Two tangs and BTA coming today from Dr reef - looking for feedback

[DustinDec]

So after about a month, the two tangs and BTA we ordered are scheduled to arrive today from dr reef. They're a Yellow tang and White tail bristletooth. I plan to have a slightly lower salinity bucket of saltwater ready to go at around 33 instead of my normal 35 (already mixed, circulating and heating). I just picked up some black plastic to wrap the tank to darken it, and I fed all the fish for the day (current fish).

Plan of action:
Fish arrive, get them floating in the display tank for ~20 minutes.
Empty water and fish from bags into empty buckets (one bucket for BTA, other for fish)
Take out the tangs, and place them in 33 bucket of water for 10 minutes while dropping the BTA into Main tank.
NOTE: Main tank will have lights off as well as no flow (lights for 6 - 7 hours, flow for 24 hours)
After 10 minutes, take tangs and bring into 35 main tank

Should I feed them after introducing them to the main tank? Should I have some sea weed on a clip ready to go? My LFS suggested that no matter what I do, the tangs will likely get ich. We have our original Fluval Flex broken down, should I start getting that going in case we need it and just throw some PVC pipe on the bottom? This is the first time we've ordered fish and I thought I was prepared, but I still feel like there is so much more I could do to prepare.

 

[Flyangler33]

I have ordered almost all of my Fish from Mike (Dr.Reef) luckily its only a 35 minute drive for me to pick them up so I don't have to deal with shipping. His fish health has always been incredible and I have never had an issue with illnesses or anything from them. Having the QT tank ready to go in case of emergency is never a bad idea.

 

[Jekyl]

Observation for a couple weeks is usually recommended with fish as a safety precaution and you can feed them whenever you see fit.

For the BTA feeding is not necessary at all. In fact in the first couple weeks I wouldn't try at all. If stressed it can actually worsen the problem.

 

[Cell]

No flow for 24 hours?

 

[DustinDec]

No flow for 24 hours?

The LFS suggested turning off my two Orbit 4 gyres for 24 hours just to be safe. Should I do it for less time?

Also, I'm turning off all light for 6 - 8 hours when I first introduce the fish and BTA.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

all my stuff from him has been great. no complaints. he has the acclimation tips on his site that he wants followed. have you reached out to him with your questions? best of luck with your new additions!

 

[Cell]

Seems excessive and risky to me but I don't know how much flow/aeration you have from other sources like return pump or skimmer. I don't love shutting off flow when introducing nems because I want then to find the spot they like with my tank running as it normally does, not have it find a spot it likes then go adjusting it's environment only to have it wander as a result. I will reduce flow temporarily if necessary, but never would I shut my pumps down for 24 hrs.

 

[UMALUM]

Float - Acclimate - Drop
It's not a 2 week vacation. Your over thinking it.
I could see dimming the light and lowering the flow for a couple hours but that's a bit much.
Just remember fish are like people they don't wanna die. If the shipment goes well and your tank is ready you'll be just fine.

 

[RoanokeReef]

This is what you should do - https://drreefsquarantinedfish.com/acclimation-guide/

 

[DustinDec]

This is what you should do - https://drreefsquarantinedfish.com/acclimation-guide/

I'm basing most of my steps off these. Lights off, buckets, ect.

 

[RoanokeReef]

I'm basing most of my steps off these. Lights off, buckets, ect.

I guess I should have said I would follow that and nothing else. No reason to turn off flow or lights for 24hrs. Also I was just feed my normal schedule. Good luck, love white tails

 

[DustinDec]

I guess I should have said I would follow that and nothing else. No reason to turn off flow or lights for 24hrs. Also I was just feed my normal schedule. Good luck, love white tails

They literally just arrived after I responded to you! My wife was at the store and got back after I already got them into the sump (floating) to acclimate. Next step is to get them out into an empty bucket, and then into a lower salinity (33) bucket of water I've been mixing all morning and heating. I went ahead and turned my gyres back on, set them for consistent 25% flow and will return them to normal after a few hours. DR Reef suggests 6 hours min, no light. So I covered tank with plastic and disabled all lights.

