New frogspawn not doing well

[sd2008]

Hello everyone,

I just received a frogspawn from a friend and was really excited as my tank is fairly new.
My questions:
1) did I acclimate the frogspawn incorrectly?
2) Did I add too soon, as it's a fairly new tank?
3) If there is no chance in saving the frogspawn, should I remove it from the tank now - to avoid the chance of affecting the water parameters as it dies off?

The way I was taught to acclimate new additions was to do the following: after arriving home with your new addition, pour out as much of the water as possible. Over the next hour (maximum of 1 hour): slowly add your own tank water to the container of your new addition. By slowly, I mean - a little bit every 10 mins until the ratio is about 1:1 of the LFS water and your own water. After that was complete, I lifted the frogspawn by hand (w/o touching the soft part) grasping the stony branch and placed it in my fish tank. I kept the lights off. The "tentacles" were withdrawn as I would have expected after I added the frogspawn to my fish tank. Within an hour - there were clear strings (like spider web material) floating above the frogspawn and the frogspawn started getting this white material (like cotton) on it.

Some history on my fish tank.
60 gallon, set up at the end of February. Ammonia and nitrite readings = zero earlier this week, so I bought a xenia and other small $10 coral to see how they would do. Xenia was pulsating and seemed fine, so I proceeded to buy a frogspawn.

SG: 1.025
Temp: 78
Alkalinity: 9
Ammonia: zero
Nitrite: zero
Nitrate: 20
Phosphate:0.25
Calcium: 420

Thank you in advance for any help! I appreciate it!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to R2R!

How long has the frogspawn been in the tank and what exactly is happening? Are the tentacles just retracted?

You acclimated fine. I would make sure after you get the water acclimation done that you float it to bring it up to temprature but I don;t think that would be the problem here.

 

[TheEngineer]

The stringy stuff is just slime from the coral, that's a defense mechanism and happens when it is stressed. Your acclimation process was fine. It's a bit early IMO to be adding stuff to your tank, but that's just me.

Having phosphates this early on to me says that your biofilter isn't up to par yet. You params don't look too bad otherwise. Other than the slime layer, what's making you think you have a problem?

 

[nater]

U didn't acclimate it properly. U should not have poured out the water. Instead u should have started adding your water slowly over a couple hours. Not 1 hour max. Then after u have doubled the water in the bag , poured half out and continued adding your tank water. Frogspawn are sensitive animals, your nitrates are a little high , and system fairly new for sure. Someone else might have better insight though. I know they retract some at night, but it may be ok.

 

[TheEngineer]

U didn't acclimate it properly. U should not have poured out the water. Instead u should have started adding your water slowly over a couple hours. Not 1 hour max. Then after u have doubled the water in the bag , poured half out and continued adding your tank water. Frogspawn are sensitive animals, your nitrates are a little high , and system fairly new for sure. Someone else might have better insight though. I know they retract some at night, but it may be ok.

I think the acclimation process was the same as what you described. He dumped out most of the water, but not all of it. You just have to add less water each time you add to the bag. I dump most out too to make it so I waste less tank water.

 

[sd2008]

@ revhtree: it's been about 12 hours now and there is still cotton-like material on it.
@icecool2: the cotton-like material makes me think that there is a problem and I can also see the stone underneath the very retraced "tentacles". How long should I have waited until adding to the fish tank? Which water parameters specifically would have let me know when it would have been safe to add items (or is it a set number of weeks I should have waited)?
@ nater: thank you for the input (still learning)
- I'm trying to add a picture, as it is hard to explain in words View attachment 2012-03-23 08.02.37.jpg

 

[TheEngineer]

Just looks ticked off to me. How long has it been in the tank? They can take a day or two to open up.

You can do a ghost feeding to see where your biological filter is. Basically you add a little food, test your phosphates now and 24 hours from now and see if you got a spike. If you did, you're not ready. No set amount of time, too many factors.

 

[sd2008]

@icecool2: It's been about 12 hours so far. Thank you - I will try the ghost feeding.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I know it's tough but I would wait it out as well. Could very well just be acclimating and not happy! I have seen them like this and then the next day be fine.

 

[TheEngineer]

@icecool2: It's been about 12 hours so far. Thank you - I will try the ghost feeding.

You can try the ghost feeding now, but I don't think it will be helpful at this point since you have added something already. The slime will have to be absorbed so you already added nutrients. Test again tomorrow and see where you phosphates are.

 

[sd2008]

Sounds good. I will wait it out and test again tomorrow. I have to remember ... patience is a great strategy to use, especially in this hobby.

 

[bucksfan1976]

I had a frogspawn that was 2 heads and both were almost dead. Only showing about 2 tentiles on each head. I just left it alone. now I have 2 full heads and no issues. They are picky. But once they are happy you will know it.

 

[Glenn]

As far as acclimation, the only thing I would have done different (unless you did it and didn't say so) would be to float the bag in the aquarium for 30-60 mins to allow it to stabilize to the aquariums temperature. Then I would have done the water exchange.

As for the withdrawn tentacles, mine still do that - and they've been in the tank since December. Hopefully, like mine, they'll be fine in a day or two.

 

[sd2008]

@bucksfan1976: Glad to hear that there is hope.
@ glenn: I did not float the bag in the aquarium. Good to know for next time.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Honestly, just leave it alone. The more ya mess with it the more irritated it's going to be. It's taken my frogspawn a month to look as good as it does. I did have a local guy frag it for me and I put it right in my tank after but it was all retracted for a few days so I wouldn't worry about it. I also would just let things settle in the tank for a few more weeks before adding any more stuff. Do you have a clean up crew (snails, hermits, etc)? Good luck!

 

[sd2008]

@ mallorieGgator: Very true - I think the more I mess with it, the more unhappy it will be. I only have a few small corals in the tank, no fish yet. I don't have a clean up crew. When do you suggest I get some clean up crew? (if/when the frogspawn recovers? now, while the frogspawn is trying to recover?) Thank you!

 

[robert]

sd2008 - your method of acclimation was fine - everybody goes about it a little differently. Truthfully, judging from the picture, that frogspawn has not been well in a long time - you may have stressed it, but it was already failing and was not likely to live long even it if it stayed wherever you got it from.

That being said, your tank is probably too young to nurse it back to health. If you know of someone with a healthy, established tank who could take it from you for a couple of months - it could be saved - maybe - but it would be a long road back to good health in the best of conditions.

 

[sd2008]

@ robert: actually, my friend was having trouble with his sump, so he was getting rid of his coral. My friend even told me the water quality was not so
good - so looking back, I was taking my chances. Thank you.

 

[robert]

Yea - sorry to be a bummer, just didn't want you to think it was anything you had done wrong.

The good news it that the frogspawn doesn't look diseased, it looks to me as if it has been subjected to chronic poor water quality. I would have given it a try too. Keep it in a low flow, lower light area of the tank, keep up with your parameters, alk stable - around 7 (not much higher) and don't fuss with it. I wouldn't try and feed it.

You never know - It could still make it. I've written stuff off only to have come back and surprise me.

 

[sd2008]

@ robert: Thank you! I was getting a little discouraged, but I'm willing to be patient and follow your suggestions and see what happens.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!