon cube AIO. I bought saltwater and live rock from my LFS, and he also gave me some filter media from his system. He gave me instructions to start the fish tank and in a week come back and introduce some fish to it to start the cycle. A week later on a Thursday he told me to add 2 Clownfish and also told me to add another fish which I chose a Singapore Angel as he said it would help to cycle the tank which I did. Over the weekend the fishe we're fine and about Monday 1 of the clownfish started to show a white slime on it. Which got worse and 2 days later ended up dying. The other clownfish, ended up getting the same disease but only showed it on Tuesday - Wensday and ended up dying too. The Angel fish is still in the tank and is currently not showing any signs of disease and is shy but doesn't look sick. Now looking back I realized I definitely rushed into this and need to be smarter about how I proceed. I want to ask for some advise on how to proceed going forward. Should I leave the Angel in or should I QT it. I read on GROK that the tank is infected and that I need to QT the Angel and leave the tank empty for 90 days. Can anyone help? Thank you in advance.
Clownfish
- Thread starter David Sutton
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I would find another LFS.
I'm against live fish for cycle, and they jumpstarted you too quickly.
Pull the Angel and either QT or surrender to another LFS.
I'd plan on going fallow, potentially rip clean and restarting cycle etc.
More on here can provide more information.
*Edit, @christinna77 is probably correct it should be "pre-cycled" but they still rushed you.
I'm against live fish for cycle, and they jumpstarted you too quickly.
Pull the Angel and either QT or surrender to another LFS.
I'd plan on going fallow, potentially rip clean and restarting cycle etc.
More on here can provide more information.
*Edit, @christinna77 is probably correct it should be "pre-cycled" but they still rushed you.
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None of what the LFS told you makes sense. If you've got live rock and media from their system, your tank was effectively cycled already and should've been able to support those fish. The trouble is they sold you sick fish (I'll let the experts determine what exactly it was), so I'd definitely seek a refund for that.
vetteguy53081
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Bad advise. You want to cycle the tank and then add fish once cycled as tank is subject to chemistry changes the first couple of weeks . Singapore angel meant for well established tanks and a typical cycle is to add amnia chlride then test with reliable test kit. When ammonia is zero or close to and nitrate is 20 or blow both for 5 days, tank is cycled and as clowns can become territorial, they are often the last fish I recommend added.
Better are gobies, blennies and cardinals for first fish as examples
Thank you for your response. My mistake, the water they sold me was uncycled saltwater. They told me that after a week I should test with the fish which is what I did. My question is what should my next steps be? Should I take the angel out or leave it in? And what should I do about the rest of the tank?
Looking back now. Yes I definitely should have done that. Hating myself for being impatient. But I want to make it right.
David. I’m guessing you are from Brooklyn ? If so where did you buy it
Pop coral?
Mosreef?
Exotic?
Petco?
Also did you add some cycling products? Like Dr Tim’s or something?
If you don’t have sand on there I would probably just empty the tank out completely. Let it dry out and refill again (unless you want to wait 90 days)
Pop coral?
Mosreef?
Exotic?
Petco?
Also did you add some cycling products? Like Dr Tim’s or something?
If you don’t have sand on there I would probably just empty the tank out completely. Let it dry out and refill again (unless you want to wait 90 days)
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Mr. Mojo Rising
10K Club member
I'm sorry but your LFS gave you some terrible advice, shame on them! Always google the recommended tank size for a fish, that angel should be in a tank double your size, and I gotta say it, there is no need to cycle with fish.
Personally I would return the angel to the LFS, help the clowns recover in a qt tank as prescribed by the fishmedics, and do some research and restart the tank the proper way. Good luck
Personally I would return the angel to the LFS, help the clowns recover in a qt tank as prescribed by the fishmedics, and do some research and restart the tank the proper way. Good luck
Yup,
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Jay Hemdal
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I agree, sounds like the clowns had brooklynella. Singapore angels can be very delicate. I avoid them, people who get them have much better success putting them into a mature tank, never a new one.
MikeReefs
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I personally would return the angel. And cycle the tank with Dr Tim’s ammonia and Bacteria such as Microbactor XLM. With a test kit you’ll be completely cycled in 3-4 weeks and you won’t have the stress of hurting your fish. I also live in NY I personally would purchase from more reputable QT sellers such as Dr Reefs and TSMAquatics in NJ that do full 30 day Quarantine.
I'm a bit confused - why is everyone saying OP still needs to cycle the tank? They received live rock and biomedia from the shop - shouldn't it be cycled already?
The saltwater doesn't matter - nitrifying bacteria lives in your rock, sand and any biomedia. I agree with others to take him back to the LFS, not because your tank isn't cycled, but because they're just not a good first fish.
Yes Never I mean Never go back to that LFS ! They Screwed you. Since your so far in leave the dead fish in and finish cycling the Tank. It is an Inhumane way of cycling. I am afraid to say you should have asked first. I used a method called fishless. Others use dead shrimp. If the Angle is still alive yes remove it thats my vote . I would just because its me empty clean the Tank flush the rock . Change the sand . And look up the fishless way of cycling . If your stuck I will post the procedure. But put some work into getting your current Tank cleaned up all is not lost
MikeReefs
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The question would also be how much live rock and biomedia for a 55. Would it be enough to instant cycle a tank and add 3 fishes the first week. Also what was the ammonia reading. The clowns most likely did not die from ammonia, more than likely it was Brook. That’s not to say the tank is or isn’t cycled yet. Ammonia readings would determine that
With that method which it is the dead fish then would supply the ammonia. Great way to do it if your a neanderthal
Can you elaborate a bit on that? As far as I understand, nitrifying bacteria lives in the rock, substrate and biomedia, and not the water. As long as the rock was kept wet the entire time, I don't see a reason it would need to be cycled again.
Well to be sure at the end of the fishless cycle you add ammonia to 4ppm wait 24 hours then should be zero ammonia and zero Nitrites. Other than that like you its just unproven Opinion no offense at all. I have never checked. I used Live rock and added Ammonia. It took a few days to see Nitrites. That's all I can tell you
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