help! new to reef keeping.

nig_nasty · 03/11/2014, 12:45 AM

i have a 20 gallon nano reef setup with live rock. i know i jumped the gun because i am too impatient to fully wait out a cycle. I had 2 damsels and 2 chromis' that i gave to a friend because i came across a beautiful gold stripe maroon clown and a pink spot goby from another friend. I put them in my tank yesterday and they appeared to be fine until now my clown is staying at the surface gasping for air. I have been trying ammonia control products as well as water changes and not much seems to help. it looks like it will die at any moment. I already fell in love with my fish including a pistol shrimp which already died. I cant lose my fish, what do i do? if they do end up dying what should i do from there? i have all the necessary equipment including tests. what would you guys do? please help!!!!!!

CoralReeForrest · 03/11/2014, 01:05 AM

First off give the fish to someone with a properly cycled tank so you can save them. Then let your tank properly cycle then put your fish back in. He's at the top gasping for air due to ammonia poisoning. Same reason the shrimp died. Try to get them out and save them. Believe me we all understand the want to jump right in and be impatient but if you truly want to enjoy this hobby you have to slow down and challenge yourself to be patient and do things right so as to do your best to let these animals thrive in our tanks. Good luck!

nig_nasty · 03/11/2014, 01:08 AM

thank you very much for the response. That way my latest thought and if they survive the night im hoping to move them to someone with a cycled tank. I now know I need to have patience because this is not fun. I really hope my clown survives.

nig_nasty · 03/11/2014, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoralReeForrest

First off give the fish to someone with a properly cycled tank so you can save them. Then let your tank properly cycle then put your fish back in. He's at the top gasping for air due to ammonia poisoning. Same reason the shrimp died. Try to get them out and save them. Believe me we all understand the want to jump right in and be impatient but if you truly want to enjoy this hobby you have to slow down and challenge yourself to be patient and do things right so as to do your best to let these animals thrive in our tanks. Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nig_nasty

thank you very much for the response. That way my latest thought and if they survive the night im hoping to move them to someone with a cycled tank. I now know I need to have patience because this is not fun. I really hope my clown survives.

CoralReeForrest · 03/11/2014, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nig_nasty

thank you very much for the response. That way my latest thought and if they survive the night im hoping to move them to someone with a cycled tank. I now know I need to have patience because this is not fun. I really hope my clown survives.

You're welcome I'm not one to be harsh on anyone. It's a lesson learned. Hopefully they live best thing you could do right now is dump some prime in there if you have any. Or do a fat water change and try to get it dead on ph wise and salinity/temp wise.

nig_nasty · 03/11/2014, 12:41 PM

Okay so my clown survived the night. Right before going to bed I did a water change and he seemed to appreciate that. But when I woke up this morning he seemed to be back to his unhappy state at the surface. He is now moving incredibly slow around the sand bed. I am hoping he will make it because he is absolutely gorgeous. Help

saltyair · 03/11/2014, 12:52 PM

try to add some carbon in your filter (in nylon sock) - check salinity, and temp. get the fish out and to a cycled tank.
what are you putting in the tank? what kind of flow do you have and is there oxygen exchange?

thegrun · 03/11/2014, 12:54 PM

Help was suggested (move the fish to an established tank or give it to a local fish store for credit), the rest is now up to you.

03/11/2014, 12:45 AM	#1
nig_nasty Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 5	help! new to reef keeping. i have a 20 gallon nano reef setup with live rock. i know i jumped the gun because i am too impatient to fully wait out a cycle. I had 2 damsels and 2 chromis' that i gave to a friend because i came across a beautiful gold stripe maroon clown and a pink spot goby from another friend. I put them in my tank yesterday and they appeared to be fine until now my clown is staying at the surface gasping for air. I have been trying ammonia control products as well as water changes and not much seems to help. it looks like it will die at any moment. I already fell in love with my fish including a pistol shrimp which already died. I cant lose my fish, what do i do? if they do end up dying what should i do from there? i have all the necessary equipment including tests. what would you guys do? please help!!!!!!

03/11/2014, 12:52 PM	#7
saltyair Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 871	try to add some carbon in your filter (in nylon sock) - check salinity, and temp. get the fish out and to a cycled tank. what are you putting in the tank? what kind of flow do you have and is there oxygen exchange? __________________ Johnny you know what to do, you know what to do. Bye for now - Eric the actor R.I.P Current Tank Info: 180 gal

03/11/2014, 01:05 AM	#2
CoralReeForrest Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Redding,Ca Posts: 1,010	First off give the fish to someone with a properly cycled tank so you can save them. Then let your tank properly cycle then put your fish back in. He's at the top gasping for air due to ammonia poisoning. Same reason the shrimp died. Try to get them out and save them. Believe me we all understand the want to jump right in and be impatient but if you truly want to enjoy this hobby you have to slow down and challenge yourself to be patient and do things right so as to do your best to let these animals thrive in our tanks. Good luck!

03/11/2014, 01:08 AM	#3
nig_nasty Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 5	thank you very much for the response. That way my latest thought and if they survive the night im hoping to move them to someone with a cycled tank. I now know I need to have patience because this is not fun. I really hope my clown survives.

03/11/2014, 12:41 PM	#6
nig_nasty Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 5	Okay so my clown survived the night. Right before going to bed I did a water change and he seemed to appreciate that. But when I woke up this morning he seemed to be back to his unhappy state at the surface. He is now moving incredibly slow around the sand bed. I am hoping he will make it because he is absolutely gorgeous. Help

03/11/2014, 12:54 PM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Help was suggested (move the fish to an established tank or give it to a local fish store for credit), the rest is now up to you.