Barely controlled panic

Jason Donohoe · 11/21/2008, 07:33 AM

I'm using a quarantine tank for the first time and don't know how much to worry. There has been some live rock in it for about 2 weeks. Nitrite/nitrate and ammonia levels were zero yesterday. Added a small yellow tang yesterday afternoon. This morning when the lights came on the tang was laying on its side and had a brown discoloration along the sides. Within 5 minutes she was up, swimming around, normal colour and readily ate frozen brine shrimp (there is an algae clip in tank also, ignoring it). The nitrite levels are testing at 0.5 (I can't figure out the units), ammonia is still zero. The tank is 20G and has the old cannister filter and protein skimmer from my 72G.

Should I do a water change? Do I need to worry?

jeffhaag · 11/21/2008, 07:37 AM

My yellow tang always turns brown at night when it is sleeping and it is pretty much adrift. I can't say I've ever seen it on its side at night, but its usually at an angle. It wouldn't hurt to do a water change, but you probably don't need to worry because that is fairly normal when they sleep.

m0nk · 11/21/2008, 07:40 AM

Sounds normal, it was probably sleeping. Just keep an eye on it as much as possible during the day and in the morning for the next few days.

Madfronter · 11/21/2008, 07:42 AM

It was prob just sleeping. Mine would always change colors similar to that when the light are out. I miss that fish, it was about 8 years old when it died.

masonicman · 11/21/2008, 07:44 AM

Yes my yellow tang has a brown area on it side a night, I never seen him on it's side. He's always in one of the big holes in the bottom of the rock work.

Jason Donohoe · 11/21/2008, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the reassurance. She is currently swimming around looking fine.

crvz · 11/21/2008, 10:35 AM

Hopefully it was just bed-time for the fish, hope it continues to do well for you. How do you know it's a female?

Slakker · 11/21/2008, 10:39 AM

I freaked out the first time I saw my clowns sleeping, too. Coming from a lifetime of freshwater fish that look the same pretty much all the time to having a fish that actually lays down when it sleeps is alarming.

Jason Donohoe · 11/21/2008, 11:55 AM

Complete guess on the sex. My daughter picked it out and named in "Clementine" so it's going to be 'she' until proven otherwise!

crvz · 11/21/2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jason.donohoe
Complete guess on the sex. My daughter picked it out and named in "Clementine" so it's going to be 'she' until proven otherwise!

which will never happen, so a girl it is!

2_zoa · 11/21/2008, 09:35 PM

Just be aware that this is a QT and the fact that you have LR in there will mean that should any sings of sickness ie. ich, you will have to remove it for treatment. Also you will need to treat the rock. I guess you could remove the rock and treat in the same tank but you are gonna want bare.

This is just a thought as you stated this is the first time you have used a QT.

Jason Donohoe · 11/22/2008, 07:31 AM

The live rock is actually in there being quarantined also. I purchased it about 2 weeks ago to go in a new refugium. I wasn't patient enough to wait to get it out of there before adding the tang. Unfortunately, patience is not a virtue I was blessed with.

11/21/2008, 07:33 AM	#1
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	Barely controlled panic I'm using a quarantine tank for the first time and don't know how much to worry. There has been some live rock in it for about 2 weeks. Nitrite/nitrate and ammonia levels were zero yesterday. Added a small yellow tang yesterday afternoon. This morning when the lights came on the tang was laying on its side and had a brown discoloration along the sides. Within 5 minutes she was up, swimming around, normal colour and readily ate frozen brine shrimp (there is an algae clip in tank also, ignoring it). The nitrite levels are testing at 0.5 (I can't figure out the units), ammonia is still zero. The tank is 20G and has the old cannister filter and protein skimmer from my 72G. Should I do a water change? Do I need to worry?

11/21/2008, 07:40 AM	#3
m0nk Zen through Reefkeeping Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camp Hill, Pa Posts: 317	Sounds normal, it was probably sleeping. Just keep an eye on it as much as possible during the day and in the morning for the next few days. __________________ Save the reef, buy aquacultured. Better yet, frag and share! Current Tank Info: 30l

11/21/2008, 07:44 AM	#5
masonicman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 1,313	Yes my yellow tang has a brown area on it side a night, I never seen him on it's side. He's always in one of the big holes in the bottom of the rock work. __________________ It is better to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.......... Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 216w LED, Remora Pro skimmer, HOB fuge, 400w htr, ATO RO/DI, 90lbs LR and 1" SB.

11/21/2008, 08:37 AM	#6
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	Thanks for the reassurance. She is currently swimming around looking fine. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

11/21/2008, 10:35 AM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	Hopefully it was just bed-time for the fish, hope it continues to do well for you. How do you know it's a female? __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

11/21/2008, 07:37 AM	#2
jeffhaag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chickamauga, GA Posts: 442	My yellow tang always turns brown at night when it is sleeping and it is pretty much adrift. I can't say I've ever seen it on its side at night, but its usually at an angle. It wouldn't hurt to do a water change, but you probably don't need to worry because that is fairly normal when they sleep.

11/21/2008, 07:42 AM	#4
Madfronter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: PA Posts: 284	It was prob just sleeping. Mine would always change colors similar to that when the light are out. I miss that fish, it was about 8 years old when it died.

11/21/2008, 10:39 AM	#8
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	I freaked out the first time I saw my clowns sleeping, too. Coming from a lifetime of freshwater fish that look the same pretty much all the time to having a fish that actually lays down when it sleeps is alarming. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

11/21/2008, 11:55 AM	#9
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	Complete guess on the sex. My daughter picked it out and named in "Clementine" so it's going to be 'she' until proven otherwise! __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

11/21/2008, 09:35 PM	#11
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	Just be aware that this is a QT and the fact that you have LR in there will mean that should any sings of sickness ie. ich, you will have to remove it for treatment. Also you will need to treat the rock. I guess you could remove the rock and treat in the same tank but you are gonna want bare. This is just a thought as you stated this is the first time you have used a QT.

11/22/2008, 07:31 AM	#12
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	The live rock is actually in there being quarantined also. I purchased it about 2 weeks ago to go in a new refugium. I wasn't patient enough to wait to get it out of there before adding the tang. Unfortunately, patience is not a virtue I was blessed with. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank