TTM Using 5 Gallon Buckets For 2 Juvenile Clowns

[scelona]

Tomorrow (I hope) I will be buying my first two fish, 2 juvenile snowflake clowns. I am matching my salinity to that of the store they will come from and will be performing the tank transfer method before putting them in my 20 gallon quarantine. I am planning on using two 5 gallon buckets for the TTM and was wondering if this could be stressful/harmful/unfavorable for the fish. I feel kind of guilty putting the two little guys in a windowless white bucket with nothing but pvc and some bubbles to look at but don't want to buy two more aquariums if possible. Any thoughts?

 

[homer1475]

Exactly how I did it with my clowns.

Just used about 3 gallons(half a bucket), a couple PVC pipes(they never used them), bubble wand, heater, and an ammonia badge. I've used 5 gallon buckets a couple times now, but only use them if the fish is real small, other wise I have 2 20G tanks I use.

They came through absolutely fine, and are a happy healthy and fat members of my tank.

I honestly believe not being able to see out of the bucket keeps the stress level down for them. For one, they can't see anything, and secondly they won't have you starring at them constantly spooking them.

 

[scelona]

Exactly how I did it with my clowns.

Just used about 3 gallons(half a bucket), a couple PVC pipes(they never used them), bubble wand, heater, and an ammonia badge. I've used 5 gallon buckets a couple times now, but only use them if the fish is real small, other wise I have 2 20G tanks I use.

They came through absolutely fine, and are a happy healthy and fat members of my tank.

That is basically my exact setup. The clowns are tiny so I feel a little better leaving them in a few gallons of water. I think I will make this work for now and pick up two 10 gallons next time petco has a sale.

 

[A.Astore]

Yeah, don't feel bad. They will have plenty of room to swim and do their thing. The only thing is I wouldn't turn the light on once they are in the 20 gallon for 24 hours and only allow the ambient room light. Give them time to adjust. A lot of people say they completely cover their QT but I have found most of my fish end up doing better having ambient light the first 24 hours and being able to see compared to completely dark (speaking in terms of once in the 20 gallon). I have 10 gallon tanks and love them so if you are able to catch the Petco sale next time it would be a great buy, but not once that is an absolute MUST have.

 

[scelona]

Yeah, don't feel bad. They will have plenty of room to swim and do their thing. The only thing is I wouldn't turn the light on once they are in the 20 gallon for 24 hours and only allow the ambient room light. Give them time to adjust. A lot of people say they completely cover their QT but I have found most of my fish end up doing better having ambient light the first 24 hours and being able to see compared to completely dark (speaking in terms of once in the 20 gallon). I have 10 gallon tanks and love them so if you are able to catch the Petco sale next time it would be a great buy, but not once that is an absolute MUST have.

Thanks for the info, I am getting the fish today and cant wait! Is it important that I have a light on the quarantine tank? I have an extra refugium light (6500k) that I was thinking of using and had also looked at some low end LEDs (I use LEDs in my display). It is just under the ambient lighting at the moment.

 

[gone fishin]

I don't really sweat the lighting in QT. For the first few weeks I use ambient lighting, nothing to bright or intense. For me anyways I have found this helps the fish stay calm and eventually more active. In the latter weeks of QT I will get the fish used to my lighting schedule. I use a cheaper 2 bulb T5 on my QT. Good luck just my 2 cents.