Proper acclimation of coral beauty angelfish.

fattytwobyfour

fattytwobyfour

Member
Hey, I was wondering about the proper way to acclimate a coral beauty angelfish. I've done a lot of research online, but I would really like the advice from the members of this community
My LFS (hour & half away) is holding me one of them. I am going to pick it up tomorrow afternoon. The main things I've read online is to make sure that its eyes are clear and to check for any white spots. (Also, to watch it eat.). If it passes the test, I'm going to get it. I feel pretty good about this shop so far. The owner has a degree in marine biology and tanks care of the tanks at Arkansas State University. He was really helpful on my first visit.
My main concern is how to minimize stress on the fish. When I purchased my clowns, I brought a cooler and kept them in that for the ride home.
As far as acclimation, I've read up on the different kinds. The drip method seems the most logical to acclimate, but then I've heard about the possibility of ammonia spikes which can stress & kill the fish.
My clowns, I floated in the tank for 10 minutes. I then added some tank water and floated for 10 more minutes. I did this for about 45 minutes and then added them to the tank using a net. They have done fine. Would you recommend introducing the angelfish the same way? I know that a quarantine tank should be used, & I don't have one.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by fattytwobyfour http:///t/394357/proper-acclimation-of-coral-beauty-angelfish#post_3509993
Hey, I was wondering about the proper way to acclimate a coral beauty angelfish. I've done a lot of research online, but I would really like the advice from the members of this community
My LFS (hour & half away) is holding me one of them. I am going to pick it up tomorrow afternoon. The main things I've read online is to make sure that its eyes are clear and to check for any white spots. (Also, to watch it eat.). If it passes the test, I'm going to get it. I feel pretty good about this shop so far. The owner has a degree in marine biology and tanks care of the tanks at Arkansas State University. He was really helpful on my first visit.
My main concern is how to minimize stress on the fish. When I purchased my clowns, I brought a cooler and kept them in that for the ride home.
As far as acclimation, I've read up on the different kinds. The drip method seems the most logical to acclimate, but then I've heard about the possibility of ammonia spikes which can stress & kill the fish.
My clowns, I floated in the tank for 10 minutes. I then added some tank water and floated for 10 more minutes. I did this for about 45 minutes and then added them to the tank using a net. They have done fine. Would you recommend introducing the angelfish the same way? I know that a quarantine tank should be used, & I don't have one.
The method you used with your clowns is basically how I acclimate all of my fish to their QT and the main tank. The biggest issue is that you have established live rock for the angel to graze off of. Try to see if the angel will eat both meat and algae sheets if possible.
 
fattytwobyfour

fattytwobyfour

Member
Thanks! I do have established live rock (about 25 lbs) but also added 30lbs that has already cycled, but nowhere near the algae growth. I have a 33 gallon tank.
I plan on seeing what frozen foods the store sells. It's a 3 hour and 20 minute round trip for me. So I want to buy something I can stock up on, as opposed to some live food. I do have algae sheets and flakes too.
Would adding some macro algae be ok? The only macro the LFS had was some he sold by the handfuls for like $8. I can't remember the name, but it was a common name. He had it in the sump. I don't own a sump, just a display tank. I told him I was interested in some grape caulerpa. He didn't have any, but offered to bring some from his own tank at home, just to let him know. I forgot to mention it when I was on the phone today, so I'm not sure that he will have that. But would the stuff he has in the sump be ok to add to the display tank? I know that's silly of me to ask without knowing the name. But my thinking is that if the algae I have on my live rock isn't sufficient, it'd be one more option for the angelfish.
 
fattytwobyfour

fattytwobyfour

Member
I've got the angelfish home. He looked very healthy at the store. No spots & the eyes were crystal clear. The fish was also eating too.
The first thing he did was swim to the cave that I had planned for him. He leaves it for a minute to explore and then returns to it. I think maybe this is him learning that the cave is safe, and that he feels safe in it. I have the lights on the tank out. In several hours, I'll turn them on and see if I can get a photo. But I was very impressed with him. A very pretty color.
 
fattytwobyfour

fattytwobyfour

Member

It was hard to get a photo, as he was darting in & out of the rock work. (But at the moment, he's hanging out in the open). But I think he's awesome looking.
I also seen where Flower recommended a Kenya Coral Tree in another thread, so I picked one up. Thought it would be a good indicator of water quality. (Just another tool to use). There was also a small xenia frag growing on the rock, so the owner threw it in for free. I thought I read online that they needed to be on the opposite ends of the tank. But this is them for now.

My next purchase for my tank will be a LED lighting system. Probably going to go with the maxspect razor. Gotta wait on taxes for that purchase though lol.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Where did you get that red rock? It doesn't look like live rock at all.
Fish looks great.
Xenia and Kenya can be next to each other. Both grow like weeds though, so be careful where you place them as they may spread to other rocks you don't want them on, especially the xenia.
 
fattytwobyfour

fattytwobyfour

Member
I am not sure if it is live rock or not. I have 50lbs of live rock though. I bought this one seperate because of the shape. I got it at my LFS and it had a tag that said it was for saltwater. I probably should have not added it without really researching it. It's been in for several months, and seems to be ok. It was an impulse buy, and one of those small lessons I've learned since.
 
fattytwobyfour

fattytwobyfour

Member
To further justify the rock, lol, I am trying to have elements from The Smashing Pumpkins "tonight, tonight" music video in my display tank. Just to have a general feel of it, if that makes sense.
This rock made me think of the man in the moon.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
The only thing that caused me to question that rock is a lot of the more colorful rocks have a lot of minerals/metals in them that aren't great for saltwater, especially corals. I'd keep a eye out and if your corals have any issues and water parameters read fine, etc, that rock may be the issue. I agree that it is an awesome awesome shape!
 
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