Spent the last 3 weeks getting my tank cycled with a fish less cycle. Numbers were perfect and confirmed with my local fish store. I took home 2 small clowns today for the tank. Acclimated them by floating and then drip acclimation.
About 2 hours after they were added everything went south. They were bumping into the walls. Then it got way worse. One is swimming erratically, sideways, and even caught one upside down. The other is hiding in the rocks. I’ve tried running with wavemaker on and off to see what helps. I have the return pumps aimed at the surface now with the wavemaker off to try and get more oxygen into the water.
Could they just be shocked from the trip? Not sure what to do, this is my first tank. Appreciate any help.
Posted by codytags
14 Comments
Ammonia – 0
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – Around 5
Salinity – 35ppt
Temp – 78 degrees
What is your ph?
Turn down flow. Or redirect to corners of tank
Circling the drain.
7.8 PH is way too low, minimum of 8.1 to 8.4, all your other parameters check out if there right, but in saying that 7.8 won’t kill fast just make the fish stressed, sick and slowly die
Im not gonna lie 3 weeks cycling sounds like not enough to me. I let my first one go for 2 months. I’ve had it for like 3 years and the media I use in the filters help me Kickstart others faster
What was the salinity of the water they came from? How are you testing your salinity?
Sorry to be negative but this guy is a goner. Drip acclimation can be stressful, especially if it was a long trip followed by a slow drip. That can kill them. I always do a float and dump if salinity is within 2 points because the alternative can stress them to death. On the other end – if salinity from the LFS is too low (which they sometimes do.. unethical way to prevent disease) a quick drip can also stress them and kill them.
It is for sure not cycled enough. It could be a false read
Numbers were perfect for a cycle, a fish less cycle. Like, you tested the bacteria loads? Looks/sounds like the tank wasn’t cycled.
I always test my cycle with feeder fish for this reason.
Did you test now? Is there ammonia? Ph? Did you dump in LFS water?
Bring it back to the LFS and let them know. Maybe the fish will go back to normal once they put the fish back in the original tank and you can continue to cycle your tank.
Turn down the flow
I doubt this has much to do with you cycle. Looks like swim bladder problem. Some disease or injury I would guess.
GRAB SHELL DUDE!!
Got Nemo flyin’ rn