So did I get a bum fish?

[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