screwed by clown in pet shop

ahhhhh where do i start ?

after a few hours reading on this form iv realised the fool in my lps hasn't a clue what he's talking about.

Firstly the equipment,
240lt tank, heater, deltec multi-compact mc500 skimmer and fluval 405 filter. In the tank i have about 20kg of live rock sittin on 1/2 intch of crushed coral. I also have 2 clownfish and a cleaner shrimp in it 2 days. The tank is setup about 2 weeks.

The fool in the shop gave me 3 bottles of chemicals to use after i put in my saltwater, ammonia remover, water conditioner and biological aquarium supplement which i used following the instructions. Now i read i want ammonia at the start to help the cycle that i must have a chat with the clown about ! He told me once i tested for no ammonia and very little nitrite (it's less than 0.1) the water was fine hence the fish. now i am very worried im going to find my gorgeous little fish floating in the morning.
If someone can help will you please let me know.

 

typical lfs, ive never used chemicals to introduce into the tank, keep it true with natures bio

 

Reef Guru, I can't believe you stooped at that!

he is right though, no more chemicals, if I have learned one thing in my short time in this hobby it's is Read and Learn all you can, and be patient, very, very patient...

Correct me if I am wrong here guys, please.

I would first see if you LFS will take them back cause as you said you dint want to find them dead. And if that doesn't work (I betting it won't, sorry) do water changes to keep ammonia levels at a livable rate. Fish can take a higher levels of ammonia than corals can so they should be Okay.

and most importantly "DON"T PUT ANYTHING ELSE IN THERE" till the tank cycles! Which if you have done your Reading you know will be at least a month or more.

Good luck

 

To 3Reef!!! ​

Salutations! Glad to see you found way here!

RE: "..screwed by clown in pet shop.." - prompts quite startling visual image! - :

But, unfortunately, an all to common story. ---

Be patient, follow along here & again, "Forget those Additives"!


Good Luck!





;D ​

The Tao of Marine Aquaria
Tips for Our Hobby and Life

© 1997 Adam H. Whitlock
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan 11/25/00 ​

 

Those fish and shrimp should be ok during the cycling. Sometimes clownfish are used to cycle tanks, usually just one though... that's not that big of a bioload if you keep up with your water changes. Sorry, same thing kinda happened with my tank.

 

guy's thanks very much for the reply's ...Now im determanded to keep them alive, BANG !! chemicals just went in the bin. How often and how much water should be changed and do i keep the skimmer going 24/7 ?

 

Clown fish are closely related to damsels, hence they are fine for the cycling process and the initial stages of a tank set-up!

 

Amen!

The tank doesn't need any chemicals, do you think mother nature is out pouring bottles of stuff in the ocean.
I hope you learned a valuable lesson with the LFS, some of those people will sell you a flat tire. :-/
Hope all else is well with your tank.

 

Most do 25% once a month. but in your case you might do a 10-15% Weekly or BiWeekly. I personally do a 10% change weekly. Just dont overdo the water change. if you change to much, like 50% it will cause your cycle to start all over.

Hope the fish pull through. im sure they will be fine.

 

It's a lesson most of us have learned the hard way. Be very very careful about taking the advice at your lfs, keep in mind they are there to make money. Nothing wrong with that in and of itself but alot of them are only concerned with that alone. Ask them questions but then get second and third opinions. Some of the people in the lfs actaully have no experience with the products they sell, it's just a job to them. Ultimately you'll have to make your own decision but the best thing to do is keep asking the questions and get educated. The people on 3reef are very knowledgeable and won't intentionally give you bad information. You have to ask yourself what is in it for the person giving you the information, how will they benefit? If someone can offer you the "majic pill" to solve your problem (and by the way they just so happen to sell it) you should probably walk off and get another opinion. Good luck with the cycle and patience is the key word with salt water.