Help..will my fish survive?

[2thDockter]

Hi..I just found out about this helpful site..
I'm a new saltwater aquarium enthusiast, after reading the post here, i think im in a dilemma
I have a 50 gallon tank with 30lbs LR, LS, aqua c urchin skimmer, wet/dry filter in sump, heater, 4 actinic light in hood
i set up this tank 1 week ago, and being excited i bought 1 damsel, and added 1 percula, 1 mandarin goby, 1 hermit crab, and 1 small orange starfish.
all animals are still alive, I have a horrendous brown diatom algae bloom, covering everything..the tank has been up for a bout almost 2 weeks my test of the water shows
ammonia = 1.0 ppm
nitrite = .5 ppm
nitrate = .5ppm
SG = 1.019
i did 2 water changes 3 days ago..about 20 gallon change
Will anyh of my fish survive during the cycling process? and am i just at the beginning of the cycle?...do i just let it cycle naturally and dont do any water changes.? will my fish make it?? help

[JEFFTHEREEFER]

I wish you would have done your research before you added fish

You would have know that you need to cycle your tank 3-6 weeks before adding any livestock--not only did you waste your money but most likely killed your fish

I would start by doing water changes and keep an eye on your levels--and wish you GOOD LUCK

[icebear]

Better yet, see if the store who sold you the critters will take them back for store credit, when your cycle is complete go back and slowly restock your tank to proper level of inhabitants....


just get the fish out before its too late for them and just take it easy for the rest of the process....

[icebear]

PS, if the store employee(s)/owner that let you go home with all those animals, told you that it would be 'ok' to fill a tank that new with that livestock (specially the Mandarin), you'd prolly want to use any store credit they give you on drygoods, then take your stuff and don't bother to return unless they start giving you better advice.

[dbelshe]

or maybe the LFS will just hold your fish for you until it has cycled. But then again, the LFS should have warned you against buying them to begin with, assuming you bought your tank from the same LFS. At any rate good luck

And Welcome to TRT

[kal2310]

2thdockter, dont feel bad. I just went through the same probelm you are going through, seems there are LFS out there that are just after your money, they dont care how many animals die in the process. it really is sad. Good luck and I would suggest bringing these fish back to the LFS and tell them that you put in all of this time, effort, and money with them and that the least they can do is hold these fish until your tank is ready for them.

[aquadude]

I would highly suggest taking at least the mandrin goby and the starfish back to the aquarium store you bought them from, or better yet a friend's established aquarium or a LFS that is a bit more responsible.

Do some research on mandrins, you'll find they are not at all very hardy and success usually requires a large well established aquarium (preferably with a refugium to keep the the tank's 'pod' population healthy)

I have a hunch the LFS may have suggested that using live rock & live sand would prevent a cycle and allow you to add fish right away; from what I understand and from my experience, that is BS. You'll still have a cycle but should not be as severe. Keep an eye on your readings and feed very little and there is a good chance the damsel, clown, and crab will be fine.

In regards to the water changes, personally I would keep them to a minimum or not at all for the next few weeks. If the ammonia spikes to extremely high levels and you fish seem distressed, you might want to do a water change but resist changing too much at one time or too often - you may just prolong the cycle if you do.


If you decide to take out the goby and starfish - you may want to get rid of the damsel as well (but that is a whole other topic - might want to do some research on damsels as well)

Keep reading the posts on this site, there is some excellent information on the forum (of course, some crap as well - but over time you will be able to distinguish it from the good stuff)

Good luck and don't get discouraged even if you do have some losses; I think everyone does when they are starting out in the hobby.

[tims]

welcome to TRT
sorry you had some very bad advice from LFS.
i agree that getting everyone out is a must. if you wait too long before doing this you could risk burns from the rising amon. levels on the fishes gills. Just to let you know not every LFS is bad. yes some should be burned to the ground but not all.

IMO stay away from damsels all togeather. they tend to turn very mean later on. read up on them and look up chromis ( green) they are in the same "family" but much better attitudes. also if you want to add any more LR NOW is the best time to do it before the tank fully cycles.

HTH

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!!



a lot of research is needed to keep SW fish. most LFS do not have the time to research all they carry. they try and get the basic understanding of filtration and lighting and go from there. a lot then assume the fish are the same.

some SW fish have very specific needs, most FW do not. they are not accustomed to thinking that way. unfortunately there is not real way to know if you are trying to get into the hobby for the first time. you would think that a LFS would know exactly what is necesary to get started. a lot do, but some do not. it sounds like you were not lucky.

try not to be discouraged, we have all made that mistake, ok maybe not Tom, or Jerel, but the rest of us mortals did. try and return all of the critters you got, all you need is the LR to cycle the tank, and get some books. start reading, and asking all of us any questions you may have.

again welcome to this crazy mixed up hobby.

G~

[JennM]

Welcome to TRT, 2thDokter!

I've got 2 things to point out, and then a helpful suggestion...

1) Mandarins are "Dragonets" not "Gobies"... I know, I know, everybody calls them gobies, and IMO that's part of the reason so many die -- most gobies are no-brainers. Dragonets aren't...

2) Everybody's jumping all over the LFS for "bad advice"... In 2thDocter's post, NOWHERE did he/she state that they received bad advice from a store... rather:

i set up this tank 1 week ago, and being excited i bought 1 damsel, and added 1 percula, 1 mandarin goby, 1 hermit crab, and 1 small orange starfish.

Thanks, 2th for owning the mistake -- we LFS get raked over the coals enough for bad advice, and sometimes the raking is deserved...

Now, I would have asked questions before selling all that to somebody (except the Mandarin - I don't carry them), but really, unless a customer ASKS, sometimes LFS opinions aren't solicited... but I digress...

2thDocter, the advice you received here is good. I'd only add that if for whatever reason you cannot get the fish out of the system (nowhere to go with them, etc.) please add some dechlorinator to your water, it won't eliminate the ammonia, and nitrite, but it will bind it up and render it less harmful to your fishes' gills. You might want to stick a Polyfilter pad in your filter to help remove the ammonia from the system, and run your skimmer wet.

If live rock is cured, sometimes it can go into a tank without spiking the ammonia, but if the rock isn't fully cured, it will spike before the cycle completes in that tank.

Be sparse on the feedings, and if at all possible, find alternate arrangements for the Mandarin Dragonet - they tend to fail unless in larger established tanks with lots of rock and no competition for food.

We'll get you fixed up

Cheers,

Jenn

[Alice]

Welcome to The Reef Tank! We are here to help; we want you to be successful and your animals healthy, so ask away!