Caught fish, live sand, and un-cycled tank

zsxking · 11/29/2013, 05:07 PM

Hi guys,

So I went to beach to get some live sand for my new tank, wanted to let it help get the tank cycle faster. But then I also caught a puffer fish... So Now I have a bucket of live sand, a puffer fish (staying in the bucket I got him yesterday), and a brand new tank (still in package, just arrived today).

My LFS sells cultured live rocks. Should I buy some to help to get the new tank cycled? I assume that, as they are local and I can keep the live rock under water the whole time, it won't need to be cured and is ready to do filtration work, am I right?

I really want to keep the cute little puffer alive. What will be my best strategy to start this tank?

Thanks,

FTDelta · 11/30/2013, 02:58 PM

Where are you located? Check your local laws regarding catching fish. Most time it's illegal do catch fish for aquarium use.

FullBoreReefer · 11/30/2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsxking

Hi guys,

So I went to beach to get some live sand for my new tank, wanted to let it help get the tank cycle faster. But then I also caught a puffer fish... So Now I have a bucket of live sand, a puffer fish (staying in the bucket I got him yesterday), and a brand new tank (still in package, just arrived today).

My LFS sells cultured live rocks. Should I buy some to help to get the new tank cycled? I assume that, as they are local and I can keep the live rock under water the whole time, it won't need to be cured and is ready to do filtration work, am I right?

I really want to keep the cute little puffer alive. What will be my best strategy to start this tank?

Thanks,

My opinion, legalities or not, id let the puffer go first. Get the tank up and running, and in check then find another. It may take you a day to 2wks to a few months to work out issues. By then, hes a goner...

Beandawg · 11/30/2013, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullborereefer

my opinion, legalities or not, id let the puffer go first. Get the tank up and running, and in check then find another. It may take you a day to 2wks to a few months to work out issues. By then, hes a goner...

+1

wrott · 11/30/2013, 03:10 PM

Ditto, get tank going first. Will your lfs hold it for you?
And its not illegal to catch fish, just stoney corals and anything attached to LR (you probably need a fishing license).

zsxking · 11/30/2013, 04:01 PM

It is legal to catch fish with small net and not for commercial use without a fishing license. So in term of legal concern it is perfectly fine.

For the fish, I really want to keep it. If there is really no better way, I will talk to my LFS to see if they can hold it for me for a while.

FullBoreReefer · 11/30/2013, 05:23 PM

I'm not being rude but you don't even have a tank. Well, you do...but you dont...

Khemul · 11/30/2013, 05:58 PM

Well, if you are set on keeping it...

Having the LFS hold it wouldn't be a bad idea. Cured live rock would be your best bet to accelerate the process. You'll be rushing, which generally makes things more expensive and more likely to fail.

Have you IDed the puffer? Tank size is something you'll want to make sure of, since many puffer species get to be a good size.

slief · 11/30/2013, 08:11 PM

Sounds to me like you have little to no salt water experience. If you had salt water experience, you would have set the tank up and let it run for a while before you put a wild caught puffer in it. Let alone bring one home and keep it in a bucket without even having a tank up and running to put it in. That is just wrong and backass backwards!! Sadly, you will most certainly kill the fish and I doubt any of us are going to change your mind.

Hate to be the party pooper here but somebody has to speak up! You just don't go catch a wild fish to put into a tank that isn't even up and running and then keep the poor thing in a bucket until you figure out what to do. Your statement "I really want to keep it" says it all. You care more about your wants then the well being of the fish you selfishly pulled from the ocean to keep in a bucket until you figure out what to do with it. SMH

Let the poor fish go! Get your tank up and running and cycled. Then get yourself a fish!

acabgd · 11/30/2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTDelta

Where are you located? Check your local laws regarding catching fish. Most time it's illegal do catch fish for aquarium use.

I can't believe the first reply doesn't even relate to the question at hand. What has this world come to, everybody plays a policeman??

slief · 11/30/2013, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acabgd

I can't believe the first reply doesn't even relate to the question at hand. What has this world come to, everybody plays a policeman??

This thread says it all.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2354499

Policeman or not, the OP admittedly doesn't know what he is doing and has a brand new 18 gallon tank which most certainly isn't even close to large enough for his wild puffer fish. Nor is a 5 gallon bucket! If you think I'm wrong, so be it. This hobby is more than keeping fish in a glass box. We are supposed to be providing a healthy and adequately sized home to at least give them a fighting chance of survival in captivity! Perhaps the OP can learn something here!

wrott · 11/30/2013, 09:08 PM

Definitely put the fish back in the ocean asap. You never mentioned that you would be putting it into an 18g tank (10g w/ LR and sand). You'd need 120g at least, depending on species.

iadubber · 11/30/2013, 09:45 PM

Not sure if troll

acabgd · 11/30/2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

Policeman or not, the OP admittedly doesn't know what he is doing and has a brand new 18 gallon tank which most certainly isn't even close to large enough for his wild puffer fish

Well, then that's the reply he should get - not the "police" check your local laws reply!

