Trying to save a Powder Brown Tang

[4FordFamily]

Don’t feed if it isn’t eating, because it will foul the water FAST. You’ll need some sponge material and biospira to kick start the nitrogen cycle of ammonia will finish it off.

Good on you for trying! A ruby reef rally bath wouldn’t be a bad idea but if it’s thin and as weak as you describe I don’t think it has much of a chance but always try!

 

[TheReaperOfMars]

The fish is going to need more than a couple gallons of water. Also need agitation at the surface to generate oxygen especially with that small of volume.

How long was the fish in copper and what level?

I'm mixing up another 10 gallons right now, but I don't imagine it will be good to go until tomorrow morning to be honest.

No idea what the copper level was, it was just mentioned in passing.


Sadly I think this all may have been for nothing. He isnt moving much if at all at this point. Not sure when to call it to be honest.

 

[TheReaperOfMars]

Don’t feed if it isn’t eating, because it will foul the water FAST. You’ll need some sponge material and biospira to kick start the nitrogen cycle of ammonia will finish it off.

Good on you for trying! A ruby reef rally bath wouldn’t be a bad idea but if it’s thin and as weak as you describe I don’t think it has much of a chance but always try!

How quickly will ammonia finish off a fish in that case? I'm trying to decide if I should throw some live rock in there just in case he is still alive.

Also, on a semi related note, if I want to make a habit of trying to save fish, what kinds of things should I keep on hand? I've kind of realized that I have the means to try to save them, and I would really like to try, so I want to buy some stuff to keep on hand in case I run into future scenarios like this.

 

[GThompson]

How do I match the PH? Temp is easy enough, but I dont really have any way of checking the ph of the water. I suppose I could grab my ph probe and stick it in the water.

I wouldn’t worry about matching the ph. He won’t be in the freshwater long enough

 

[4FordFamily]

How quickly will ammonia finish off a fish in that case? I'm trying to decide if I should throw some live rock in there just in case he is still alive.

Also, on a semi related note, if I want to make a habit of trying to save fish, what kinds of things should I keep on hand? I've kind of realized that I have the means to try to save them, and I would really like to try, so I want to buy some stuff to keep on hand in case I run into future scenarios like this.

In two gallons of water a matter of 2-3 hours or less. In a 40G probably a day or two. Biospira will almost immediately help as will large water changes.

 

[TheReaperOfMars]

In two gallons of water a matter of 2-3 hours or less. In a 40G probably a day or two. Biospira will almost immediately help as will large water changes.

I imagine there were some bacteria on the air stone I put in there as it came out of my display tank. Probably not a ton, but some. Going forward I will plan to have some marine pure sitting in the sump ready for just such an occasion.

If I buy some biospira to keep on hand, how long is it good for?

 

[4FordFamily]

I imagine there were some bacteria on the air stone I put in there as it came out of my display tank. Probably not a ton, but some. Going forward I will plan to have some marine pure sitting in the sump ready for just such an occasion.

If I buy some biospira to keep on hand, how long is it good for?

You’ll need a lot more than what comes on rock or a stone.
It should be good for six months depending on the batch date.

 

[TheReaperOfMars]

I think I'm going to have to call it on this one. No gill movement that I can see. I'll give it until the morning just in case, but I don't think I really had a chance. He was too far gone. Maybe a day or 2 earlier and I could have done something.

I'm going to try to stock up on the things I will need to try to save some going forward. Thanks for all the help guys.