Quarantine 101

[TippyToeX]

Dudester - Nicole said it best. That's a fine way to do it so long as the rise in SG is not too much too quickly. Do you have any pictures of your percs? I'd love to see them.

Too funny Marc!

 

[Jordan55]

Pretty clowns Amy.... going the 7 gallon?

 

[TippyToeX]

Thanks Jordan! No, they are going into the 29g. It's just for them and the new anemone.

Here is a pic of them from tonight. Silly ol Charlie would not have any of it with the camera. He was all about showing me his backside.

 

[Dudester]

Amy (and anyone else interested), actually I have only 1 perc in quarantine. I had received a mated pair of percs from a friend, and they were doing quite well in his tank. They both had lesions of lymphocystis, the female with a rather noticable white growth on her gills, and the male with a tiny white spot behind his gills. I placed them in my display tank, as I did not have a QT at that time :mad2: . They both ate and adapted quite well to my tank, hosting in my frogspawn. Unfortunately after 3 days, the female became ill and died quite suddenly. I don't want to hijack this wonderful thread, so if you're interested here's the story of her demise.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=696622

At any rate, my male appeared lonely and I have a new juvenile true perc IN QUARANTINE that I hope to mate with the one in my display. I anticipate that my male will become female and my juvenile will assume a male sex.

I don't have any pics to share today, but I will by the end of the week and I'll post here if you're still interested.

 

[TippyToeX]

Dudester - I'm sorry you lost that female. At least her death was not in vain because it taught you the need to QT your livestock. When will the new little clown be added to the display? Looking forward to those pics.


The QT tank is now at 1.019. Both clowns look great!

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

so a big tetra air pump is better to keep PH up than a powerhead in a Q.T.??

 

[TippyToeX]

E-A-G-L-E-S - My experience for this tank and it's location has been that an air wand or stone has done a much better job at keeping pH up then any powerhead. I am quite sure that varies from tank to tank and is not the "norm".

If you are worried about pH in your QT setup I'd suggest you experiment before you receive your arrival. Try both and see what works best for you.

 

[TippyToeX]

Currently we are at 1.024

I declare Sunday as the day for the big transfer!

 

[Dudester]

Looking forward to hearing (and seeing) how it goes - sure it'll be smooth as silk. Sorry, still working on those pics of my percs for you.

 

[TippyToeX]

Thanks Dudester, I hope it goes smoothy. No rush on the pics, but when you do have them please post.

OK I have an agenda today for Charlie and Lucy. I am going to do a large water change (more than 50%) using water from the display tank. So that they get even morte use to what is to come. The water quality for the display is as follows:

• Ammonia 0
• Nitrites o
• Nitrates 5ppm
• Temp 82 degrees
• Salinity 1.025
• pH 8.2 (and that only happens with a 24/7 kalk drip)
• Ca 375
• Alk 11dkh

The only thing in the display tank is the Macrodactyla doreensis (LTA anemone), about 30 pounds or so of live rock, a somewhat deep sand bed (need to add a good 3" when I move it next month). I also went out a bought a clay pot for them to go to. I am somewhat paranoid that they will feel lost without a bowl like they have and love in the QT tank. I have little to no hope of them going to the LTA right away or at all. It's not a natural host to Percula clowns. So the clay pot can give them the comfort they might need while they adjust to the new tank.

I also wonder how they will take to the water flow. They have been in a tranquil little tank with out 10 x's turn over. The main tank has over 35x's turn over. poor little devils are going to get a ride when they hit the tank. I know they can take it, it's not like it's anything close to what they deal with in the wild. I just wonder how they will adjust.

OK enough ramblings. I'll take a pic of the main tank in a little bit to show you all what it looks like.

 

[Dudester]

I also wonder how they will take to the water flow. They have been in a tranquil little tank with out 10 x's turn over. The main tank has over 35x's turn over. poor little devils are going to get a ride when they hit the tank. I know they can take it, it's not like it's anything close to what they deal with in the wild. I just wonder how they will adjust.

I put a MaxiJet 900 powerhead in my QT for that very reason! I know it looks aweful, but I also used the venturi attachment for bubbles, figuring I was getting the benefits of both an airstone (for oxygenation and pH control) and a powerhead (?).

 

[TippyToeX]

I think that's a great idea Dudester. I might try that next time. What are you able to keep your pH at?

Well it's been 7 weeks but the day has finally come. Both Charlie and Lucy are in the display tank. Here are two amazingly bad photos.

It went so smoothly I was shocked. The QT tank parameters matched the display tanks perfectly. So I just reached into the QT tank, both clowns dove into their bowl. I picked the bowl up, walked to the 29g, dipped the bowl in and they swam over to their new terra cotta pot. They have not left that spot since.

They ate a good meal tonight (cyclopeeze). A little time was spent adjusting to the higher flow but they didn't panic. They just fought it till they found a good bobbing rhythm. Now the lights are out and they look to be settled in.

I'm a little sad to have broken down the QT tank. I drained it, washed it out with bleached and water (as well as the HOB filter, PVC, and heater) then rinsed it out really well. Now it's just running with fresh water to get the last of any bleach out. It's going to be odd not having to take care of that tank. I really did enjoy the time they were in QT.

I am happy they are healthy and happy in the display tank and will give me years and years of enjoyment (I hope) in there.

Now.. will they ever go to the LTA is the questions. :smokin:

 

[Randall_James]

No need to go to extremes removing the bleach, it dissipates very rapidly in the air. In food preparation, we just spray down surfaces and let it dry, it is gone.

 

[Puffer Queen]

Amy,

They look good in their display tank.....now what to add to the empty QT ?

Best of luck,

Kelly

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

lol

 

[NicoleC]

Congratulations and best of luck to all three of you!

I always feel a sense of both excitement and let down when bringing a fish out of QT. There really is something to be said for the kind of careful attention and closeness you get with just a fish or two in a small QT.

Parasite and disease issues aside, the quiet QT time really seems to help the fish out, plus it's a good time to train them to eat whatever foods you're going to serve them in whatever manner. (Hand feed, feeding station, broadcast feeding, etc.)

 

[melev]

I like how the LTA is two different colors in those pictures. I like the bottom one better.

Congrats on releasing your babies into their new home. Time for me to find some other cause to fight for now. Charlie and Lucy are free at last. :lol:

 

[TippyToeX]

Thanks everyone! I had this bad feeling I am going to go clown nuts and get another pair soon. I am now getting the idea of turning the garage into my fish room and get into breeding.

Marc, the bottom pic is true to it's color. The first one the flash hit the glass all funky.

 

[Puffer Queen]

Who needs a garage anyway......it is not like you need to park your car in there on snowy days

My vote - convert the garage!!

Kelly

 

[TippyToeX]

Good point Kelly! I just need to figure out how to keep it cool in there and I think I will do it.