I did the bad...

bbones · Feb 15, 2019

so um.

today I decided was the day to start my saltwater tank... got everything, INCLUDING THE FISH! mixed IO by hand(used hydrometer) put my 6lb live purple rock in the (20 gal) tank, put in the water+conditioner, waited maybe 4 hours, then put the babes’ bag on top of the water before doing a drip acclimation.

THEN**** I read that a tank has to cycle. Honestly how screwed am I? I have two clownfish and an anemone. I have the bags open clipped to the inside of the tank. would they be alright in those bags overnight? Or? I don’t have any kind of water tester tonight aside from the hydrometer

Flippers4pups · Feb 15, 2019

bbones said:
so um.

today I decided was the day to start my saltwater tank... got everything, INCLUDING THE FISH! mixed IO by hand(used hydrometer) put my 6lb live purple rock in the (20 gal) tank, put in the water+conditioner, waited maybe 4 hours, then put the babes’ bag on top of the water before doing a drip acclimation.

THEN**** I read that a tank has to cycle. Honestly how screwed am I? I have two clownfish and an anemone. I have the bags open clipped to the inside of the tank. would they be alright in those bags overnight? Or? I don’t have any kind of water tester tonight aside from the hydrometer

No since the bags are open, as long as the SG is correct and temperature is 77-78, get them into the tank. First thing tomorrow, return them to the LFS you bought them from. Then let the tank cycle.

Do you have test kits?

Crabs McJones · Feb 15, 2019

Agree. Return them. Cycle the tank. And then look into livestock. Putting them in the tank now runs an extremely high risk they're going to die. The anemone is guaranteed to die.
Check out these threads before proceeding
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/beginners-guide-to-acclimation-and-quarantine.304980/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

VB313 · Feb 15, 2019

They need new oxygen and will be dead overnight! You be better off to remove them from their bag and just dump in for the night honestly than leave in bag Plus side is the fish will create ammonia to start your cycle.....But until the cycle they are exposed to high levels of ammonia and won’t survive if left in during cycle and I wouldn’t add a anemone till 6months - year

Katrina71 · Feb 15, 2019

A store sold you a tank and fish on the same day?

topjimmy · Feb 15, 2019

If they have bottled bacterial cylcle aids you can cycle it with the fish in the tank.

Evan28395950 · Feb 15, 2019

Following. I wish the best for you.

davocean · Feb 15, 2019

Eeek, agree, return and do it properly

Leslie Tabor · Feb 15, 2019

Katrina71 said:
A store sold you a tank and fish on the same day?

This was my first thought...

Leslie Tabor · Feb 15, 2019

topjimmy said:
If they have bottled bacterial cylcle aids you can cycle it with the fish in the tank.

The potential for the fish to die is still high and the anemone is NEVER going to make it. OP is better off returning the poor live animals and doing this properly.

bbones · Feb 15, 2019

thanks for the responses- I did end up putting them in. heart hurts knowing they probably hurt.

just hoping the live rock and live sand I put in there at least helped.

will report tomorrow

Dsnakes · Feb 15, 2019

First off - Welcome to R2R

you’ve came to the right place!

As already stated, returning them will be for the best. Let the tank cycle and get some life growing in there. Take it slow and enjoy!

VB313 · Feb 15, 2019

bbones said:
thanks for the responses- I did end up putting them in. heart hurts knowing they probably hurt.

just hoping the live rock and live sand I put in there at least helped.

will report tomorrow

Don’t sweat it your fish store should have known better but anyways Welcome to reef2reef your in good hands this hobby is a continuous learning experience and tons of research don’t be afraid to ask for help or opinions Out of curiosity what kind of water did you mix your salt with?

mtraylor · Feb 15, 2019

Prime will help

madweazl · Feb 15, 2019

If the live rock is truly live rock, the fish will be just fine. The anemone however, will likely struggle and I'd return it (regardless of whether they give you credit or not).

Zakery Murray · Feb 15, 2019

Katrina71 said:
A store sold you a tank and fish on the same day?

Was going to say that you may wanna find a better lfs store, every employee should know thats a no no.

dantimdad · Feb 15, 2019

madweazl said:
If the live rock is truly live rock, the fish will be just fine. The anemone however, will likely struggle and I'd return it (regardless of whether they give you credit or not).

This. exactly.

dantimdad · Feb 15, 2019

Oh and give me the address to the store so I can go back hand them into next week, please.

;Wideyed

topjimmy · Feb 15, 2019

I didn't see the anenome part. Yeah I agree take the animals back. Though the stress of multiple transfer might do it in anyway.

Coralmaniac21 · Feb 15, 2019

Youll be fine for awhile.

Get yourself this. I bought this 1 gal bottle for my 30g and 27g hexagon now 60g hex.. and poured the entire bottle in.... tank was cycled in 2 days i had 4 fish an anemone and 6 corals.. lost none of them... ammonia wasnt even present and i had nitrates in days.. feed the anemone

https://www.amazon.com/Fritz-Aquati...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DD2WZHVEB32SRVG2H2SW