Trying a Royal Gramma Harem

A couple of the Royal Grammas have cotton mouth. One has it pretty bad. :(

I have Pimafix but I wonder if iot would be self-defeating. If I add Pimafix I'll have to take the skimmer offline. But then again the Cupramine seems to be making the skimmer foam to the point it is almost useless.

Think I might get a separate large rubber bin and make up water with Cupramine and just do daily 5g water changes and treat with Pimafix. Any ideas?
 
I have had a harem of Grammas for a couple of years now. I have posted about it on this forum so if you do a search you'll find more to read. I have 4 of the original 5, one disappeared after moving. I plan on getting at least 8 more when I set up my 367 gal.

As for your fish I wouldn't dose the copper unless I actually saw signs of ick. I would treat for the infection because that can certainly kill them.
 
Amanda, I always treat for Ich no matter if I see it or not. I just refuse the take the risk and it has paid off although I've had my fair share of QT losses.

I will keep up the Cupramine. I dosed Paraguard but I think it got skimmed out as the skimmer cup was Paraguard coloured. Will try Pimafix from tomorrow. I have another Fungus medicine arriving tomorrow too so I'm hoping I can see these little guys through. To be honest, if I can get 5 through I'll be happy but obviously aiming for more. I might even add another group later in the year as I love these fish.
 
I have 3 in my setup right now that form a trio. All different size (XL, M, S) and don't see any agression. Have them for around 2 month now.

DSC_0014RESIZED-3.jpg
 
Best of luck with the harem Nextdog

FWIW, I usually donlt skim when using cupramine in the QT, I'll treat with cupe first, then start skimming after a week or so. The Permafix and Melafix will foam out a skimmer as well. I think it's worth not skimming while treating with these early on, just use a air stone and aerate like crazy, it'll still foam but not get skimmed out. Then, as you mentioned above, do WCs with treated water when not skimming. Once I start skimming, I keep doing small WCs with untreated water and add carbon & UV to the mix as well.
 
Yah, just figured out the skimmer was skimming out Cupramine. I've hit the QT with another half dose to bring copper level up.

I'm very worried about not skimming as the full treatment is 3 weeks. Going to do a 20% water change (10g) twice a week (Wednesday/Sunday). Do you think this will be enough to keep up water quality?
 
NexDog said:
Yah, just figured out the skimmer was skimming out Cupramine. I've hit the QT with another half dose to bring copper level up.

I'm very worried about not skimming as the full treatment is 3 weeks. Going to do a 20% water change (10g) twice a week (Wednesday/Sunday). Do you think this will be enough to keep up water quality?
Click to expand...

This should be fine.
Make sure you siphon up any uneaten food.
Ammonia is the big killer in QT.
Stick an ammonia alert on the front panel for piece of mind.
 
I'm only feeding brine and mysis and it doesn't exactly sink. Going to feed very little from now.

Only two of the Royal Grammas are out and about since upping the dose. The rest are buried in holes in the LR. Fingers crossed.
 
very cool- tagging along! I have been wanting to do a non photosynthetic tank that featured gorgonias and other deepwater inverts in a cave/ledge like setting and a harem of RGs would look great.
 
I agree, that would look fantastic. I have definitely seen different types of Royal Grammas too with variations in the darkness of the colour purple. The ones I have at the moment seem to be a lighter purple than more darker ones I've had in teh past (or maybe I'm just tripping).

So yesterday I re-dosed Cupramine, did the 20% water change and re-dosed Pimafix. After that I only saw 2 RGs out and about but today there are 5 swimming around in plain sight.

I also added an air-stone (thanks for the reminder Baxxy baby :D). I used to do this but forgot about it.
 
Ack, minus one Royal Gramma today. I believe it was the one with the worstcase of Cotton Mouth.

Have another with pop eye in both eyes that doesn't look good (blind).

Both are indicators of poor water quality but the water was straight out the DT (90% of it and I have some LR in there and sponges). Nitrates not that high. Maybe I'll add more LR the next time round to help with biofilter.

I guess this first week will be critical. Whatever makes it to Monday should make it the full 3 weeks. Hoping for 5. Depending on how this works out I might add another group later in the year.
 
End of week 1 for this group. The remaining 5 look healthy and are eating despite the Cupramine. Here is a video of the QT:

<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0VPhiNt4Fr4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0VPhiNt4Fr4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>

And the 340g:

<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oJj33QpNu3M&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oJj33QpNu3M&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>
 
Cool idea. They are going to be a beautiful addition to that DT. Nice fish, tank, and music. Good luck with them!
 
End of week 2 Cupramine treatment. The 5 remaining Royal Grammas are doing well and eating like pigs despite the treatment. I'm sticking to a rigid 10g water change every Sunday and Wednesday. When I change the water I add 2.5ml of Cupramine so I'm redosing at 0.6mg/l to take into account any copper absorption from the LR. Dosing Pimafix with each WC too. One of the fish has a badly scarred head from some kind of fungal infection but seems to be clearing up slowly. It was the least active fish but is out and about and eating now.
 
The 5 Royal Grammas went in after lights out yesterday. Didn't see any of them at all today which I guess is kind of expected. Fingers crossed I'll see them again. :p
 
Halfway through the second day and still not seen them. I guess they are basslets and a bit timid.........

Newsflash, i just saw one. :p
 
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