Clown fish dying?!?! Do i still have time?? :(

[SneezingTetra]

I just set up a new 10 gal nano FOWLR rank. I have 4 lbs of cured Fiji rock and 50/50 8lbs of live sand and new aquarium sand. The water is still pretty cloudy after adding the water.

I have had the 2 clownfish in the bag since 6:30pm. It is now 10pm!! I opened the bag up for oxygen. They seems fine kinda swimming around now in the baggy. Can i add them anytime soon??? Thank so much!

 

[Biocube14]

Good luck on your madness.. It can be done.. My tank is living proof. However I waited 5 hours and a waterchange before I put my first clown in. The water wasn't cloudy anymore.

 

[BallinCrew10]

You should take the fish back to your lfs and get your money back. Your tank needs to cycle and its better to do a fishless cycle than to tortue them with the ammonia and nitrites. Doing a cycle with fish also takes much longer than a fishless cycle due to the water changes needed to keep them alive.

 

[thincat]

Is the tank "cycled"? What are you using for water movement?

 

[Biocube14]

You should take the fish back to your lfs and get your money back. Your tank needs to cycle and its better to do a fishless cycle than to tortue them with the ammonia and nitrites. Doing a cycle with fish also takes much longer than a fishless cycle due to the water changes needed to keep them alive.

I belive this to be true. My tanks been up for 2 months now and I think the cycle is still not complete. Alot of water changes that's for sure. But fish are happy. I wouldn't recomend throwing those fish in the tank you have pictured. The water looks torturous. IMO

 

[carey]

btw this was a double post. the OP posted and we talked to her last night on a different thread.

 

[MississippiFishGuy]

Hold you just set up your tank and tried to pit fish in it bad idea your fish will most likely die if you do that. I would go see if I return the fish but if your like and get your fish from Pet Co they will not take it back. But with future advice on acclimating Clownfish open the bag they come in and pour some of that water out and add some of your water this will help your fish get use to the new water I really just add mine after 5 or 10 after staring my acclamation I have 6 clowns in my tank now. And they all are doing great.

 

[BallinCrew10]

I drip acclimate everything I buy. Much simpler, just put them in a bucket start the drip and put em in the DT after an hour or 2 depending on how sensative w.e what it is you're acclimating.

 

[SneezingTetra]

I acclimated them for an hour with the drip method after another water change that night so the sand had settled. I had sand from an established 12 gallon nano and 4lbs of completely cured live rock from another reef tank. The clowns are doing well. Got the water tested today and 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 2ppm nitrate, meaning my tank has cycled. Keeping them in complete darkness for 3 days to help with the acclimation.

 

[CaptainAhab]

3 days? Typically you'll only lights out (for a few hours/overnight) if you have other fish so 'they' get used to each other. No need to keep em in the dark

 

[BallinCrew10]

Yea 3 days is excessive. He's not a pow with vital information. Just a fish in its new home lol. A few hours or adding them just when the lights go out for the night will do the trick.

 

[SneezingTetra]

They were not acclimating well and wernt eating. So the guy at my Lfs (very good store rated best in my area via multiple sites and reviews) told me to keep the lights out for 4 days to calm them. Now they are doing very well, good color, eating and swimming well. Thanks for all the help and advice everyone!