So did I get a bum fish?

[MikeDeL]

Ok so I bought my first fish last night, a Percula Clown. 18 hours later the fish is dead. Ammonia is at 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0 pH 8.3 specific gravity 1.025. It was about a 25 minute drive from the store to my house. I acclimating him by taking some water out of the bag and adding some of my water, and floated him for 15 minutes, then repeated. After that I netted him and stuck him in the tank and left the lights out the rest of the night. So was this guy just a bum fish destined to die or did I do something wrong?


Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Marvin]

Were did you buy the fish from? Can I drop by and take a look at the tank?

[captexas]

Hard to say for sure. How long has your tank been set up? How long had the store had the fish before you purchase it? It if just came in, it may have just been overstressed from changing water and surroundings so quickly.

When acclimating, you should leave all the water in the bag. I let the bag float in my sump for 15 minutes or so to let the temperature adjust. Then I add a small amount of water from the tank to the bag every 15 minutes until the original amount of water in the bag is doubled. Then pour out half the total water in the bag. Then add the fish to the main tank with the use of a net, do not pour any bag water into your tank. Usually a good idea to keep lights out for awhile so the fish can adjust to the new surroundings.

[MikeDeL]

Tim I bought the fish at AquaTek last night. You can drop by if you want. It would have to be late this evening or tomorrow, unless you can make it over in the next hour or so.


Thanks,
Mike

[MikeDeL]

The tank has been set up for about a month and a half.


Thanks,
Mike

[StephenA]

I'd call them about the fish. That sure is a short time for one to die. Most of my fish come from there and make the 25-30min drive just fine. Some of the Clowns were looking bad on Friday.

[StephenA]

I looked at the Percs, they looked better than the Ocel.

[MikeDeL]

Well I went in today and talked to them, and gave them some water to test. The water tested good, the guy said the hardness was a little low but everything else was ok. He said that if they had had one die on them over night he would have given me another one but none did. I guess I will get my hardness up a little higher and try again. What do yall recommend to raise the hardness?


Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Marvin]

Does the filter trickle on those tanks? If you fill those tanks too high and the filter is not letting the water drop an inch or two the water will lose it's 02 saturation and the fish will sufficate. I don't believe they have any suface agitation to help with gas exchange right?

[MikeDeL]

Well the water ripples up pretty good on the surface. Enough in fact that it creates a syphon effect above the water outlet in the tank. The tank doesnt trickle, there is a vent in the wall of the first compartment that doesnt allow it to fill up and over flow. I do have an air pump powered protien skimmer in back that bubbles the water some.


Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Marvin]

Hmmmmm... That rules that out. I guess try another fish.

[MikeDeL]

Anyone know what days AquaTek gets their fish in? I guess I will go in the day before do the fish will have been there as long as possible.


Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Marvin]

I beleive they come in on Tuesday.

[RobertG]

Guys this tank is a 12 G , It seems like it might have PH stability Problems. Small tank could this be an issue. Ph Drop could kill the fish or no?

[MikeDeL]

Well I guess I will pick up another one on Monday, unless they would be willing to sell me one when it comes in and let it stay there long enough for it to get over some of the stress. Would they do this?


Thanks,
Mike

[StephenA]

Have them hold one for you for a couple of days. They do it for me. I call them up Tue Nights and ask about the shippment. If there is something I want I ask them to hold until I get back on Friday. I also get them to feed them!

[Instar]

Mike, From the way you described you acclimation, it was incomplete, too short and that means osmotic shock. Thats a clown killer no doubt. Most LFS keep fish somewhere between 1.017 and 1.019 like the wholesalers tanks. Your tank is probably 1.02x and if its an on target reef its 1.025. You can't acclimate from 1.017 to 1.025 in less than 6 hours or more and have good results. I acclimate from that SG to my reef over 10 to 24 hours sometimes. You should measure the SG in the bag water and then in your tank. Measure again when you think you are ready. You will be surprised to find out that the bag has hardly changed in a couple hours. Occassionally a place will keep clowns as low as 1.012. Makes them seem healthy until you get them home. Best bet is to measure the water you bring a fish home in.

[MikeDeL]

Well I checked my pH before the lights came on this morning, and it hadnt dropped. I guess it was just the shock from the change in SG. I will acclimate slower from now on.


Thanks,
Mike

[Instar]

And for air if I have to acclimate that long, I put the fish or inverts into a 7 gallon bucket with a slow drip line and an open air tube to a small air pump with the end weighted and just under that water about an inch to inch and a half. Absoultely no air stones during this time, just the open air line straight to the pump.

[TimFountain]

I bought a mated pair of true percs from Aquatek on Sat. PM. Both are enjoying their new anemone! They run their tanks at 1.023 so this should not be an issue. I had them keep the fish for a week to ensure all was OK.
I think most of us have had the sudden death situation, I just put it down to a weak or stressed fish. I had a yellow tang that slowly died from not eating. Nothing would entice him to eat, and eventually the lawnmower blenny started picking on him for no apparent reason. In the end I had to put him out of his misery as he was in a hell of a state. I have had a new yellow in the tank for over 2 months, no problems…. go figure.

Hope you find out what the problem is.

- Tim