Quarantine 101

[NicoleC]

I always move them together, just in case. A big wide-mouth jar or one of those plastic convalescent homes is usually big enough to scoop them both up, especially if you do it at night when they are snoozing. You may be able to just cover the yellow bowl and pick them up in that.

You could capture them at night to make it quick and easy, but I would not introduce them to the display in the dark. Too easy to get frighten and stumble into something unknown and hurt themselves.

But I think they have been through the worst, and a quick transfer won't be as traumatic as the capture, shipping, etc. they have been through. If they get fussy after being separated, it can't hurt to feed them their favorite food as soon as they go in the display to defuse tensions.

 

[TippyToeX]

I can't believe it has already been a month. They look great!

Thanks Marc! Time sure does fly.

Nicole- I was think of using the yellow bowl to transfer them just like you mentioned. I think that would be less traumatic and for the first few days I will just leave the bowl in the main display too. To boost their comfort level. Do it about midday before their meal. So they have some time to adjust to the water flow and new surroundings. Then give them a big meal and hope they take to the night well.

 

[Randall_James]

Well it is nice to see a thread that can emphasize that buying new fish is more than a matter of acclimation and dropping them into display. Having already learned my lesson a long time ago about that type of practice

You fish are looking much better (as is your photography).

Would you explain how you went about "cycling" your tank for the fish.

I think one of the biggest issues for the 101 class is the fact that ammonia may get more fish in qt than any ailment. (another VERY expensive lesson I learned the hard way) Kudos on the Ammonia Alert Badge, they are a great item for qt tanks....

 

[dustin Combs]

I may have missed it in the thread, where can you get a ammonia allert adge?

 

[Spiffyguy]

Most fish stores have them. I bought mine at....petsmart. Sorry but I needed a 10 gallon for my QT

 

[NicoleC]

They are made by SeaChem and widely available. Also quite cheap, considering how long they last. ($5 at Marine Depot)

IMO, they are a good tool, but do not completely replace ammonia tests in senstitive environments, since they do eventually go bad and there's no sign that has happened..

 

[Randall_James]

They are made by SeaChem and widely available. Also quite cheap, considering how long they last. ($5 at Marine Depot)

IMO, they are a good tool, but do not completely replace ammonia tests in senstitive environments, since they do eventually go bad and there's no sign that has happened..

They have a 4 hour reaction time, so they are not an instant indicator, however they sure do make you feel better when you can just look at your tank and see if there are any "ammonia indictors"

I also take a black sharpie and put the "opened date" on the clear section so that I can replace them at 9 months. (supposed to be good for 1 year)

 

[NicoleC]

Good idea!

Yes, I like having an "ammonia probe," too

 

[TippyToeX]

Would you explain how you went about "cycling" your tank for the fish.

It's an easy three step process that I used.

• I have a hang on back filter I use as filtration for my QT tanks. They normally come with a sponge (you can by them cheap at petsmart) and carbon to place in the filtration compartment. What I do is get a fresh sponge and place it in the sump of my main display tank. It get's populated with beneficial bacteria. If I know I will be QTing a fish or coral soon, I will place the sponge in the sump a good two weeks before I need to have the tank set up
  
• A few days before I get the fish I will clean out the QT tank, and use saltwater from the main display to fill it up. I put all the equipment in place and place the sponge from the displays sump into the HOB filter. Whamo! the tank is ready to do. The sponge is the filter I need. I think the mature saltwater is a help too (of course so long as your water parameters are good).
  
• I test the water (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites) and keep a pH probe in for the days leading up to the fish/corals arrival. To be sure everything is well. I have to agree, the ammonia alert is a great idea, but not as good as something like a salifert ammonia test kit. Also, as good of a filter it is using those sponges, I still think it's a must to do frequent water changes. I feed a lot when animals are Qted. They are normally already stressed and need every little bit to help build them back up. So left over food and waste must be taken care of. It doesn't have to be a big change daily, but a good cleanup often will help keep water quality even higher and make our job easier.

 

[TippyToeX]

Well we are at week 5 now. Just one more week of hypo to go before I can start raising the SG and get them ready for introduction into the display tank.

Big tank cleaning on the books today. Get the algae out, do two 5g changes (one morning and one at night), and fresh carbon.

They really did not want their picture taken. That and the tank needs a good cleaning. So I'm sorry this is such a bad picture.

 

[Nagel]

So I'm sorry this is such a bad picture.

Absolutely horrible pic

Just horrible...

ROFLMAO

They look good.. Wow, its been 5 weeks already? dang!

 

[Puffer Queen]

Amy,

You can more than welcome to come & photograph any of my fish - I really like your pics!

Best of luck with your clowns.

Kelly

 

[TippyToeX]

I wish I could take pics of your fish Kelly. I'd love all those predators giving me the evil eye Can you get pics of the sharks in your pond? I always wondered that.

Just got home from a few days out of state. The clowns are looking good! I can't wait till the weekend when I can start to slowly get the SG up to the display level.

 

[NicoleC]

In the display by Thanksgiving weekend, maybe?

 

[TippyToeX]

In the display by Thanksgiving weekend, maybe?

I think so.

 

[TippyToeX]

Charlie and Lucy have been in Qt with a hypo treatment for 6 weeks as of the 19th. I've already started to bring the SG up to the display level.

So, I am going from 1.009 to 1.025. Right now it's at 1.012 and they are happy as ever. Eating and swishing around in their bowl. I've just done daily water changes and will continue to do so with slightly elevated salt water (each day higher then the next). As I said above I hope this will be finished by next weekend. I can't wait to see them in the main tank!

I'll try to get some new pictures posted today.

 

[melev]

<font type="century gothic" size="6">Free Charlie & Lucy!</font>

<i>T-shirts available at your local Wal-Mart - Buy one today!</i>

 

[TippyToeX]

ROFL :lol:

 

[Dudester]

Amy, this thread has been very helpful to me, as I also have a perc in quarantine. At this stage is it also acceptable to allow the water to evaporate and not top-off with RO/DI, thereby increasing the specific gravity of the tank water? My perc is in a 20g QT and I was considering this as an option, since losing a couple gallons of volume over time should not stress the system.


p.s. I called Wal-Mart and put a shirt on hold for me!

 

[NicoleC]

As long as the salinity is rising slowly enough (.01 to .02) per day, evaporation is a fine way to bring the salinity back up after hypo. You may still need to do some water changes, though.