Quarrantine Problem

[lossman]

We have a 10 gallon quarrantine tank with a bio sponge (plus air stone), mechanical charcoal filter and some PVC pipes. The bio sponge cycled in our main tank refugium for months. Pretty typical setup from what I've researched.

We've had about a 50% survival rate with new fish. We drip acclimate for 2-4 hours. All water parameter tests after a death are fine, and we start the QT tank with water from our main tank, which is doing great. The fish die within 24 hours, but seem to do great for a while, then rapidly decline (an hour or so). I would also think any health problem that would cause death that quickly would be noticeable by us. I would also think a problem with the bio sponge or filter wouldn't cause fish to die THAT quickly.

Any thoughts on a cause?

Thanks

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

is this a brand new tank? if not have you checked for copper?

 

[bertoni]

What size fish are you stocking, and have you run an oxygen test?

 

[lossman]

The quarantine test has successfully housed other fish. The last two were two yellow headed wrasses who did very well. After they were introduced to the main tank, the quarantine tank (which was put together using Steve Pro's guide) was taken down, cleaned thoroughly, rinsed with ro water and stored. The bio sponges were placed into the refugium of the main tank. When we got the new fish, we took water directly from the main tank, which had just undergone our bi-weekly water change. The bio filters were taken from the refugium and put back into the qt tank. The fish was drip acclimated for a total of 2-3 hours.

My dh is concerned that something in our process caused the fish to die. I am certain that the fish probably was not strong to begin with and the stress of the move from it's original home ground, to the fish store and then to our home was more than it could handle. He does not believe that a fish that was swimming around well on the afternoon that we put it in the qt tank could die so quickly. I, on the other hand, think that stress can very quickly kill a weak fish that was previously showing no signs of dieing.

BTW, the qt tank is a 10 gal and the fish going into it are always less than 2-3" each. Generally one fish at a time (the last was about 1.5 inches - a lawnmower blennie).

Thanks for your help with this.

Sally

PS - Bertoni, I am not sure how to run an oxygen test but our qt tank has a water level about 2" below the filter output, so the water drops that far back into the tank creating turbulence with air bubbles. There is also a biosponge system that utilizes an airstone which puts air bubbles into the tank. I really don't think there is an oxygen problem with the tank, but who knows.

kau_cinta_ku - copper has never been used in the tank. Besides, I thought copper would not harm fish???

 

[PatMayo]

Sally, I have to agree with your assessment. It seems to me that you did everything correctly. I too will be adding to my tank at the end of this month and will be using Stephens QT routine. I think that weak fish coupled with extreme stress (and lets face it, capture-lfs-your tank is extreme stress.) has a higher degree of death than a healthy strong fish. Additionally depending on the species they can go downhill very rapidly.

You may want to try another store. Were the fish new to the lfs? Did they just go into the tank? Maybe in the future the lfs would be willing to hold the fish for you for a week or so after you decide you want it. A lot of variables but your conclusion seems most likely.

Copper shouldn't kill a fish like that if the tank was contaminated. (if it was an extreme overdose I suppose that could kill a fish rapidly) You eliminated that possibility.

I would try again with fish from a different store or maybe like I stated earlier they will hold the fish for you for a while before you take it home. At least this way you can observe the fish for a greater length of time.

That's all I have. I hope you have better luck the next time around. I will be sharing my stocking experiences in the future. I hope all goes well.

Regards,

Pat

One other thought, did you by chance check the lfs water parameters? PH and salinity at least. I know by the acclimation process those things should be accounted for but what the heck it may give you some more insight.