They're absolutely beautiful (the tangs, the BTA looks a little odd lol). I'll post pictures when I have a chance. So excited right now!

 

[vetteguy53081]

So after about a month, the two tangs and BTA we ordered are scheduled to arrive today from dr reef. They're a Yellow tang and White tail bristletooth. I plan to have a slightly lower salinity bucket of saltwater ready to go at around 33 instead of my normal 35 (already mixed, circulating and heating). I just picked up some black plastic to wrap the tank to darken it, and I fed all the fish for the day (current fish).

Plan of action:
Fish arrive, get them floating in the display tank for ~20 minutes.
Empty water and fish from bags into empty buckets (one bucket for BTA, other for fish)
Take out the tangs, and place them in 33 bucket of water for 10 minutes while dropping the BTA into Main tank.
NOTE: Main tank will have lights off as well as no flow (lights for 6 - 7 hours, flow for 24 hours)
After 10 minutes, take tangs and bring into 35 main tank

Should I feed them after introducing them to the main tank? Should I have some sea weed on a clip ready to go? My LFS suggested that no matter what I do, the tangs will likely get ich. We have our original Fluval Flex broken down, should I start getting that going in case we need it and just throw some PVC pipe on the bottom? This is the first time we've ordered fish and I thought I was prepared, but I still feel like there is so much more I could do to prepare.

Acclimation is important first step. Equalize salinity in buckets with that of the intended tank. Lights off is something I typically do to reduce aggression

 

[slythy]

I always make a gallon of fresh 1.022 sg (what he ships most his fish in) in a bucket with a heater and an airstone. I float the fish in my sump for about 30 mins to heat up, pour the fish into a net discarding all of the shipping water and plop them into the bucket and then start a fast drip acclimation.

a lot of my fish are from Dr Reef and I have only had 1 hickup of a flame angel dying. they replaced it no questions. They must not be great shippers right now because my LFS said they had a rough couple batches recently.

I have no hesitations about buying from Dr Reef.

 

[DustinDec]

Acclimation is important first step. Equalize salinity in buckets with that of the intended tank. Lights off is something I typically do to reduce aggression

On his site, it says to start with 33 before going any higher. I let them get used to that for 10 minutes before transferring to the main tank which I keep at 35. The yellow tang was swimming around no problem. The whitetail was laying down on the bottom, almost looked sleepy. But when I moved the bucket to bring them over to put into the MT, they were both wide awake and moving. For now, I've covered the rest of the tank, will check up again in 6 hours.

 

[helmsreef]

Do not shut down flow, they need flow to keep o2 levels high and get fresh o2 into their gills. Float them for temp and drop them in

 

[Lavey29]

Float - Acclimate - Drop
It's not a 2 week vacation. Your over thinking it.
I could see dimming the light and lowering the flow for a couple hours but that's a bit much.
Just remember fish are like people they don't wanna die. If the shipment goes well and your tank is ready you'll be just fine.

I typically skip the first 2 steps

 

[DustinDec]

Just to be clear, I have no doubt in Mike (Dr Reef), just my self. I greatly appreciate everyone's feedback, I just really want to succeed here.

 

[Dburr1014]

Tangs... I quarantine regardless.
At least for an observation period, they are ich magnets.

 

[DustinDec]

Bad news, the Green Bubble Tip Anemone seemed to have found a solid spot towards the lower part of my tank touching the sand, between two rocks. I left the gyres on at 25%, and this morning I came to a cloudy tank and completely dead BTA. Pretty upset, already cleaned it up and preparing for a 20% water change. Thankfully I already have blue chemi pure running, ordering a couple more just to be safe (chemipure). The new tangs appear to be doing well and look amazing. I think I'll hold off on any further anemone for quite sometime. Shame, it looked really beautiful.