Accidentally Dropped Fish Store Bag in Tank

[PugsAndFish]

I picked up a fish today and while trying to acclimate, I dropped the entire bag in my display. The water in the bag from the store mixed with my display.

I don't know what the store uses in the fish system. What should I do?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Call them see if use copper in their main system.

If they do or they are closed, run some carbon, ployfilter or cuprisorb.

If have some water made up do a water change.

 

[MrObscura]

Nothing you can do but hope there were no pathogens in the water. But unless you were going to qt the fish, it probably doesn't make much difference.

Edit: didn't even think about copper.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

Call them see if use copper in their main system.

If they do or they are closed, run some carbon, ployfilter or cuprisorb.

If have some water made up do a water change.

+1 for carbon or polyfilter as soon as possible.

 

[Salty Lemon]

+1 for carbon or polyfilter as soon as possible.

+2

 

[PugsAndFish]

+2

Is polyfilter special or will a floss like the lifegard prefilter pad work?

Not worried about pathogens at all. The store is pristine. Just concerned about copper.

 

[sfin52]

how big is your DT and how much water is it that you dropped in.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

If it’s anything like the lfs in the uk then a lot of shops will use a small amount of copper in their systems. Unfortunately what is done is done and you can only take steps to deal with it. polyfilter or carbon will take care of any small amount of copper. I would do a water change too though to help dilute anything bad and keep an eye on everything. Run some tests and see what your levels are. Have you spoken to the shop?

 

[PugsAndFish]

how big is your DT and how much water is it that you dropped in.

45 total. It’s a Red Sea 170.

The total water was probably a few cups. It was one fish in a usual lfs bag

 

[PugsAndFish]

If it’s anything like the lfs in the uk then a lot of shops will use a small amount of copper in their systems. Unfortunately what is done is done and you can only take steps to deal with it. polyfilter or carbon will take care of any small amount of copper. I would do a water change too though to help dilute anything bad and keep an eye on everything. Run some tests and see what your levels are. Have you spoken to the shop?

It’s Sunday evening so I haven’t heard back yet from the store.

How big of a wc should I do? My tank is 45g.

Also what should I be looking for to see if there are ill effects and how long should I expect to see bad effects - immediately, few hours, days?

 

[ShaunRobinson]

You probably won't see any effects on any fish but your corals may start sulking and not looking great. Hopefully you are dealing with nothing worse than a few nitrates.

 

[PugsAndFish]

You probably won't see any effects on any fish but your corals may start sulking and not looking great. Hopefully you are dealing with nothing worse than a few nitrates.

Can you explain how nitrate has to do with copper?

 

[cracker]

Just 2 cups into 45 gallons? what small amount of copper would very diluted . Do a water change I think you will be just fine .

 

[ShaunRobinson]

Can you explain how nitrate has to do with copper?

Nothing at all to do with copper mate, it's just a lot of lfs water can be fairly high in nitrates due to the amount of fish in their systems. I sometimes test the water from my lfs when I buy a fish and find elevated nitrates. It wont cause any problems though and I just mentioned it because you may see it if you run tests. As above a 10-20% water change to dilute anything down will hopefully give you peace of mind.

 

[sfin52]

Just 2 cups into 45 gallons? what small amount of copper would very diluted . Do a water change I think you will be just fine .

thats my thoughts. Nitrates I would not worry about but its the copper. But in that much water volume and running carbon I doubt it will be a big deal.

 

[PugsAndFish]

thats my thoughts. Nitrates I would not worry about but its the copper. But in that much water volume and running carbon I doubt it will be a big deal.

Good to hear. Probably more than 2 cups judging by the size of the bag but it was a bag for a single royal gramma only. Anyways, I am doing a 20% wc, added carbon and will keep an eye on the corals. If there indeed is a problem, how long would it be before I see signs? Would just like to know when I can sleep easy lol

 

[cracker]

Good pugs ! do a big w/c & keep an eye on everybody !

 

[ShaunRobinson]

You are doing everything you can mate and if it were me I would sleep easy. What corals do you have in the tank? Inverts? If you are running copper and have done a water change I would be very surprised if you looked in the tank tomorrow and everything wasn't normal.

 

[jsvand5]

Even if they were running copper at the LFS you’ll be fine. The levels in your tank will be undetectable. Running carbon would be a good idea if you have some but you’re not going to see any negative effect regardless. I’d be much more worried about the fish introducing a pathogen

 

[PugsAndFish]

Even if they were running copper at the LFS you’ll be fine. The levels in your tank will be undetectable. Running carbon would be a good idea if you have some but you’re not going to see any negative effect regardless. I’d be much more worried about the fish introducing a pathogen

Running carbon and finished the 20% wc. Things look okay but going to pick up polyfilter to be safe. I'm just wondering after how long I can be sure copper will not be a problem ever.

Also luckily not worried about pathogens. The store owner does things the right way and I've never had a problem with them. I travel hours just to get stuff from them just cause it's so clean