First fish in qt acclimating

[mike1024]

Hi. I just put my first fish (a small banggai cardinal) into a QT. It's a small tank (10 gallons) and the fish seems to be struggling with the flow. I have a 150 gph aquaclear filter, that I've set to minimum flow, and a powerhead that I turned off. The fish stays at the bottom and looks like it's struggling to swim. I floated the bag for about 15 minutes and drip acclimated it for another 15 or so. The tank ran empty with a powerhead for about a month and with the filter for about a week. There's no ammonia and ~10 nitrates. 1.025 salinity (fish store is 1.024 salinity). Any ideas? Am I worried over nothing? Thanks in advance, would love to hear some advice.

 

[pisanoal]

Do you have anything for the fish to hide in and among? I'd say if not, put some 2 inch pvc elbows in there and that will give it a place to hide and feel safe as well as get out of the flow of he wants.

 

[mike1024]

Do you have anything for the fish to hide in and among? I'd say if not, put some 2 inch pvc elbows in there and that will give it a place to hide and feel safe as well as get out of the flow of he wants.

Ha! No, it's an empty tank. And now I'm remembering the advice to put something there, which I somehow forgot about completely. Thanks a lot!

 

[moneymm]

Did u test the lfs salinity.. .024 seems very high for a store.

 

[pisanoal]

Ha! No, it's an empty tank. And now I'm remembering the advice to put something there, which I somehow forgot about completely. Thanks a lot![/QUOTE

Haha. No problem. Hopefully that will help

 

[mike1024]

Did u test the lfs salinity.. .024 seems very high for a store.

No, but will do so the next chance I get. They focus on corals, so seems believable, but I never checked.

 

[pisanoal]

Did u test the lfs salinity.. .024 seems very high for a store.

One of mine keeps theirs at 1.024. Others keep them at 1.026. I think only one on the area keeps them around .018. So definitely not out of the question.

 

[Crooked Reef]

My lfs runs their corals and inverts at 1.026 and their fish only at around 1.024. Tested with my refractometer calibrated with 35ppt solution. Not unheard of.

 

[alf1096]

Good luck with the cardinal. I have never had any luck with them.

 

[3dees]

wilds are the problem. tank bred are easy to acclimate.

 

[mike1024]

wilds are the problem. tank bred are easy to acclimate.

This one is tank-bred, according to the strore.

 

[mike1024]

Ha! No, it's an empty tank. And now I'm remembering the advice to put something there, which I somehow forgot about completely. Thanks a lot![/QUOTE

Haha. No problem. Hopefully that will help

Thanks again - looks much better. Fish took a liking to a coffee mug placed on the bottom. No longer pressing itself against the sides or bottom, even took a few pellets. Going to try giving it a bit of frozen mysis later today.

 

[mike1024]

Thanks again for the advice. Fish is doing well in QT. Eating well since the second day in the tank, no longer seems to have problems with the flow.

 

[wcarterh]

Congrats on being above the curve of most newbies, you used a QT (and no I'm not being sarcastic).

 

[mike1024]

Congrats on being above the curve of most newbies, you used a QT (and no I'm not being sarcastic).

Hah! Enough people with successful tanks suggested it that I thought it was a good idea. My LFS was moving around this time and was selling off equipment, so the timing was perfect.

 

[wcarterh]

It will pay off tons especially if you bring in a fish with ich or worse. It pays off two fold if you have a mixed tank. Most treatments for fish diseases can't be used with corals. Try moving everything from an established tank for two weeks!

I need one of those moves.