S.O.S.!!!
- Thread starter spryandspringy
- Start date
Can you ask the LFS to keep it till the tank is fully cycled? That might be your best bet, and assure them that if the fish decides to go for the worse, you did your best to keep it alive. I did this along time ago. Bought a tusk on two week old tank. Poor fish did not have a chance. I would ask the fish store to keep it a few days till it gets stronger again...if they let you. Keep us posted.
Oh by the way, try to keep your new tank away from any chemicals. That is the last thing you need while cycling a salt tank. You want it nice and green, not get brown algae.
Still no change this morning. At least she's still alive. It seems like acclimation is the issue, so wouldn't returning her to the LFS for recovery actually make things worse?
spryandspringy said:
If the problem is due to the tank not having cycled properly, taking her back to the LFS, where the water conditions are hopefully more stable, might give her a better chance of springing back to life. On the other hand, the added stress of being caught and moved again under her already stressed conditions may make things worse.
Have you tested the water again for ammonia or nitrites? How about ph?
blacktip said:
No change in water conditions as of this morning. They are exactly the same as they were last night. I'd be more suspicious of the cycle if I saw something change in the water quality, but it just hasn't budged.
The only parameter I don't recall seeing was the water temperature. Curious what it is. Also, have you taken your water to have it tested somewhere else, just to verify the test results that you are getting?
Unfortunately, at this point it looks like it is just a matter of wait and see. I hope she pulls through for you.
Unfortunately, at this point it looks like it is just a matter of wait and see. I hope she pulls through for you.
The temperature was a little high last evening (82 degrees) but is now at a steady 76 degrees. I'm at work now, and really hoping I don't come home to a dead fish. I left the lights off and the tank is covered for minimum stress.
Assuming your tank is cycled:
If there are no other fish in the tank, it might feel stressed and that's why it's hiding behind the rock. I suggest some dither fish, like green chromis or some wimpier damsels, like the blue with yellow tails. When they are feeling comfy, other fish feel as though there are no predators around.
How is the tank decorated? If there is only one big rock, it might be gravitating towards it because it's the only structure available.
good luck, but I never trusted fishless cycles and I feel that if your tank is around 55-75 gallons, you will need around 10 damsels to cycle properly
If there are no other fish in the tank, it might feel stressed and that's why it's hiding behind the rock. I suggest some dither fish, like green chromis or some wimpier damsels, like the blue with yellow tails. When they are feeling comfy, other fish feel as though there are no predators around.
How is the tank decorated? If there is only one big rock, it might be gravitating towards it because it's the only structure available.
good luck, but I never trusted fishless cycles and I feel that if your tank is around 55-75 gallons, you will need around 10 damsels to cycle properly
Thanks mbhw, but I think that's exactly the problem. The cycle doesn't seem to have ever begun. I'll test again tonight when I get home from work. Hopefully that testing won't be in conjunction with scooping out a dead fish. 
