Purple Firefish Back to Life!

[dkbush]

New to the hobby (almost a month). This forum has been a huge help so wanted to give back for what it's worth what happened with one of my Purple Firefish.

Bought established tank which cycled. We started adding some fish this past week, three of which were Firefish. After acclimating and entering our tank, our Dottyback and a new Wrasse were immediately harassing one of the Purple Firefish. He practically laid on his side on the sand in front of the LR, looked bad. My husband fanned the water around him to see if he would move and the Purple slid in a hole directly underneath the rock. Our Dottyback went crazy for several minutes trying to get to him, thrashing his tail and throwing sand in and around the hole. We thought he was already a goner. We checked on him constantly, could only see his eye, and no movement. That night about an hour before the tank lights go out, my husband was looking in the hole and thought he saw movement, figured it was the current. But on the chance the Purple might actually be alive, he started messing with our two powerheads, trying to strategically move them until he got all the Firefish, especially the other Purple, hanging in front of that hole. When he finally did, and the Purple laying under the rock saw the other Purple and immediately popped out of the hole. We couldn't believe it! That was two days ago. He has been fine since, eating good, hanging out, and pays no mind now to our Dottyback who has hasn't bothered him since.

We are worried about our Mimic Tang who we haven't seen since yesterday early morning. In the few days we have had her, she has hung out mostly behind our LR, but we would still see her occasionally. Can't find her anywhere, not even at feeding time. Going to be really upset if we lose another new fish.

Tested everything yesterday and again today and everything is balanced.



Tank: 220 G, 6'
Original Fish that came with the tank: Blue Hippo (Dori), Yellow Tang (Tank), Neon Dottyback (Flash), Firefish Goby (Alfie). Original Corals (all doing great): Pink Leather Finger, Red mushrooms, Frogspawn, Green Star Polyp, Zoanthid

Fish Added 2/26/15: Ebili Mimic Tang (Tippy), Chocolate Tang (Chocolate), Scopas Tang (Tinker), Klein's Butterfly (Klein), Cleaner Common Wrasse (Frick)

Fish Added 2/27/15: Purple Tang (Midnight), Lawnmower Blenny (Dragon), Diamond Goby (Dottie), Firefish Goby (Buckwheat), two Purple Firefish (Hanz & Franz)

Yes, I named my fish. My hubby thought it was silly, but I think maybe it's growing on him

[lifeoffaith]

You added too many fish too quick. It is usually best to add one fish at a time, with the exception of if you are adding a pair of something. Then you need to wait for the tank to catch up to the nutrient increase that the new fish adds to the tank. Saltwater is all about taking time. It helps that your tank is bigger, but your tank is still in the original number of fish mode and having that many new fish is bound to cause problems.

[snorvich]

Also please note that three firefish will become one firefish over time. There needs to be behavioral compatibility when selecting fish; the dottyback, while very pretty, can be very mean to small water column fish.

[jbvdhp]

Congrats, but you added that many fish without QT'ing them?

[dkbush]

We have been following the detailed advice of the Marine store that moved our tank and got us set up. We have been at their store and talked on the phone so much, they know us by name. As newbies, there is not much you can do to learn except read and follow advice of others that are experienced. We trust our Marine store and the owner and staff have spent lots of time with us. If we can't trust them to give us good advice, then who can we trust? We didn't add fish until they gave us the green light. And we only added those fish that they told us were safe to add, including the numbers.

Believe me, we love the fish and don't want to make mistakes that cost them their lives. And as far as using the various forums instead of our Marine store, well the problem with that is there are way too many opinions and there is no way to tell which opinion is the correct one.

No, no QT. We have never been told about doing that. In fact, the first I learned of it was on the forums. All we were taught was how to acclimate which we did according to the instructions given.

[gone fishin]

I will agree that some advice on a forum is better than others. But, that is true of any advice. One thing to remember is the LFS is there to make a buck first and foremost, While folks on a forum are just offering free advice for no other reason than to help someone. BTW in the new to the hobby forum there is a sticky on how to set up, it basically a book with various topics. Good luck

[dkbush]

Thanks, will definitely check that out.

[tkeracer619]

The difference between most of us and your LFS is we don't make money off you. In the end it's always up to you. Being new things are overwhelming, start researching and reading. Get some books, read the stickies, and ask a ton of questions.

Become informed so you can make good decisions. We're here to help.

I suggest researching a QT setup. I would not add any other livestock until you do and would monitor the fish you have now for disease. A 20 long is a great way to start.

[lifeoffaith]

Plus one on all suggestions. I also appreciate an LFS who is willing to work with you, but in this case they were very very wrong. Quarantine is one thing I have never done, but wish I had a few times, and I've never had the issues that some have learned the hard way due to not quarantining. With that many fish, and a number of them being Tangs, you are likely to have ich pop up in your system, particularly since so many fish were added at the same time, and the stress of dealing with an overly stocked re-cycling tank will only add to the problems. Tangs are particularly susceptible to ick and you have a whole bunch of them now to worry about. I would suggest bringing a number back to the store, but either way, keep an eye on your fish, keep taking readings and I would suggest more water changes for the first few weeks too.

