HELP! MY MOM BOUGHT ME FISH!!!

[M3d1C]

My mom just showed up a few hours ago with 2 snowflake clownfish and what looks like a zoa coral for my tank as a gift. The problem with this is my tank is only a week old and not cycled yet! I have the fish and coral in their bags floating in the tank so they don't get cold but I just tested my tank and my ammonia is still 1ppm. I called the store she bought them at and asked if they would take them back for credit or quarantine them for me but they won't. A friend of mine suggested a 50% water change and a bottle of nitrifying bacteria. What should I do?!

 

[theMeat]

Wow
Would def not ever go back to that store.

 

[DracoKat]

do you have an extra tank to set up as a QT? Set it up with salt water, heater and simple filteration.

 

[Cristy17]

Nice of your mom, very sweet. I would do what both above have stated. Definitely don’t go to that store. That is just not a customer oriented store..geez.

 

[AquamanE]

Wow
Would def not ever go back to that store.

Its been a while since my last time i cycled a tank, but agree with above!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[randilio1]

Nice of your mom, very sweet. I would do what both above have stated. Definitely don’t go to that store. That is just not a customer oriented store..geez.

+1

 

[Cristy17]

One more thing, add your location to your profile and see if anyone may be near by that can help you out. I read you have a 7 gallon tank. I would definitely use a bacteria additive ( I like Fritz) to speed up the process.

 

[M3d1C]

I don't have a QT and I can't take them back. I appreciate what my mom did and educated her on why not to do it again, gently I might add. To which she cried and I felt bad... I know clownfish are hardy and I have a big bottle of ATM colony a friend just dropped off. I'm mixing about 5 gallons of new water right now as I post this. I called the LFS here in my town and he said to try the water change and the colony and he would get me a piece of LR out of one of his tanks to help me. Is there anything anyone can recommend?

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Large water change would help but you probably need to do it offer to keep the ammonia down. Another reefer may be able to help, or setup a bucket with heat and water movement.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

They don’t need a lot of space, just fresh saltwater, heat and circulation. You could put them in anything that holds water. Change it everyday until ammonia is gone in your DT

 

[Steve_Skullsplitter0]

I'll take them.

 

[tankstudy]

If it were me, I'd do x4 the recommended amount of bottled bacteria. This should power house your ammonia down ASAP.

 

[fishguy242]

agree with all above ,do a water change ,add ammo reducer,keep fish floating ,when you get back w rock,do change add ammo drip acclimate clowns ,put them in ,they will be fine,as far as zoas freshwater dip in temperate water swish and add to tank ,then send us pics.. ps wash hands well after touching zoas.do not put any lfs water in tank put clowns in by hand no worries happy reefing

 

[randilio1]

Sounds like a plan. Colony works wonders. Clownfish are Hardy. Should be fine. The LR will help a lot too

I don't have a QT and I can't take them back. I appreciate what my mom did and educated her on why not to do it again, gently I might add. To which she cried and I felt bad... I know clownfish are hardy and I have a big bottle of ATM colony a friend just dropped off. I'm mixing about 5 gallons of new water right now as I post this. I called the LFS here in my town and he said to try the water change and the colony and he would get me a piece of LR out of one of his tanks to help me. Is there anything anyone can recommend?

 

[fishguy242]

ps do not agree w all above

 

[M3d1C]

agree with all above ,do a water change ,add ammo reducer,keep fish floating ,when you get back w rock,do change add ammo drip acclimate clowns ,put them in ,they will be fine,as far as zoas freshwater dip in temperate water swish and add to tank ,then send us pics.. ps wash hands well after touching zoas.do not put any lfs water in tank put clowns in by hand no worries happy reefing

Ammo reducer as in the bottle of colony I have or like a bottle of actual ammonia reducer.

 

[Brian_68]

Something like Seachem prime will take care of any possible ammonia, and nitrite in the early stages of introduction. Found at a local Petco or Petsmart.

 

[M3d1C]

What about the zoa?

 

[fishguy242]

fw dip and dunk it will be fine

 

[El_Guapo13]

Following to see how this turns out. Hopefully things will be fine and you (and your mom) can use this as a learning experience. Maybe use this to help educate your mom on the more complex particulars of reef keeping.

.... and then bring here to the dark side and have her start her own tank and become one of us here on R2R!!