Help!! (911)

[Aquatankstud]

Hey all....im not quite new to the hobby but new to this problem im having.....so ive started a new tank 30gal....and its been cycling for about 2 weeks now....i just got some new live rock to add in to help cycle more....anyway my problem is....as i was putting them in, i notice the store sold me a rock with a lil tiny baby coral? what should i do? is it going to mess up with my cycle if it dies? i dont want to kill it and the store is closed til sunday...? just need some thoughts? thanks

 

[Dr. Reef]

it will probably not survive the ammonia cycle. it wont mess up the cycle in anyway. u can chip the rock under the coral and try to take it to some friends tank or anyother taker but honestly it could bring pest with it to someones tank. i wouldnt worry about it much just let it cycle with the tank.

 

[Urchinhead]

Either put it in a separate container with fresh salt water an airstone or powerhead and a heater or put it in your tank. Depending on the coral it will either do fine or die. I am sorry that I don't have better news.

 

[Aquatankstud]

thanks for the info....its in there now i was just worried it woud mess something up....thanks again

 

[Ron Reefman]

It may not/probably won't survive the cycle if your ammonia or nitites get too high. But that's what cycling the tank is about. You put in LR and some of the live 'stuff' on the rock is going to die and put some ammonia in the water. If your LR is in good shape, there may be enough bacteria on it to process the ammonia and nitrites quickly into nitrates. Doing water changes while trying to cycle certainly isn't suggested, but if your LR is has enough bacteria and it processes quickly, you could remove the nitrates with a water change and save the coral. On the other hand, it's a small coral and getting your tank off to a good start is the most important thing you are looking at right now. The sacrifice of a small coral may be part of the cost. You could consider chipping it off the rock and taking it to a friend's aquarium? If you don't know other people that have an aquarium, I highly recommend looking up your local club and join. They can make the entire process of keeping a reef so much easier.

 

[asid61]

Just out of curiosity... is is like a stick or more like a polyp of a zoanithid?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I, personally, would do some water changes to limit the ammonia spike -- the end result will be the same, it is just extra work. I have always done water changes during the cycling process -- paid good money for the life on the live rock (( like your clam )) and want to do everything I can to preserve that life.