AARRGGG HUGE salinity swing acclimating new fish

[SouthFla]

I won't get into all of the details, but I've been trying to add the last fish to my mixed reef for a while-a melanurus wrasse. My standard arrival/QT procedure is 45min formalin MS dip followed by QT with matching SG and prazipro/TTM treatment.

I found a perfect size healthy eating male at my LFS. Bought him, asked LFS to hold overnite so I could set up my QT. The LFS salinity was "1.021." Set up my QT to match, picked up fish next evening, got home and tested the LFS water: 1.012?!? Checked 3x's w/Milwaukee Refractometer :headwalls:

Unfortunately I only had 1 1/2 hours to acclimate the fish for reasons I won't go into here. The store was closed so I couldn't take him back, and I spent the time working the SG from 1.012 to 1.021. FEEL/FELT HORRIBLE...

After the dip, the wrasse went into the QT and immediately buried himself in the Tupperware of sand. I won't disturb him (if still alive) until TTM in 3 days.

Anyone think he has a shot of surviving (short term/long term) this ridiculous SG swing? I'm really so bummed I put myself in this posistion :thumbdown

 

[vhuang168]

Why didn't you make the qt 1.012?


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[SouthFla]

Because I'm an idiot...one of my rodi chambers cracked and started leaking as I was finishing QT water, got replacement delivering today...

In retrospect I should have just used tap water to lower SG... *sigh*. This is the first really stupid mistake I've made with my reef and I'm really ticked off at myself, especially if it results in the death of the wrasse...

 

[don_chuwish]

I'd be surprised if it has any ill effect. That's not such a huge swing and you did acclimate.

 

[thegrun]

It is a substantial swing, fish tolerate downward swings in salinity MUCH better than upward swings, and going upward from 1.012 to 1.021 can be fatal. The acclimation will help, keep your fingers crossed.

 

[SouthFla]

Update!!

Update!!

Well, GOOD NEWS so far. Came home from work, the melanurus was out from the sand, actively swimming and breathing normally. I put some frozen bloodworms in the tank and he inhaled them! Fingers crossed for continued health!

 

[roli112]

He'll be fine

 

[karimwassef]

Not a big deal. Some LFS intentionally run at very low salinity because it keeps parasites at bay. It's an alternative to copper.

The swing isn't that bad.