Ammonia Spike! Clowns ok?

[DrBoxedWine]

Hi everyone,

I made a mistake today... My QT tank has been cycled for about 3 weeks (8 weeks total). My plan was to buy a pair of clowns today, so yesterday i dosed with ammonia it (cycles 3 ppm to 0 in 24 hours) to make sure the tank was nice and fresh for the new fish). Long story short, i was an idiot, and added more ammonia than normal. I didn't test today (doh!!!), and i got the fish. I added them a couple hours ago, and they were hanging out near the top of the tank, so i did an ammonia test. It was high, like 4 ppm. I did a 5x dose of prime (the max they say to do), and am now getting a batch of saltwater ready for a 25% water change. It should be ready by tonight. The fish are more calm now, just sorta hanging by one side of the tank, maybe bottom 3rd of the tank. Is this normal behavior for clownfish? The lights are off in the tank (just ambient room light). I'm worried, although i'm not even sure what i can do, other than the WC in a few hours. Just wondering if clownfish are usually always active (they were in the store), or if they could just be more mellow right now for normal reasons.

Thanks!

 

[Mike Ordner]

I would get the fish out now. Get a container large enough to hold the fish with fresh saltwater. Put an air-stone in to keep O2 levels up. They will be fine in there while you get QT back in shape. Do a 100% water change in your QT tank. You do not need to use rodi water in QT, but of course use a dechlorinator in water, so just make up a big batch. If you want RODI for future use, then make water for that over time. What are you using for filtration in QT? Filter sponge? Once you do 100% change. Test water. If ammonia test 0 then put fish back in. Keep a close eye going forward.