Mr. Ballistic · 11/30/2013, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadubber

Not sure if troll

^I'm thinking this

Daimyo68 · 11/30/2013, 11:11 PM

Wow...

Take the fish back to the ocean.

Dump the sand (unless you live on a private island where local pollution isn't contaminating the sand) and go buy some dry sand.

Buy some live rock.

Put it all in your new tank.

Turn on the pump/s.

Come back in 6-8 weeks and let us know your tank has cycled.

There is more than enough reading in the sticky's at the top of these forums to keep you occupied and help you learn how to do this right while you wait for your tank to cycle.

FTDelta · 11/30/2013, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

Sounds to me like you have little to no salt water experience. If you had salt water experience, you would have set the tank up and let it run for a while before you put a wild caught puffer in it. Let alone bring one home and keep it in a bucket without even having a tank up and running to put it in. That is just wrong and backass backwards!! Sadly, you will most certainly kill the fish and I doubt any of us are going to change your mind.

Hate to be the party pooper here but somebody has to speak up! You just don't go catch a wild fish to put into a tank that isn't even up and running and then keep the poor thing in a bucket until you figure out what to do. Your statement "I really want to keep it" says it all. You care more about your wants then the well being of the fish you selfishly pulled from the ocean to keep in a bucket until you figure out what to do with it. SMH

Let the poor fish go! Get your tank up and running and cycled. Then get yourself a fish!

Well said.

11/29/2013, 05:07 PM	#1
zsxking Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 48	Caught fish, live sand, and un-cycled tank Hi guys, So I went to beach to get some live sand for my new tank, wanted to let it help get the tank cycle faster. But then I also caught a puffer fish... So Now I have a bucket of live sand, a puffer fish (staying in the bucket I got him yesterday), and a brand new tank (still in package, just arrived today). My LFS sells cultured live rocks. Should I buy some to help to get the new tank cycled? I assume that, as they are local and I can keep the live rock under water the whole time, it won't need to be cured and is ready to do filtration work, am I right? I really want to keep the cute little puffer alive. What will be my best strategy to start this tank? Thanks,

11/30/2013, 03:10 PM	#5
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Ditto, get tank going first. Will your lfs hold it for you? And its not illegal to catch fish, just stoney corals and anything attached to LR (you probably need a fishing license). __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

11/30/2013, 05:23 PM	#7
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	I'm not being rude but you don't even have a tank. Well, you do...but you dont... __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.

11/30/2013, 08:11 PM	#9
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Sounds to me like you have little to no salt water experience. If you had salt water experience, you would have set the tank up and let it run for a while before you put a wild caught puffer in it. Let alone bring one home and keep it in a bucket without even having a tank up and running to put it in. That is just wrong and backass backwards!! Sadly, you will most certainly kill the fish and I doubt any of us are going to change your mind. Hate to be the party pooper here but somebody has to speak up! You just don't go catch a wild fish to put into a tank that isn't even up and running and then keep the poor thing in a bucket until you figure out what to do. Your statement "I really want to keep it" says it all. You care more about your wants then the well being of the fish you selfishly pulled from the ocean to keep in a bucket until you figure out what to do with it. SMH Let the poor fish go! Get your tank up and running and cycled. Then get yourself a fish! __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 11/30/2013 at 08:20 PM.

11/30/2013, 09:08 PM	#12
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Definitely put the fish back in the ocean asap. You never mentioned that you would be putting it into an 18g tank (10g w/ LR and sand). You'd need 120g at least, depending on species. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

11/30/2013, 02:58 PM	#2
FTDelta Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,124	Where are you located? Check your local laws regarding catching fish. Most time it's illegal do catch fish for aquarium use.

11/30/2013, 04:01 PM	#6
zsxking Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 48	It is legal to catch fish with small net and not for commercial use without a fishing license. So in term of legal concern it is perfectly fine. For the fish, I really want to keep it. If there is really no better way, I will talk to my LFS to see if they can hold it for me for a while.

11/30/2013, 05:58 PM	#8
Khemul Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 988	Well, if you are set on keeping it... Having the LFS hold it wouldn't be a bad idea. Cured live rock would be your best bet to accelerate the process. You'll be rushing, which generally makes things more expensive and more likely to fail. Have you IDed the puffer? Tank size is something you'll want to make sure of, since many puffer species get to be a good size.

11/30/2013, 09:45 PM	#13
iadubber Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Farley, IA Posts: 224	Not sure if troll

11/30/2013, 11:11 PM	#16
Daimyo68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Palm Beach, FL Posts: 2,270	Wow... Take the fish back to the ocean. Dump the sand (unless you live on a private island where local pollution isn't contaminating the sand) and go buy some dry sand. Buy some live rock. Put it all in your new tank. Turn on the pump/s. Come back in 6-8 weeks and let us know your tank has cycled. There is more than enough reading in the sticky's at the top of these forums to keep you occupied and help you learn how to do this right while you wait for your tank to cycle. __________________ 120g, 50g Sump, SRO XP2000i, MP40W x2, DIY Hybrid LED/T5 Fixture, Apex PBMAS VP 2010-11 PBMAS 2017 President