Tank transfer method question

[Sleepingtiger]

I am doing the tank transfer method on 2 green chromis, 2 3" moorish idol, 1 4" cbb and 1 4" pyramid butterfly. I am transfering them between 2 20g tanks. I started last thursday night, did a transfer on saturday night (i know, it was only 2 days, i can't count), did another transfer tuesday night. My next and final transfer is going to be tonight.

My fish are extremely stressed out. the pyramid is looking like he wont make it. he developed quite a sore spot on his back. the moorish idols are weak and barely eating. my cbb is looking quite stressed as well.

Instead of the final transfer, I am thinking about putting the fish into my 46g hospital tank and let the recover and maybe try again in a month or so.

my main display still hasn't gone fallow yet. can't catch the last chromis and 6line wrasse. so i still have plenty of time.

any suggestions?

 

[Dmorty217]

Put the fish in the 46g and get them eating and eating well. The pyramid will need to be treated with something for the mouth sore or it will assuredly die

 

[pyithar]

since your display is not fallowed yet, where do you plan to put them after the tank transfer treatment? if you put them back in the display, they'll get infected again. you should get the remaining fish out of the display first to start the fallow period. i would move the fishes into a big enough temporary tank because the fallow time is 10 weeks. at the 9th week mark, start the tank transfer for a few fish(not all) at a time. after the treatment, that'll be over 10 weeks fallow time so you can move the already treated fish into the display.

 

[Sleepingtiger]

Put the fish in the 46g and get them eating and eating well. The pyramid will need to be treated with something for the mouth sore or it will assuredly die

mouth sore? its on his back. but i am quite worried. I will stop the tank transfer and get them in the 46g.

i have some chaeto with pods in the sump from the main display. Do you think its a bad idea and grab some of that chaeto and throw it in the 46g hospital tank?

since your display is not fallowed yet, where do you plan to put them after the tank transfer treatment? if you put them back in the display, they'll get infected again. you should get the remaining fish out of the display first to start the fallow period. i would move the fishes into a big enough temporary tank because the fallow time is 10 weeks. at the 9th week mark, start the tank transfer for a few fish(not all) at a time. after the treatment, that'll be over 10 weeks fallow time so you can move the already treated fish into the display.

sorry if i didn't clarify. I have 2 20g that are being used for transfer, 1 46g as a hospital and 90g as my main display. the DT will be going fallow as soon as i can get the last fish out. the MI, CBB, PB and GC will all be going to the 46g while the main display goes fallow.

 

[Dmorty217]

Sorry read that wrong, pyramids often develop mouth sores and end up not eating a dying from them. Is it a open sore or a lump?

 

[DDon]

Were you testing for ammonia or using prime or something similar during tank transfer? Even though it is only 3 days in tank at a time, 6 fish is still quite a bit in a 20g and water quality may be why they are struggling.
I agree that you should stop and get them eating, especially with sensitive fish like you are dealing with. Is the 46 already cycled? Make sure you monitor water quality closely even if cycled since you are adding so many at a time and be prepared for frequent water changes. Once you do complete TT, I would still plan on monitoring in QT for a few weeks before placing in the display tank.

 

[Sleepingtiger]

Sorry read that wrong, pyramids often develop mouth sores and end up not eating a dying from them. Is it a open sore or a lump?

it loos like a rash.

Were you testing for ammonia or using prime or something similar during tank transfer? Even though it is only 3 days in tank at a time, 6 fish is still quite a bit in a 20g and water quality may be why they are struggling.
I agree that you should stop and get them eating, especially with sensitive fish like you are dealing with. Is the 46 already cycled? Make sure you monitor water quality closely even if cycled since you are adding so many at a time and be prepared for frequent water changes. Once you do complete TT, I would still plan on monitoring in QT for a few weeks before placing in the display tank.

yes i am using some ammonia remover on the second day of the transfer.
for the 46g, i bought bio spira and added it to the 46 gallon tank. the tank only has about 10lbs of dead rock.

still not sure about adding the chaeto because im afraid i might get some ich from the main display to the hospital tank.

 

[Dmorty217]

Sounds like some antibiotics are in order

 

[Sleepingtiger]

i will transfer the fish tonight to the 46g. will take some pics and post it to get the right diagnosis. thanks!!

 

[Neptune 555]

RE: moving the pods and Chaeto agree they are infected... So I would not add them... After the fallow period they are find to use when you try to add items for food during TT. Now they must be treated as infected..

Neptuen

 

[snorvich]

That is a lot of fish in a 20 gallon tank. If I were forced to do tank transfer on these fish in this sized tank, I would do multiple 2 day cycles. But as mentioned above, your display tank needs to be fallow for 72 days so where do they go then?

 

[Sleepingtiger]

RE: moving the pods and Chaeto agree they are infected... So I would not add them... After the fallow period they are find to use when you try to add items for food during TT. Now they must be treated as infected..

Neptuen

that sucks, i was really hoping to be able to use them

That is a lot of fish in a 20 gallon tank. If I were forced to do tank transfer on these fish in this sized tank, I would do multiple 2 day cycles. But as mentioned above, your display tank needs to be fallow for 72 days so where do they go then?

for the tank transfer method, i have two 20g aquariums. the hospital/waiting tank is 46g. the main display is 90g. so while my display tank goes fallow for 72 days, the fish will be in a 46g.

bad news, the pyramid did not make it. when i got home, he was barely breathing and got sucked up by the wavemaker. that really sucks because i thought he looked better than the 2 moorish idols.

good news, the moorish idols are eating finally eating. at first i tried pe mysis, nori, clam, nls 1mm pellets and brine shrimp. the idols would take it in but spit it right out. now, they are now taking pe mysis from the water column. they wont touch anything else, but i don't care. as long as they are eathing. what a beautiful fish. who would think that such a delicate fish was able to survive the stress of quarantine while the butterfly died.

question, i was not able to complete all 4 cycles of the tank transfer method. On the 4th transfer, they went to the waiting tank. I have not seen any signs of ich to any of the fish. should i fatten up the fish and start the tank transfer method all over again?