Lost a angelfish...literally... Also having trouble with PH

[Pink4289]

Is there anyway to save the fish without returning them to the store? Such as setting up another tank for each fish with a little sand and live rock with a filter?

[Pink4289]

WHAT A MESS!!


This WAS my Xenia coral...



Star Polpys have retracted and I haven't seen them in 4+days, are they dead?


This is a surprise. It has to be anemone since it has moved this week. It eats like a champ! Could this be saved if the star polyp rock can not be?


I did a 50% water change yesterday and the water is MUCH clearer.

Fish have white dots on them now...ICH?? Also there is brown/green algae everywhere.(my puppy ate my new algae scraper I bought)
I'd do another water change today but my gas is out(stupid landlord, his fault for not switching the service into my name like he said he would)so not hot water at all.

So is all hope lost? Meaning take a tooth brush to the live rock,empty the water and return the fish and start ALL OVER?!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

The problem with that would be that each tank would have to be cycled and be large enough to accomidate each fish. I might work but you might end up with 3 more tanks cycling and no where to put the fish. None of the angels would do well in such a small tank (my opinion) so you might be better off trying to get a refund or store credit while you let your main tank cycle. If that happens, it would give you more time to research and pick smaller and/ or fewer fish for round two at stocking. Angels haven't been known to be completely reef safe anyways so adding corals would be a gamble. A couple/ few small fish would be better and would allow for the addition of corals ( if they are reef safe). I wouldn't go as far as raising a stink at the LFS if you plan on returning as a customer. Letting management know the problems you had because of the advice given to you by an employee is something worth doing. It may or may not work out in your favor but if they value their customers, they should be willing to help. If not, online ordering has become very popular and there are many reputable sites to choose from. My vote is still to remove the fish until cycling has finished and the system has been given plenty of time to stabilize. Doing that might save you more money than you've already lost. That's just my opinion though so hopefully others will chime in and voice theirs. Heck, for all you know, I'm just another yahoo giving you advice not worth listening to. HTH.

[Original Fin]

I would just echo the advice that FoMoCoTech has given, and add that using water from tap is another thing that will cause a lot of problems for you. What you should have is an RODI water filter...no more than a $200 investment for a good one.


White spots on the fish is probably ich, at least you have to assume it is before you add any more fish to that tank. You need to tell the LFS that they have ICH when you return them...actually, you may want to call and tell them that first in case they don't have hospital tanks ready.

Please start here with a read on Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium
Next, read up on curing marine ich Curing Fish of Marine Ich
Here you will learn that in order to rid that tank of the disease, you'll now need to let it go fallow for 7 or 8 weeks. After that, read A Fish Quarantine Process so you don't ever have to go through this again.

[leebca]

Pink,

I think (personal opinion) the best thing to do is just realize you are dealing with someone/people at the LFS who don't know as much as you need to know to be successful in this hobby.

Making a fuss (raising a stink) would probably not improve their knowledge. Since you are so dependent on them for supplies, I would just return the fish and tell them you need more time to get your tank ready. Maybe they will give you a store credit. Even if they don't or won't give you credit you can take comfort in the knowledge you did the best you could for the sake of the fish.

Then, start reading -- a lot -- of the stickies in this forum and available on the Internet. Maybe even purchase a book or two. Then plan on what to do next. Once you have a plan, share the plan here or with other experienced hobbyists. At least compare the plan to the stickies, especially this one: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium. Any further suggestions, advice, or recommendations the LFS offers should not be followed until you've checked it out or unless you have in fact read about it and know it to be trustworthy.

You can explore different sources for your equipment and livestock by checking online/mail order suppliers, too. I still recommend that the best process is to be able to see and look at all livestock before you acquire it, even if the LFS isn't up on good marine life husbandry. Let the LFS take the risk of marine life that isn't eating or adjusted to captive life. Then use a carefully crafted process like this: Is The Fish Healthy? for choosing your livestock, after carefully researching the needs of the livestock.

I think you'll make a fine hobbyist. Just be patient, take time to learn this involved hobby, and you'll be happy with the results.