[dkbush]

Thanks everyone. Yes, the LFS has been so much help and spent so much time with us, and in fact, there were two occasions when they would not sell us any fish because they said our tank wasn't ready. So we trusted them. They have given us a wealth of information, almost to the point of overload. So it's very disheartening to read that they sold us all these fish, taught us how to acclimate them into the tank, advised us against getting some fish I initially wanted to buy, and yet didn't tell us about quarantining. The Owner in addition to the Manager of the LFS has worked with us diligently, why would he not advise us properly? They seem to genuinely care about the fish and who they go to.

Having read all the responses, now we are stressed out completely and feeling very overwhelmed. Extremely worried about our remaining fish. Don't know what to do or what to look for? We still have never found our mimic tang, so we are certain he is probably dead. And now our chocolate tang, who was harassed by our Yellow terribly the first two days, then they were getting along just fine and she was active and picking rocks all day, now she seems lethargic, just staying in the same spot and not eating.

So far the other fish all look fine, including the remaining Tangs. Our Purple Tang is extremely active, eats well and looks fine. The Scopas Tang is fairly active as well and is also eating. Our initial Yellow and Blue Hippo are the same as they have always been, no change.

Maybe this hobby isn't for us. I'm wondering if all of this was a mistake. It's very stressful. We have watched video after video, bought several different books on saltwater tanks, have been reading them, read the forums, ask lots and lots of questions and still here we are.

[dkbush]

What's the rule of thumb on adding fish as far as numbers?

[ajherrera2]

I wouldnt get too discouraged by the suggestions being offered this hobby can be very rewarding. With that being said as a newbie the best advice I can offer to you and your family is that NOTHING good in this hobby happens fast. I learned that lesson the hard way. I too was very trusting of my LFS and went based off their advice. I wouldn't say that by them not telling you about QTing all fish prior to putting them in your DT is them trying to take advantage of your alls inexperience most LFS near me dont give that reccomendation either. The wonderful thing is that you guys can come onto this forum and ask for advice and suggestions. I can tell you that most people on here have gone through fish losses at one point or another and have learned through their trials with different fish and best practices.

You have to remember that all advice given from different people here is based on their personal experiences and trying to help guide you in the right direction. Keep your head up and stay positive.

My suggestion to you at this point is to slow down and keep an eye on your fish and water parameters as you have introduced quite a bit of a bioload (fish) and it may have an impact on your ammonia/nitrites due to insufficient bacteria to break down the fish poo, uneaten fish food and unfortunately any fish that has died and cannot be found. Best of luck

[lifeoffaith]

Don't get discouraged, remember that you're learning, even if it is in somewhat a hard way. I would do water changes probably at least every three days personally to try to keep up with the bio-load, 10% at least. This will at least give your fish a chance to make it past the cycle period the tank is currently going through. The nice thing is that you have a large tank to somewhat "take the hit" which will help. The problems are just made that much worse when you have a smaller tank, so you're one up there. The hobby is definitely worth it, and you'll learn sometimes the hard way (I have), but you're still learning.

[Salty Brother]

By the size and the amount of fish I would guess you are pretty invested so far so I would not get so discourage to quit, rather try to make it past this.

As with most hobbies we get really excited and want it all at once like the people that have the amazing set ups, however this is a decently expensive hobby.

I would have to agree and say the LFS was in the wrong letting you bring home that many fish. My rule of thumb is one fish at a time (unless a pair) and let them settle and get fat bellies before adding any more.

Keep us posted and put up some pictures so we can see the progress. Best of luck!

[dkbush]

Thanks so much for the encouraging words everyone. Much appreciated

[madweazl]

I dont know that water changes are necessary. Keep an eye on ammonia and nitrite levels and do water changes as needed. No sense adding stress to the inhabitants (and more variables since you're still new to the hobby) if there isnt a reason too.

[Mishri]

I'd think the tank is already fully stocked at this point... I wouldn't add anymore fish. (likely a bit over stocked imo).

Keep an eye on them for awhile. watch for diseases. that many fish so rapidly you could have some massive outbreaks and wipe out the tank. It took over a weak for visible signs of velvet to show up on one of my fish... wait at least a month before thinking about adding anything new if you do plan on doing it. (I would advise no more fish).

Local Fish Stores are hit and miss with advice, I hear a lot of bad advice at the one here. I heard a lot of good advice at my old one in another town.

[kendrid]

FYI: it isn't silly to name your fish. We have
Stan
Starry
Grumpy
Spotty
Angel
Princess
Mustachio
Blaze
Sleepy

And two urchins, Bob and Peggy.

[mandingCa]

Big fish losses hurt, and most of us learned a hard lesson at one point. You are not alone.

Our fish are like family members, so names are required.