Dead fish

[Elmer]

So my wife couldn't wait for the cycle to complete and bought 2 clown fish after I told her bad idea after a 2 hours drive home I dripped them for another 2 hours then added them to the tank along with some hermits. Wake up the next morning to one clown dead on the bottom remove it and see the hermits are alive and well and the other clown is alive and well and leave it for the day wake up this next morning clown seems to be okay and I go to work come home at lunch to check everything and the clown is no where to be found check sump check floor check everywhere other then tearing the whole thing apart or moving rocks.. still haven't found it will it be okay to leave in their if I'm still cycling or should I find it and get it out all hermits are still alive?

 

[domination2580]

How far along is the cycle? What are the tank parameters?

 

[Elmer]

Like 2 weeks into the cycle and ammonia was really 2 days before she brought fish home

 

[Elmer]

The only thing in their now is 5 hermits and some zoas that came on some rocks I bought

 

[domination2580]

So the ammonia is still high? Or are the nitrites high?

 

[Elmer]

Ammonia is really high nitrates didn't show I was just wondering if I should find the fish in the morning I'll do a water test

 

[domination2580]

Get him out asap. If ammonia is really high your just starting your cycle. Ammonia will kill fish. Once ur ammonia is at zero ur nitrite will rise and then fall. Once ur nitrites are at 0 it is safe to add fish but slowly.

 

[Humblefish]

Get him out asap. If ammonia is really high your just starting your cycle. Ammonia will kill fish. Once ur ammonia is at zero ur nitrite will rise and then fall. Once ur nitrites are at 0 it is safe to add fish but slowly.

This. Plus you need to wait until you have consistent zero ammonia readings, and elevated nitrate readings before putting anything else in that tank.

 

[Elmer]

But do I need to find the dead fish or is it okay to leave it and let the hermits eat it 120g

 

[Elmer]

One died I found him and flushed it but I can find the other one anywhere yet

 

[domination2580]

If it is dead it would be fine for your cuc. But most won't live with high amonia. It will just prolong the cycle. It will take that much more time for the bacteria to accumulate and eat the ammonia to convert through the the nitrogen cycle.

 

[Elmer]

Okay thanks

 

[Humblefish]

But do I need to find the dead fish or is it okay to leave it and let the hermits eat it 120g

If you are sure it's dead, I'd let the hermits have a meal.

 

[Elmer]

Will it effect the coral with the cycle I'm the only one I know within a hour to try and save anything

 

[Brian Kim]

One died I found him and flushed it but I can find the other one anywhere yet

Look around the floor, near the tank, it could have jumped.

 

[domination2580]

Will it effect the coral with the cycle I'm the only one I know within a hour to try and save anything

Yes it could.

 

[Elmer]

I don't think it could jump very far

 

[mcarroll]

You would be surprised at the jumps I've seen fish do. Wrasses in particular, but pretty much all will do it - even when there's no apparent reason. (But I tend to agree.)

 

[darrenbot]

But do I need to find the dead fish or is it okay to leave it and let the hermits eat it 120g

I think the dead fish will help cycle the tank

 

[4FordFamily]

This. Plus you need to wait until you have consistent zero ammonia readings, and elevated nitrate readings before putting anything else in that tank.

X3