In Progress: Sumpless 55g Tank

[AwwNuts]

U shouldnt. Just observe fish health before purchase. Have plenty of hiding places in quarantine. Have hiding places for fish in ur tank and u will be okay. If ur causing ur fish to get ich on a basis then ur doing something wrong and not proving them a good setup. They all have natural instincts so it's good if ur able to provide some of their needs when they feel the need of it

[hhoang]

Thanks! I have some minced garlic that I use on my bettas and other fish ive owned, I always got them sick... But maybe that is why I never dealt with ich

I usually just grind up and extract the juice myself though, I can never find a minced garlic without an additive of any kind. And I never thought about the copper being absorbed by the silicone, thanks for the info!

[AwwNuts]

yeah no problem. Nice that u juice your own garlic. I usually use Kent Marine Garlic Xtreme for easy use.

99% garlic with citric acid and ascorbic acid which is needed to preserve shelf life. I order all my supplies via online Dr. foster and Smith and get all my items shipped for free when i order a box of 200 gal reef crystals. Some stuff is just more cheaper online than LFS. Also if their are certain things i need on the spot i will go to Petco and price match as they do online and store price matching.

[Pigpen17]

This is the thread I read that helped me formulate a QT plan.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1846124

As well, my only experience with a HT and treatment has lead me to believe a few things.
1: Copper can kill, so use it well or not at all.
2: Filter your QT. (I am going to use a aqua clear or similar "stacked" HOB with bio rings, maybe spiked with bio spira),
3: And have air and water movement. (I hate air pumps so I'm thinking the smallest power head I can find with an air tube).
4: And I measured what the true 10 gallon mark is on the tank and marked it with a piece of tape.

[hhoang]

My filter has carbon & bio rings in it too, the kh and ph in my qt dropped though, but I remembered my salinity is at 1.022, so I plan on raising it soon, just trying to figure out how and if it'll affect the rest of my readings.

[AwwNuts]

Kh shouldn't matter on the quarantine as it is not for corals. As for ph u can add a bit of reef builder ph booster if u like but anything above 7.8 is ok. Try seeding the filter on the tank with a piece of live rock that way ur filter is seeded for when u add fish if not add bacteria in a bottle. Since u don't have an establish tank if u know anyone with an established tank and has sump u could also get a piece of their filter sock to seed ur filter with beneficial bacteria in a bottle. Or ur lfs. Once u have an establish tank u will be able to do this off ur display tank

[hhoang]

Yeah I added bottled bacteria, I'm pretty sure my ph is low because the salinity is low, 1.022 So I'm not too worried about it. I wonder if I'd be able to seed the tank better by using a filter from my betta tank....

[AwwNuts]

Ur betta tank is fresh water so it's totally different type of bacteria. Also 1.022 salinity is not low. Normal salinity for quarantine tank is 1.018 to 1.021 lower salinity helps the fish not stress too much and could also prevent ich from developing a bit

[hhoang]

I gathered that when i wandered around the forums for a little bit. I'll keep my qt tank at 1.022, I should still acclimate the fish to the main tank salinity when it's ready to go into it though, right?

[AwwNuts]

Yes. Low or normal salinity in quarantine then acclimate fish to display tank salinity. Ur not having corals u can have ur display at 1.021 to save on salt when mixing. No need for higher salinity unless u want to accommodate for inverts such as shrimp. Higher salinity just helps shrimp harden their skeletal after shedding. No big deal. Also if u have corals well Ull want salinity at 1.025

[hhoang]

thanks a bunch,
is it weird I write down the information I write just to have it on hand so I don't have to keep running to my laptop? haha

[AwwNuts]

Not at all. Serves as great reference until it becomes a habit lol. Then Ull be the expert lol :-) well we try to be as theirs always tons to learn thru ought our journey into this hobbie

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by AwwNuts

Ur betta tank is fresh water so it's totally different type of bacteria. Also 1.022 salinity is not low. Normal salinity for quarantine tank is 1.018 to 1.021 lower salinity helps the fish not stress too much and could also prevent ich from developing a bit

Is that right? I though your fish had ich or didn't. A lack of symptoms would not prevent you from introducing Ich into your DT?

[hhoang]

I'm getting some clowns today and getting them into qt observation while my tank cycles this month.
So excitedto say the last

[AwwNuts]

Originally Posted by Pigpen17

Is that right? I though your fish had ich or didn't. A lack of symptoms would not prevent you from introducing Ich into your DT?

I haven't had ich in my display tank. I was just explaining that u don't need high salinity in the quarantine tank.

[AwwNuts]

Originally Posted by hhoang

I'm getting some clowns today and getting them into qt observation while my tank cycles this month.
So excitedto say the last

Awsome. Hope you pick out a nice pair. Good luck :-)

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by AwwNuts

I haven't had ich in my display tank. I was just explaining that u don't need high salinity in the quarantine tank.

With ignorance comes education. (my ignorance and my education)

Your comment about fish developing Ich in quarantine confused my understanding about Ich greatly. In order to defeat your enemy, you must first understand him, so I went back to the Disease forum.

While re reading the Ich stickies, I stumbled upon the tank transfer method. I am almost 100% sure this will be the first step of my QT plan. For the most part it is 100% safe for fish. so can treat every fish for Ich regardless of if you see signs or not. It sounds perfect. A little more investment in heaters and such, two 5 gallon buckets and a few weeks. Then in to the QT for observation.

I have been debating of preventive treatment for Ich, just because of the risk of introducing a fish that is carrying, but not showing symptoms. This sounds simple with little or no stress to the fish.

Anyways, not sure if you guys had read that or not, but it is an option. Copper, Hypo, or Transfer.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1996525

[hhoang]

I got my clowns into qt, I noticed this morning it had white stuff around its mouth and having a hard time closing it's mouth.
I started a broad treatment and did a 20% water change. I'm really hoping it will still be able to eat and recover. They're both swimming fine and have been hiding out though so that must be a good sign, the other clown eats fine, I may get some cleaner shrimp I there to clean the bottom of the uneaten food

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by hhoang

I got my clowns into qt, I noticed this morning it had white stuff around its mouth and having a hard time closing it's mouth.
I started a broad treatment and did a 20% water change. I'm really hoping it will still be able to eat and recover. They're both swimming fine and have been hiding out though so that must be a good sign, the other clown eats fine, I may get some cleaner shrimp I there to clean the bottom of the uneaten food

Don’t add a shrimp. It will limit your treatment options.

Go post in the diseases forum. They will hook you up. Good luck.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=87

[hhoang]

I got a closer look at the sickly clown, I can see it's teeth, it almost looks like it had gotten an injury around it's mouth and the tissue started to fall off.
I just checked on it tonight and now it's able to open and close its mouth but I haven't seen it eat yet.

[hhoang]

update
The sick clown died two nights ago, the other one however is doing fantastic. We came to the conclusion that the dominant one attacked the other one while they were bagged up and on the ride home, which is why I didn't notice anything wrong with them before we left the store.
Anyway I got my rock in today and got it into the tank, I love it!

[Pigpen17]

Looks good. When do you put water in it?

[hhoang]

Thanks we're going to be starting to put water in it today

[kjboggs]

Love your aqua scape.

[hhoang]

Originally Posted by kjboggs

Love your aqua scape.

thanks! I haven't posted in awhile but the tank is pretty much in full swing now. Just got over a hair algae outbreak but I'm 98% clear of it now. I'll post some updated pictures of the tank soon