May be too late

[lj1064a]

I just got in an xlrg Blue Angel yesterday and put it in my 20g L Q tank. He appeared very healthy when I put him in...drip acclimated for about an hour. This morning he is laying on his side...the PH was 7.44 (meter). I've tried to bring it up slowly this morning dripping high ph SW. It's up to 7.71 now. I have a HO aquaclear filter and an in tank filter for carbon/purgin. I added an air stone this morning also but no joy. He does not seem to be responding. No ammonia...I added a little prime anyway. I feel so bad for this beautiful fish. Is there anything I can do? Please help!

lj

 

[lj1064a]

He even was eating some angel formula after I got him in the Q tank

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

By high pg saltwater drip, I assume you mean fresh saltwater with buffer or baking soda? Keep any tank lights out and provide places for the fish to hide.

Was your salinity pretty close to the salinity of the water the fish was shipped in? Too much of a change quickly can stress a fish. Same regarding temperature.

Good idea to use the airstone. I also like to use a small powerhead for additional water movement.

If the salinities match, see how the fish does once the ph comes up and stabilizes. It also is possible that the fish was damaged in capture or transport.

 

[snorvich]

T

T

Was your salinity pretty close to the salinity of the water the fish was shipped in?

Many vendors keep their fish at 1.019 so if your QT water was more normal, e.g. 1.023-25, that may have been the problem. Always measure SG in source and target water.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Many vendors keep their fish at 1.019 so if your QT water was more normal, e.g. 1.023-25, that may have been the problem. Always measure SG in source and target water.

Yes, that is what I was thinking. A large change in salinity is a lot of stress. Also, it is odd that the ph is so low.

 

[lj1064a]

I can't figure out why the PH will not come up...after all morning of dripping w/limewater/SW the ph is still 7.54? I calibrated the meter Sunday w/7 and 10 and it calibrated fine so I don't think it's my meter. My QT is 1.024, I didn't check the shipping bag but I figured that w/dripping over an hour that was ok? He's still just laying on his side not moving :worried:

 

[snorvich]

No, dripping for an hour is not a guarantee that SG will be within range.

 

[lj1064a]

Yeah, I get that now...I see I should've checked that and will from now on for sure. Still wish I knew why my ph is such a problem?

 

[humaguy]

Curious, how big is he?
You said "x large" and to me, that makes for a huge fish..
A 20 long is not nearly big enough for that fish to be even remotely comfy in.
Ime, there is a high possibility that is the source of the stress the fish is displaying...
Just a thought...

 

[sandwi54]

At 1.024 salinity, a pH of 7.5 is very abnormal. Do you have any water movement in the QT at all? You said your BF angel is x-large. How large is he? He may have used all of the oxygen in the QT and is simply suffocating now. If you don't have a power head pointing at the water surface for oxygenation, put one in now. An airstone alone is not nearly enough to generate sufficient oxygen for a large fish in a small 20g tank.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

For the future regarding salinity, it is best to test the shipping water and adjust your qt's salinity to match, and then gradually bring the qt salinity up over a week or two. It would be way too much stress to drip acclimate a fish from 1.019 to 1.024 over even 2 or 3 hours, which is too long to drip anyway.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

At 1.024 salinity, a pH of 7.5 is very abnormal. Do you have any water movement in the QT at all? You said your BF angel is x-large. How large is he? He may have used all of the oxygen in the QT and is simply suffocating now. If you don't have a power head pointing at the water surface for oxygenation, put one in now. An airstone alone is not nearly enough to generate sufficient oxygen for a large fish in a small 20g tank.

You might try stirring the qt water to mix it thoroughly and make sure there aren't dead zones until you can get a powerhead in there. If it is thoroughly mixed and the ph remains low, you might try a buffer solution (they come with many water multi-test kits) or baking soda to bring the ph up.

If you have a powerhead moving the water around the tank well, I think the airstone will be enough to move the surface. The HOB filters really don't provide much water movement and mixing in the tank.

 

[snorvich]

For the future regarding salinity, it is best to test the shipping water and adjust your qt's salinity to match, and then gradually bring the qt salinity up over a week or two. It would be way too much stress to drip acclimate a fish from 1.019 to 1.024 over even 2 or 3 hours, which is too long to drip anyway.

This.

 

[lj1064a]

I have finally gotten the PH up to 7.98... He's still hanging in there but not a lot better"¦ I may just move him to the 500 and just hope the stress of the move will not be too much?

I will in the future test the delivery water and adjust the qt tank.
He is about 7-8 in...He is set for a 500g but I thought a week would be ok...to treat w/para-guard.

The q tank has been up and running for several months. I have 2 different filters going"¦an aqua clear running only bio filter media and an in tank which I have carbon and purgin"¦I added the air pump after I noticed the prob.
After reading your responses I see I didn't do enough and will make sure I add the steps you have pointed out. I thought my qt was ready I did a big water change before the arrival and picked up angel food and was ready w/premixed water to make several small water changes. I didn't check the ph"¦I'm by myself (so not a lot of breathing going on)"¦all ele house, and plenty of water movement in the tank (that was my thinking).

Thanks for all the input...it will be taken to heart for sure. I so want to be responsible to these critters, they didn't ask to be moved so it's the least I can do. Anything else to add please do!!!

lj

 

[lj1064a]

Pic...gives idea of his size!

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Tough decision on whether to keep the fish in the qt to avoid further stress, now that you have the ph up, or add stress and move the fish to the dt. The qt is the best choice if the problem is a result of salinity change and low ph, which I suspect is the case. The dt is preferable if something is wrong in the qt. If you can supply enough water movement so you are comfortable you have no dead zones and keep the ph up with baking soda or buffer, I would be inclined to leave the fish in the qt for now. It will do ok in a tank that small for now

Good luck and let us know how it works out.