Question on TTM

[Cobrasvt1999]

So I have a question about the TTM for you guys....

I have 2 small clowns, about 3/4 of an inch long in a 10 gallon tank. Im having a hard time keeping the tank parameters inline between each tank transfer, especially while feeding (haven't gotten them to eat yet). I have a bottle of API ammo lock, and I have been using that on the last day, but they still seem stressed and im thinking thats why they arnt eating.

Being that I want them to be alive and healthy (who dosent?), I have 4 options that I can see.

-Continue with TTM and have once they are done with it have a QT tank with excellent water and cycled filter floss running through it for them

-Stop TTM and put them into the cycled QT tank now

-put them in the main DT (they are my first fish, but the cycle is complete in it)

-Give them back to the store

What would you do?

Thanks

 

[ZeeSparrow]

Do you have a heater and some sort of aeration (powerhead, HOB filter, airstone) on the 10 gallon? I put my clowns through TTM using a 10 gallon and a 5 gallon tank and they ate like... clowns!

How long have you had them in TTM?

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

Do you have a heater and some sort of aeration (powerhead, HOB filter, airstone) on the 10 gallon? I put my clowns through TTM using a 10 gallon and a 5 gallon tank and they ate like... clowns!

How long have you had them in TTM?

I have a heater as well as an air stone in the tank. I will do a HOB filter for the long term QT.

This is day 3 that I have had them

If i do end up keeping the TTM going, im going to feed them only right before a tank transfer, that way the food they dont eat has no time to rot in their tank

Maybe im just being paranoid. I know that one of them wasnt doing well in the last tank, but seems to be recovering now that I put him into a fresh tank... Unfortunately, this is my first time with marine fish, so I have a hard time judging if their actions are normal, especially when I read that clowns dont have many behaviors considered "normal". They just do whatever they want, and who cares if it looks strange...

 

[gone fishin]

I have not really experienced any ammonia issues in TTM. A possibility is your overfeeding.

Are the clowns tank bred or wild caught? If wild caught you may need to try a couple of different foods. I also keep the lighting low to ambient and minimize movement around the tank. Good luck

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

I have not really experienced any ammonia issues in TTM. A possibility is your overfeeding.

Are the clowns tank bred or wild caught? If wild caught you may need to try a couple of different foods. I also keep the lighting low to ambient and minimize movement around the tank. Good luck

Bred, and I am keeping lighting low in hopes of it helping them.

Also, Im going to try rinsing the frozen food next time, I understand that can cause alot of problems

 

[Marchillo]

Maybe try different foods although they should eat frozen mysis. For what it's worth I've never rinsed my frozen food and haven't had a fish death since I started over a year ago. Not saying it is good or bad but don't think that is any reason they won't eat.

Do you have pvc for hiding spots?
Did you use RODI?
Did your SG match during acclimation?
How long was acclimation?

If you are locking the ammonia you should be fine for the 3 day transfers. You can also do water change if it makes you feel more comfortable. How long is you water mixed before using it?

Maybe add some flow to the tank with a small powerhead. You'd have to make sure you have two and they are completely dry for 24 hours between transfers. That can be tricky.

 

[hogfanreefer]

I feed frozen in TTM and have put as many as 3 fish at a time in 10 gal tanks without any ammonia issues. Can you post a picture of your set up and your fish? Any unusual behavior?

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

Maybe try different foods although they should eat frozen mysis. For what it's worth I've never rinsed my frozen food and haven't had a fish death since I started over a year ago. Not saying it is good or bad but don't think that is any reason they won't eat.

Do you have pvc for hiding spots?
Did you use RODI?
Did your SG match during acclimation?
How long was acclimation?

If you are locking the ammonia you should be fine for the 3 day transfers. You can also do water change if it makes you feel more comfortable. How long is you water mixed before using it?

Maybe add some flow to the tank with a small powerhead. You'd have to make sure you have two and they are completely dry for 24 hours between transfers. That can be tricky.

Im going to try Mysis when I get home

Do you have pvc for hiding spots?
yup
Did you use RODI?
yup
Did your SG match during acclimation?
to within 0.001
How long was acclimation?
before putting them in the tank? about 15 min

the water is usually mixed about 6-12 hours before use

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

I feed frozen in TTM and have put as many as 3 fish at a time in 10 gal tanks without any ammonia issues. Can you post a picture of your set up and your fish? Any unusual behavior?

I will post a pic when I get home from work.

So far as unusual behavior, its hard to say whats usual. Im a bit too new to really know what normal is. That said, I believe strongly that sitting on the bottom with rapid breathing and listing to the side is not normal. Though that got better after the last tank transfer.

 

[Marchillo]

What have you tried feeding? You won't see many clowns turn down mysis. Sounds like you acclimated properly and are setup good. I personally like more water movement via a small powerhead but plenty of people have success with an airstone.

 

[Marchillo]

Also make sure your hands of free of soaps and their aren't any air freshners in the room with the tank. Perfumes, soaps, sprays can cause havoc.

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

What have you tried feeding? You won't see many clowns turn down mysis. Sounds like you acclimated properly and are setup good. I personally like more water movement via a small powerhead but plenty of people have success with an airstone.

Also make sure your hands of free of soaps and their aren't any air freshners in the room with the tank. Perfumes, soaps, sprays can cause havoc.

I have tried Pellets, Flakes, Frozen Mysis, and Frozen Bryne. Though I suspect the lack of eating is stress related, because they ate in the store.

Also, I have been careful not to let any chemicals into the water... though there is always a chance I suppose...

 

[Marchillo]

Ok - honestly it sounds like you are on top of it.

 

[ZeeSparrow]

I'd agree. Sounds like you're doing the best that can be done for them. To answer your original question, at this point I would probably continue TTM. If you decide to stop it because it is too stressful for them, then to QT they go.

Good luck!

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

Some Images of the tank they are living in

Sorry, Its hard to get the camera to focus on them when they dont feel like holding still...

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

Just attempted another feeding of frozen Mysis shrimp... they didnt even look at them aside from getting out of their way while they fell down.

Gona try brine shrimp next.

point of interest, how long can these guys go without eating? when should I start to really get concerned?

 

[Marchillo]

No sure if it matters but when I qt I have black aquarium background attached to 4 panels of the tank - 2 sides, back, and bottom. Only the front was open. I think that makes them more comfortable. Maybe before the next transfer try this.

 

[kmbyrnes]

hoganreefer I love those butterflies!

 

[adova]

I used to have a very hard time keeping the ammonia levels in check during TTM. I now use a HOB filter with filter floss seeded from the DT. I also use a very large air stone as I have forgotten to turn the HOB back on more than once which left me with a tank full of dead fish in the morning one time.

Good luck!

 

[Cobrasvt1999]

Unfortunate update...:sad1:

I woke up this morning to find one dead. Same one I was concerned about yesterday I think.... I'ts discouraging as hell to find this, but I will keep at it hoping to get the living one healthy and eating. Still Havent figured that one out.

I am now strongly considering halting TTM until I can get the survior to eat. It seems the constant upheaval every 2.5 days is keeping him unhappy.... at a guess...