Need help

mandy82 · 09/10/2013, 06:47 PM

Ok so I've had an estabished reef tank for about a year. .. We decided to upgrade the tank which was a 40 gallon to a 125 gallon so anyways I set up the tank with live sand bio spira and half of my old tanks water. .. and put a shrimp in it for two days to help with bacteria.. the tank sat for just about a month. . tested everything it showed great levels. ..added a damsel it did great left it for two days pulled it out and added a clown... within less then two minutes probably more like thirty seconds the fish was upside down so I quickly scooped him up any put him in my small tank and he snapped out of it. .. so I let the tank sit for another week tried again with a damsel it again did fine. .. put in a clown and it was upside down again. . so I bought a master api kit and everything is fine but my ph was only like a 7.4... so I now have put buffer in it. .m please help I'm really getting stressed over this unless its my ph im just not sure what else it could be

Dmorty217 · 09/10/2013, 07:04 PM

How did you acclimate the clowns? Sounds like maybe you did it incorrectly. Float the bag until it is the same temp as the DT then put fish in a small bucket or container and drip acclimate the fish slowly for at least a hr and a half and up to 3+ depending on the fish. Are you sure there is no ammonia? I get that the damsel lived an they are very similar to clownfish in terms of hardiness but maybe your tank set empty too long and the good bacteria is no longer there. If you cycle a tank and then don't put fish in or ghost feed the good "cycled bacteria" will die off

choirboy · 09/10/2013, 07:10 PM

It could be that both fish were in semi trouble before you put them in your tank, and that your tank is still not in great shape in terms of optimal water condition. Damsels are generally hearty and clowns these days are a little more iffy. I think lots of dealers plan on a 25% to 30% loss when they get new fish, so you may have gotten fish that were not so great to begin with. I know that petco plans for a 30% loss rate. It may turn out to be nothing you can really figure out. These tanks have so many variables that effect the ecosystem that it is often hard to determine cause and effect of this or that.

Try not to stress quite so much, let time heal wounds, remain vigilant, and things will improve. I have been having a hell of a difficult time with my 58g 6 mth old tank. and though I am as careful as most, I have the troubles none the less. Good Luck.

mandy82 · 09/11/2013, 01:41 AM

Ok so I added buffer tonight and added my clown again and happy to say he's so alive so far. We will see in the morning if he still is. .. anyway I floated my tank for an hour until the temp was good and then I put a small hole in the bag and floated him for another hour. Im thinking my ph was so low that it effected my alkalinity as well. .. . Will see tomorrow. My ammonia tested fine with both the strips and my master test kit also. .

mandy82 · 09/11/2013, 01:44 AM

What do you guys think about yellow tail tangs...I had one but the poor thing got ich ( not in my new tank ) anyways I read that their really sensitive so although I loved it in thinking their to sensitive. ..I lost all my fish in my small tank and I'm thinking it was the ich attack that I used

09/10/2013, 06:47 PM	#1
mandy82 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 11	Need help Ok so I've had an estabished reef tank for about a year. .. We decided to upgrade the tank which was a 40 gallon to a 125 gallon so anyways I set up the tank with live sand bio spira and half of my old tanks water. .. and put a shrimp in it for two days to help with bacteria.. the tank sat for just about a month. . tested everything it showed great levels. ..added a damsel it did great left it for two days pulled it out and added a clown... within less then two minutes probably more like thirty seconds the fish was upside down so I quickly scooped him up any put him in my small tank and he snapped out of it. .. so I let the tank sit for another week tried again with a damsel it again did fine. .. put in a clown and it was upside down again. . so I bought a master api kit and everything is fine but my ph was only like a 7.4... so I now have put buffer in it. .m please help I'm really getting stressed over this unless its my ph im just not sure what else it could be

09/10/2013, 07:04 PM	#2
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	How did you acclimate the clowns? Sounds like maybe you did it incorrectly. Float the bag until it is the same temp as the DT then put fish in a small bucket or container and drip acclimate the fish slowly for at least a hr and a half and up to 3+ depending on the fish. Are you sure there is no ammonia? I get that the damsel lived an they are very similar to clownfish in terms of hardiness but maybe your tank set empty too long and the good bacteria is no longer there. If you cycle a tank and then don't put fish in or ghost feed the good "cycled bacteria" will die off __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

09/10/2013, 07:10 PM	#3
choirboy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Virginia Posts: 74	It could be that both fish were in semi trouble before you put them in your tank, and that your tank is still not in great shape in terms of optimal water condition. Damsels are generally hearty and clowns these days are a little more iffy. I think lots of dealers plan on a 25% to 30% loss when they get new fish, so you may have gotten fish that were not so great to begin with. I know that petco plans for a 30% loss rate. It may turn out to be nothing you can really figure out. These tanks have so many variables that effect the ecosystem that it is often hard to determine cause and effect of this or that. Try not to stress quite so much, let time heal wounds, remain vigilant, and things will improve. I have been having a hell of a difficult time with my 58g 6 mth old tank. and though I am as careful as most, I have the troubles none the less. Good Luck.

09/11/2013, 01:41 AM	#4
mandy82 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 11	Ok so I added buffer tonight and added my clown again and happy to say he's so alive so far. We will see in the morning if he still is. .. anyway I floated my tank for an hour until the temp was good and then I put a small hole in the bag and floated him for another hour. Im thinking my ph was so low that it effected my alkalinity as well. .. . Will see tomorrow. My ammonia tested fine with both the strips and my master test kit also. .

09/11/2013, 01:44 AM	#5
mandy82 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 11	What do you guys think about yellow tail tangs...I had one but the poor thing got ich ( not in my new tank ) anyways I read that their really sensitive so although I loved it in thinking their to sensitive. ..I lost all my fish in my small tank and I'm thinking it was the ich attack that I used