first fish question

mrtian97 · Dec 4, 2015

after cycling for 4 wks, with ammonia and nitrite is 0, I bought baby yellow tang. it's a 120 gallon with live rock, live sand, 40 gallon sumps.
2nd day, the tang still hiding, is it normal?

I left nori in but don't think she is eating yet, I replaced the nori after 24 hrs.

The tank also have fire shrimp, starfish, both seems doing fine

rayn · Dec 5, 2015

It is normal for fish to hide out in the beginning and get used to their new surroundings. Give it some time and it will come out soon enough.

Try keeping the lights a littler lower in brightness, if you can

TreyC2010 · Dec 5, 2015

Don't overfeed trying to get her to eat. Every tang I got was skittish when I introduced them. One thing I will say is that any fish after this tang will probably compete for territory. Tangs usually are added last so that less aggressive fish can get their home first. Rearrange rock work to relieve some tension when you add a new fish. What's your nitrates? Just curious. Some tangs don't take straight to nori but keep trying because once she knows you'll put it out, she'll go crazy when she sees you getting it or when she smells it.

tj w · Dec 5, 2015

My sailfin didnt take nori for the first two weeks, but once she tried it she cant get enough. She was the first tang in and now all go through 3 sheets a day.

Brian Kim · Dec 5, 2015

My purple tang would eat nothing but nori for the first 3 weeks...I got him to eat anything I offer after letting him starve for a day

Jlobes · Dec 5, 2015

just a quick question, you say ammonia and nitrite were zero, but did you conduct a digestion test prior to adding the fish?
normal for a new addition to hide a bit, as its new territory and they need to "scope" it out.

mrtian97 · Dec 5, 2015

how long can I leave nori inside the tank, 24 hrs? I think my yellow tang ripped the nori when no one looking

mrtian97 · Dec 6, 2015

my water parameter:
Ammonia 0.25:
Nitrite 0:
Nitrate 5-10 ppm:
pH 8-8.2:
Ca 500

Cycled for 4 wks using Dr Tim, live sand and live rock, 120 gallon with sump, skimmer.

Just put in 1 baby yellow tang, starfish, fire shrimp, 3 hermit crabs, 3 zoa colonies. The yellow tang start swimming around out of his cave, have not seen him eat yet (I left small nori rubber band to a rock), but he seems doing fine, not jittery or breathing hard.

Do you think I need to start 10% WC now or wait for 1 wk? Do you think I can start add more fish or wait? I plan to put about 7 fishes or so in the tank

Jlobes · Dec 6, 2015

if youre ammonia is 0.25, your tank is NOT cycled! ammonia in any qty, is not good.

Like i asked above, did you do a digestion test before adding your inhabitants? you do this by testing tank to assure levels are zero, add specified amount of ammonia and retest 24 hours later...ammonia and nitrite should be zero, after 24 hours.

while you were cycling for 4 weeks, how often did you add ammonia and at what concentration?

mrtian97 · Dec 6, 2015

here is the color for my test, My ammonia did increased mid 2 wks but then it went down to 0 before I added the livestocks. Is my reading correct based on the picture? I will double check with my lfs on the testing, mine is API

Jlobes · Dec 6, 2015

I dont think you followed the fishless cycling program correctly. if you only had a single ammonia spike in week 2.

Ill ask one more time, did you do a digestion test!? im guessing not.

I just finished cycling my 120, with Dr tims and ammonia. You need to add ammonia to the tank, when the ammonia and nitrites are both below 0.5. test the next day and record. If the levels(nitrite and ammonia) are below 0.5, add more ammonia. repeat this process of testing and adding ammonia, until the tank has processed both ammonia and nitrites to zero overnight(24hrs).

and finally, before you add your first inhabitants, you want to do a digestion test. to accomplish this...you dose the tank with ammonia up to 2ppm, and 24hours later test the tank. levels should be zero. You are now ready to do a large WC, to bring down the nitrates and then add you first inhabitants.

hope this helps, although it seems as if its too late.