Saving my clownfish & anemone

Trilogy

Trilogy

New member
TANK SIZE : 5 GALLON
SALINITY : 1.023
PH : 8.0-8.4
LIGHTING : CYBERAQUA LED
FILTER : RIO NANO SKIMMER + RIO HOB FILTER

WEEK 1 - WEEK 2
My tank was cycle for 2 months with natural sea water with sea salt(crystal mix) . After the process ..i got a pair of clown and anemone for my tank. With some live rocks too. One of the fish was eating and the other did not eat ,than both the fish stop eating and began to show signs of heavy breathing, not swimming normally. Anemone was fine but did not eat.

TODAY
Only the anemone survive.It started to eat. Feed it with some small shrimps i got at the market. wash clean before feeding it to the anemone.

So after the anemone started to eat i assume that i should get a pair of clowns.And so i did.Came back and put the fish into the tank..but fish was not showing normal signs. Both of my clown fish always at the surface of the water and sometimes they get really stress and tried to jump out the tank.I was really weird and i was scared it might contain some harmful bacteria which is left when i got my first pair last week. So took the clowns back to the LFS . The guy said i should buy a nirite tester and test my water before adding them into the tank . He said that he would take care of the fish until my water is stable.

Just tested my nirite level (reading shows DARK PURPLE almost red) i know that the cause of my clown reaction was because of my nirite levels..the problem now is how do i push the level back...??? i still got my anemone in the tank..( It is fine ..open up fully) what should i do now..?? should i take the anemone out and place it into a container and than do some water change or can i change the water with the anemone in it ??? ANY ADVICE PLS!!!
 
Didn't you have another post on this? Your tank is too small for any of the animals you have tried. If you have not done so already, the nem should be returned. Small tanks like the one you have are fairly hard to keep stable even for more experienced reefers. That coupled with the fact that you are trying to keep an anemone, which is one of the most difficult animals to keep, just magnifies your problem. Even with approprite animals in a 5 gallon tank, you have to be on top of it daily (or have some form of automation) to keep it stable.

Please just return the nem and research nano/pico tanks to see what it takes to be successful with one and what animals are appropriate to keep in a tank that size. Sorry to be blunt.

Edit: The best thing to do to get your water back in check is to do water changes. The nem is kicking out quite a bit of waste so once it is out would should start seeing improvements. Once you get the tank empty and cycled back through, stock the tank slowly with appropriate livestock and test your water often as you go. You may find that you need a small WC every day, every other day, or larger WC's once a week, etc. Using some media such as Chemipure Elite, Polyfilter, Purigen, etc. may also be something to consider. Good luck.
 
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Not sure if you saw my edit but water changes. With concentrations that high you may need to start with 100% changed followed by multiple 50% changes. The volume and frequency of the changes will be dictated by what your test results show. Using some form of media also might help once you get things down to reasonable levels. You may see concentrations linger even after large WCs. If so, chances are your rock has become somewhat saturated with nitrates, etc so you will need to continue water changes and swapping out media until you start making headway. Again, sorry to be blunt but your chances of success with those animals in this tank are very, very slim.
 
That small of a tank is hardly suitable for any fish. I've seen some keep tanks this small with a small clean up crew, some zoanthids, and other softy/leather corals, but in general picos are difficult to maintain because they are so small, evaporating a cup of water is actually a very large percentage, and leads to huge swings. Research more and good luck.
 
You really want to kill more fish and let that anemone perish? I'm done debating your topic as we have all told you before. They will die, nothing else. You are the type that makes this hobby look bad. Stop trying to put something that needs a minimum of 55 Gallons and putting it in 5 Gallons of water and expecting it to do great.
 
Since you obviously didn't listen to suggestions in your other thread on this topic, I'll be even more blunt here-bring all your livestock back to LFS & start from scratch with a larger tank; or just get out of the hobby altogether. There's NO WAY a pair of clowns & an anemone can survive (much less thrive) in a 5 gallon tank. You're just throwing your money away & killing animals needlessly. You won't have any success in this hobby unless you get your head outta your .... & listen to people with more knowledge & experience under their belt. As I stated in your other thread, I'd change LFS, too...While they're all in it to make money, a reputable store wouldn't have sold a pair of clownfish & an anemone to a newbie with a 5gal tank.
 
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Woah people. Why such scathing comments today? The OP is a newbie, got bad advise from his LFS, and is now conflicted on what to do. We don't need to be so mean about it all. Conrad, let's up the attitude a little. Some mistakes have been made here, but with all the negativity the OP may not stick around to learn thinking everyone on RC are haters. Let's try to positively coach him, not bring him down.

OP- you really should heed the advice presented to you in this and your other thread if you want to keep any animals alive.
 
Water change, water change, water change...What are your water parameters anyway & how often are you doing water changes? Judging from your previous thread, this issue has been going on for you at least 2 months; you've lost a pair of clowns, the nem is acting funky, & yet you buy another pair of fish w/o correcting the original problem (too small a tank for all that livestock).....? W.T.F...? Pico tanks are difficult to keep in balance, & should be attempted by only an experienced reefer (much less a newbie). I'll try to be as clear, concise & kind as I can be...Bring all the livestock back to LFS & start from scratch with a minimum 20 gallon tank.
 
