My poor fish!

[AmberL]

I purchased FIRST FISH -two clown fish- on Friday night.

Up until this morning, they have been doing great in the QT (a Nano tank that I got on a great sale). This morning, however, I woke up to only being able to find one! After picking up all the PVC elbows I had in there, I finally spotted a little black fin poking out of the return pipe for the filter! :eek1: I'm not sure how he got in there since the water comes out right there at a fairly decent rate, but he was jammed right in there. I turned the tank off and he eventually backed out. He was swimming on his side until I left this morning for work.

Both fish seemed off this morning. Neither of them would eat - yesterday they were eating greedily. The fish that wasn't stuck in the return pipe was swimming a little sideways (about 45 degree angle) at the top. Do you think there isn't enough oxygen in the water? I vented the cover on the tank this morning when I left to get more air circulation, in case this was the issue. I didn't take the cover off because I was concerned about them jumping out, like my LFS cautioned me about. I've read a couple articles that are against covers on tanks because the water doesn't oxygenate enough. Your opinion? I'm really concerned that these little guys won't make it through the day.

 

[RedM3]

When my clownfish just "hang out," they swim at around a 45 degree angle. They've done this since I put them in the tank over 9 months ago. I've always thought it was weird, but they're the only fish that lived through a tank crash I had about a month ago.

 

[greech]

I ran a closed top for a while and the behavior and health of my fish seemed to improve greatly when I removed it.

Clowns swim in funny way (no pun intended) so unless the fish is breathing rapidly, etc. I wouldn't use that as the sole indicator for concern. Have you tested the QT for ammonia? Do you have any media in the HOB filter?

 

[AmberL]

When my clownfish just "hang out," they swim at around a 45 degree angle. They've done this since I put them in the tank over 9 months ago. I've always thought it was weird, but they're the only fish that lived through a tank crash I had about a month ago.

That's good to know! Thanks.

 

[AmberL]

I ran a closed top for a while and the behavior and health of my fish seemed to improve greatly when I removed it.

Clowns swim in funny way (no pun intended) so unless the fish is breathing rapidly, etc. I wouldn't use that as the sole indicator for concern. Have you tested the QT for ammonia? Do you have any media in the HOB filter?

I have an ammonia indicator on the tank. I have a floss filter, carbon, ceramic disks, and bio balls in the built-in filter section - They came with the Nano tank. I used water from an established tank from the LFS so I wouldn't have a cycle. This was recommended to me by the LFS.

 

[RedM3]

The LFS may have lead you a bit astray. Water from an established tank tends to have very little bacterial life that would make it so you don't have a cycle. It is usually a better idea to throw a new sponge filter (or whatever media you're using) into the sump to end up getting bacteria colonies established on the filter. You can then add that to your QT and that will surely prevent (or at least minimize) a cycle. Toss the sponge and get a new one next time you set up your QT.

 

[AmberL]

The LFS may have lead you a bit astray. Water from an established tank tends to have very little bacterial life that would make it so you don't have a cycle. It is usually a better idea to throw a new sponge filter (or whatever media you're using) into the sump to end up getting bacteria colonies established on the filter. You can then add that to your QT and that will surely prevent (or at least minimize) a cycle. Toss the sponge and get a new one next time you set up your QT.

I think they said to use their water because my main tank is still cycling. So I wouldn't be able to colonize a sponge. I mentioned leaving a new sponge in my tank and he said that was fine when I get my tank established. He said to reuse the sponge after sanitizing it with bleach and rinsing really well. He said buying new sponges was just a waste of money. Thoughts?

 

[Dr. Reef]

ok let me get this right.. has ur tank cycled already? or u never cycled it thinkking water from an establised tank will cause no cycle? if u answer yes to any of these questions then ur tank is going to go through a cycle and thus causing stress on fish and maybe death.

 

[greech]

Using water from your DT doesn't really help. Sponge material is cheap and it's a good idea to have multiples so you can swap them out or add more if your QT needs it. The aquaclear sponges are like $5 and you can cut them to get several out of one. Don't transfer sponges that you use in your QT to your DT regardless of how well you clean them (not sure if that is what you meant).

I have a feeling ammonia might be your problem. The ammonia indicator can take time to change colors.

Did your LFS recommend frequent water changes on the QT? If not you should have plenty of water around and when you do water changes you should be siphoning the debris and poop off the bottom.

 

[AmberL]

My DT tank is still cycling. These fish are in my QT tank. I have only had the fish in my QT tank since Friday. I haven't done a water change yet. I wasn't sold enough water to use for a water change and the LFS didn't mention one. I don't have a RO/DI unit yet. I've been using the net to scoop out the left over food from the bottom.

