Onyx Perc from Booyah - But I think they're sick...

[sgrosenb]

I just got an order of a pair of Onyx Percs from Booyah's Reef (kerusso316) and they are GEORGEOUS! The only problem is, my tank is only about 2 weeks old, and it test very slightly for ammonia. Other than that, I don't think there's anything wrong with the water.

However, after a few hours of acclimatin the fish to the tank, they started swimming upside down, vertically, etc. and when I woke up, they were swimming sideways at the top of the tank, but certainly not dead.

Is there anything I can do to help these guys out? Would a water change help? Could my water possibly be bad? I don't understand what my issue could be...

Help please!!!
Thanks,

 

[gemmasicolo]

Try taking your water to a local fish store and have them test it to get a second opinion. 2 weeks is probably not enough time for the tank to cycle, but i'm not sure. Don't know what tests you're using but they could be defective, you never know.

Also, there could be something else in the water. If it's a new tank did you rinse out all the equipment first?

If you see the fish really stressed out and you don't want to loose them I would suggest putting them in someone elses tank, maybe your lfs will hold them or a local person in a reef club. I know my lfs has hospital tanks in the back where they take in emergency cases.

Are the fish breathing rapidly? Have you checked your oxygen?

Hopefully some more experienced people will chime in.

 

[gemmasicolo]

Also, it might just be that the fish is sick or are stressed from a rough shipment. Contact the seller and see if they can help you.

 

[jlemoine2]

Doing nothing at all would not be a good idea. What is "very slightly for ammonia?" If you still have ammonia, you probably are on the higher end of nitrites and nitrates. Did you measure those?

I suggest a large water change. If the tank is too large to do a large water change, you might want to consider putting them into a smaller tank until the cycle is over in your large tank.

There are some chemicals on the market that will lower your ammonia, but I have never used them before... but know a lot of people that do in these situations. Something to consider.

 

[tufacody]

Agreed. No level of ammonia can be considered "safe". Neutralize it.

 

[sgrosenb]

So I should do a large water change? It's a 29 Biocube, so a water change is no biggie. I didn't wash out much of the equipment, so that might be an issue. Will I mess up the process of the cycle if I do a water change right now? Or can I do water changes every few days and still cycle the tank?

Thanks in advance for your advice

 

[gemmasicolo]

I think the first thing you should do is get the fish out if they are not doing well. Do you have another tank you can put them in?

I'll let the experts answer the water change question. I was always told you shouldn't do water changes while you're cycling because it will just slow down the process. But, if it is some kind of chemical in the water then I don't think you have a choice.

Find out exactly where your parameters are at and post them so that everyone here can figure out what's going on and can help you.

 

[sgrosenb]

Ok - I know ammonia is at roughly .25 mg/L. What else should i test for?

 

[gemmasicolo]

Nitrite, Nitrate, PH............help me out everyone, what else?

 

[gemmasicolo]

Salinity!

 

[Moonstream]

why did you add fish when there was ammonia present? bad call there...

well, I guess they're their now, even if they shouldnt be. I would see if an LFS can hold them until your tank cycles, or maybe another reefer... leaving them in the tank most likely will end in their death at this point.

if no one can hold them (or take them, if that's an option), then you'll need to do a WC (Id do about 10g) now, and 5g whenever they start looking stressed from then on (no more than once a day)... the chances of them pulling through are, at this point, slim, though...

You should be testing for ammonia (should be 0), nitrite (should be 0), nitrate (should be 0), specific gravity (should be 1.021-1.028, target range is 1.025-1.026). once ALL of these param's are in control, its okay to start adding fish and coral, A LITTLE AT A TIME.

 

[patriots81]

my opinion is that 2 weeks is way to soon to add fish.

 

[Tahoe Reefer]

If the fish are stressed due to ammonia you can lower your ph to reduce the toxicity of the free ammonia. This is an emergency fix, I wouldn't reccomend dropping the PH in a stocked reef tank. Also increase the oxygen with an airstone.

Good luck.

 

[OrionN]

How are the fish. I hope they are still OK. In the past people have use clown fish to cycle tanks, not the one with LR but sterile tanks with just sand decorative rock and wet/dry filter (back in the 80's). They may make it OK

 

[sgrosenb]

Thank you all for your input. The fish are doing well - I fed them some super shrimp, and they ate it like a champ. I did a 50% water change and they seemed to enjoy that. I plan on doing a 50% WC every 2 days for the next week to help with the ammonia, until the tank is better cycled. I spoke with Booyah, and he seemed to think that the fish would do OK with a cycling of the tank. His fish are STRONG! and did I mention beautiful?

Hopefully they will do OK. My LFS told me that it would be OK to introduce fish at this time, but I guess I should have known better...

Does anyone know if water changes every few days is detrimental to the cycle / fish?

I'm curious, because when I ordered Discus from one of the premier discus breeders (Kenny's Discus - simplydiscus.com) he had me put the fish in a brand new, uncycled tank, and told me to do a daily 50-75% water change for the first 2 weeks until the tank was cycled. I did so, and the fish turned out phenomenally, as well as the tank.

Does the same hold true for a salt water tank?

Thanks,