SwampyBill - perhaps you are having problems counting....his first post on this issue was on 10/15. Today's date is 10/21. He described this issue had been happening for about a week. Roll back a week from 10/15, and it's 10/8. That puts it at 23 days now - hardly close to two months as you attempted to embellish this issue to. Furthermore, did you happen to read what I posted directly before you, or did you just blindly respond to this post with another scathing remark after seeing the thread had been replied to? The OP hasn't posted since Yesterday morning, and the advice you gave yesterday is still the same as today - he's not saying he won't do it. In his other thread, he's agreed to get a 20 or 30 gallon tank. You have made your point quite clear since 10/16 - there is no more use for your increasingly hostile attitude on this matter.

Elitist "know-it-all" attitudes are no way to encourage someone to make a change. Yes, most of us on here know more than the OP, know to research more before buying, and know to take LFS advice with a grain of salt. HOWEVER, that in no way excuses treating the OP with such disrespect. We don't know him, his location even, finances, situation etc. Maybe he's doing the best he can. Lets steer him to a healthier path POSITIVELY and not with such disdain.

Now, Trilogy, lets year from you again, and no more negative dialog!
 
bues0022 --- great post, and most likely said better then I would have.


To everyone else --- Knock it off!!! The mistake has happened, move on. If you are not going to try to help "Trilogy" don't bother posting. I really hope I won't have to say this again.
 
Everyone: Please correct any bad advice, I have never maintained a tank this small.

Trilogy, have you had the natural sea water you are putting in your tank tested? Before using it again I would suggest you make sure the Nitrites, Ammonia and Nitrates aren't already high in the water you would be adding. Did you use RO/DI water when you mixed your own sea water? Do you have any other test results, such as Ammonia and Nitrates?

As mentioned before regular water changes would be your best option. I would keep your nem in there and do small water changes, the stress of moving it and then having to reacclimate it could be worse. Does your LFS sell RO water already mixed with salt? If so I would use that (but make sure you equalize the salinity to match what is already in your tank) and change out about 5% (1/4 of a gallon each day) of water sporatically throughout the day. I say small water changes because you have your nem in there and big swings may upset it.

I would also suggest you change out your carbon media.

Everyone: Could he do a 25% water change at once or would that be too much?
 
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Looks like I had fat fingers, 23 days should actually be 13.

A 25% water change would nor shock the nem too much at all. In fact, given the poor water quality, it might like it. Daily water changes aren't a bad idea, but they're just so much work :) This still doesn't account for the fact that it would be incredibly difficult to maintain proper water conditions in a tank this small for any nem. It sounded like it might be a condy, so at least it won't get huge, but it would be the only thing in the tank.

Trilogy, do you have any idea long term what you may want in the tank? Knowing this will help us help you even better.
 
chasedasea- I agree moving a nem around a lot is not a good idea but in this case I think reloacting the nem to an approprate tank is going to be the best option. If for any reason that the lighting is not suffient. Also, the OP has indicated that the nem is still doing "ok" and if that is the case, it would be best to get it into a good environment before it has a chance to decline.
 
greech said:
chasedasea- I agree moving a nem around a lot is not a good idea but in this case I think reloacting the nem to an approprate tank is going to be the best option. If for any reason that the lighting is not suffient. Also, the OP has indicated that the nem is still doing "ok" and if that is the case, it would be best to get it into a good environment before it has a chance to decline.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input.

Unfortunately he didn't say he had a bigger tank or a better environment, just a container. Read his entire first post and you will see what I am talking about. Everyone already posted why he should not keep it but I am trying to help with what is happening and what he is willing and able to do now. I do agree with what you are saying though.
 
bues0022 said:
Looks like I had fat fingers, 23 days should actually be 13.

A 25% water change would nor shock the nem too much at all. In fact, given the poor water quality, it might like it. Daily water changes aren't a bad idea, but they're just so much work :) This still doesn't account for the fact that it would be incredibly difficult to maintain proper water conditions in a tank this small for any nem. It sounded like it might be a condy, so at least it won't get huge, but it would be the only thing in the tank.

Trilogy, do you have any idea long term what you may want in the tank? Knowing this will help us help you even better.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks, I believe in another thread the OP agreed to buy a 20 or 30g tank in the future. Sorry if I am being a bother, just trying to help peice all of the info together in one thread. Here is the OP first thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17787748#post17787748
 
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Trilogy-You have a PM, but let me say this publicly to you also--please accept my apology. It was not my intention to sound 'elitist', & I'm sorry I didn't answer you with more tact. I hardly consider myself a 'know-it-all', I've been in this hobby for 6 yrs & learn something new everyday. I missed the phrase about 'after cycle' in original post, that's why my timing was off by 1 1/2 mos. Once again, my sincerest apologies...

Now, back to your issue. Since the LFS are holding the clown pair, can they also store the nem? Or do you have a friend with an appropriate sized, mature tank that can house it while you get your water parameters in check or a larger tank for it? 25% water changes would help weekly. What are your parameters now? Also, at 1.023, your salinity is a bit low.
 
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chasedasea said:
Thanks for your input.

Unfortunately he didn't say he had a bigger tank or a better environment, just a container. Read his entire first post and you will see what I am talking about. Everyone already posted why he should not keep it but I am trying to help with what is happening and what he is willing and able to do now. I do agree with what you are saying though.
Click to expand...

Understood and I did see that but the new tank won't be ready for an anemone for several months down the road as it will need time to cycle and mature a bit. The OP will also need to get the appropriate lighting for the bigger tank which may take some time. So by appropriate tank I meant an established one with the necessary equipment. Return it to his/her LFS, etc.
 
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