 

[mcoomer]

I would never put a sponge, or any material that's been in a QT, back into the main tank. You can buy quite a bit of suitable filter material for only a few dollars so don't be afraid to toss it and use a new piece whenever you need to. If on the other hand you lose a $100 Emperor Angel because you introduced something nasty to your display, that can get expensive and frustrating in a hurry.

My QT is a 20G tank in the garage that I keep up and running all the time. I've got a hang on filter, maxijet, and Tunze nano skimmer on it. I picked up a used light fixture and dropped a spare heater in to keep things cozy. When I do a water change in the 180, I put 5-10 gallons of the water that I removed into the QT. Yes, I'm paying for electricity to keep this tank up and running but without the lights it's a very small draw so it's worth it for me. Last Wednesday, I went to buy some more blue leg hermits and saw a small quarter size blue hippo that I had to have. All I did was acclimate it to the 20, into the tank it goes, and then I flip on the timer for the lights. Let the quarantine begin.

Water changes...yeah, you need to be doing water changes or you're going to run into trouble. In a small tank you can do a couple gallons a week and be OK. If you have no other options get down to a supermarket and pick up 5 gallons of RO. It's not the best solution but it will get you by. If you can, get to the LFS and pick up 5 gallons of premixed water, or RODI and mix your own. However you manage you need to do a few gallons a week to maintain your water parameters.

Mike

 

[AmberL]

So, I can't just set up the QT tank when I need it? My LFS said that I can just set it up as needed.
I thought that if I put the filter in the DT tanks (once it's done cycling), I can just fill the QT tank up with water from my DT tank, put the cycled filter in, and go.

 

[Dr. Reef]

nope thats not a right way to go. no matter where the water comes from, once in a new tank it will cause a mini cylce even if u moved the tank from one place to other and put it back togather it will cause cycle. A qt tank is well established tank and needs to be cared for kinda more than DT. after all its the hospital.

 

[RedM3]

I've seen many people on here say it is fine to break down the QT and just get it back up and running a week or two before you need it using the sponge in the DT sump trick. For many people, it is just really unrealistic to have a second tank up and running 100% of the time.

 

[AmberL]

I've seen many people on here say it is fine to break down the QT and just get it back up and running a week or two before you need it using the sponge in the DT sump trick. For many people, it is just really unrealistic to have a second tank up and running 100% of the time.

I've read several cases where people set up a QT tank and take it down when it's not needed. I don't currently have the space to have one up 24/7.
The QT needs to be up and running for a week before you add a fish? Ugh. I only had it up and running for 15 minutes, per instructions of my LFS.

 

[Virtuoso]

There are differing schools of thoughts on QT tanks. Some people keep them running all the time and keep them cycled. Some people only run them when they need to QT a fish and keep them "stable" by regular water changes and stuff to manage the ammonia (Prime, I think?). I do not know how the people who keep their QT cycled and established do it as if you have sand or live rock in your QT tank it is not really a QT tank. Things like Ich can complete its lifecycle by infecting the fish and then hanging out on the rock and in the sand. I would read the stickies in the fish treatment forum and I would go through Sk8r's threads and read what she has written about QTing.

 

[RedM3]

I've read several cases where people set up a QT tank and take it down when it's not needed. I don't currently have the space to have one up 24/7.
The QT needs to be up and running for a week before you add a fish? Ugh. I only had it up and running for 15 minutes, per instructions of my LFS.

I'm regurgitating things I've learned on the forum. I'm not sure how long people generally recommend you have a QT set up for - the week or two was a bit of a guess on my part. I'm sure you can ask 10 people an get 10 answers. The most important thing in my eyes is to have a filter with an established bacteria population.

 

[tnias]

If your QT is not a cycled QT you will need do to several water changes a week to keep the ammonia at acceptable levels with regular filter floss and carbon changes. Like Virtuoso mentioned you can find several posts by Sk8r and her recommendations for a QT setup.

Several people like to keep their QT cycled. If that is your plan then your current QT tank is cycling and you need to plan on multiple water changes or ammonia reducing chemicals for a couple weeks.

Water is going to be your main problem. I know that $150 seems like a lot of money to purchase an RO/DI system but in less than a year it will pay for itself.

 

[Tankdiver83]

Clowns usually have a strange swimming pattern. If they dont pick up on eating in a day or two after being used to the tank, try putting some liquid garlic in there food to entice them to eat. you should be able to get this from your local fish store.

 

[Toddrtrex]

IMO, the damage is already done, so you need to start doing water changes. Like was mentioned, using water from another tank is going to do nothing for converting ammonia -- the bacteria is on/in the rocks, sponges, etc, and not in the water.

If you can get a seeded sponge, filter floss, or even a rock from an established tank that would be great. But for now, you need to get the ammonia levels down (( don't care what that ammonia indicator says )), the easiest way to do that is to do a water change. Take the water from your display tank if you have too - it has to be better then what is in the QT right now.