Keeping fish in a tank temporarily

[holden_smith]

I just bought a cubicus boxfish for a nano tank that I'm starting, I was wondering how I could keep it in my larger reef tank for a couple days until the smaller one is cycled? Please reply asap!

 

[Eckolancer]

Could stop at the fish store and buy a acclimation box baby fish net box or fish trap. But he should be ok.

 

[sc50964]

Boxfishes don't fare well with strong flow. They also don't compete well for food. How is the flow in your reef tank and what fishes do you have in there currently? Also need to know how big your reef is.

 

[holden_smith]

Reef is a 60 cube and flow is medium, just running on two powerheads

 

[holden_smith]

Should I just put it in trap box on the bottom of the tank until the other one is ready?

 

[sc50964]

It's probably okay. LFS sells them in small cubical as well. It won't hurt by adding more carbon or at least refresh the current ones in case if the boxfish somehow gets stressed and releases toxin, which happened to me in two separate occasions.

 

[Duke4Life]

What size tank is he in temporarily? Get the biggest plastic critter cage this tank will allow. Gotta think low stress and you may have to adjust your powerheads til he's moved.

 

[Duke4Life]

It's probably okay. LFS sells them in small cubical as well. It won't hurt by adding more carbon or at least refresh the current ones in case if the boxfish somehow gets stressed and releases toxin, which happened to me in two separate occasions.

Part of the risk in owning these. Like @sc50964 mentioned the toxins are of the wipeout kind.

 

[holden_smith]

How can I adjust the powerheads, I'm leaving the boxfish in a big container on the top of the tank, should I point the both down?

 

[holden_smith]

It's floating on the topwater

 

[holden_smith]

 

[Duke4Life]

How can I adjust the powerheads, I'm leaving the boxfish in a big container on the top of the tank, should I point the both down?

Just so it's not floating and bumping into things.

 

[sc50964]

Is there flow going into the box? It's hard to see.

 

[holden_smith]

No

 

[holden_smith]

It's floating above the water

 

[Duke4Life]

No

The plastic bag floating isnt a long term solution with no way for water to move/get exchanged.

 

[sc50964]

You may want to consider asking a friend or a store to hold him for you until his tank is ready.

 

[holden_smith]

There is no ammonia in the tank that it will eventually be placed in, but the nitrates are really high, what would you suggest doing

 

[holden_smith]

I will see if my lfs will hold on to it until the tank is ready

 

[sc50964]

There is no ammonia in the tank that it will eventually be placed in, but the nitrates are really high, what would you suggest doing

It's true that fish that's already acclimated to captivity can still live in water that's high in nitrates with no ammonia, but that usually only works when nitrates builds up over time. In your case, you shouldn't risk it.