clownfish + BTA
- Thread starter joker577
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I wouldn't suggest EVERY adding any treatment chemicals to a reef tank. Most will cause problems at minimum...and kill all your inverts and corals at the worst extreme. This is just my opinion, but if you can't afford a QT tank, you shouldn't get your fish yet, especially wild caught. That being said, do some research into freshwater dips.
You can set up a QT tank very cheap. A 10 gallon tank with an inexpensive small HOB power filter and a couple pieces of PVC fittings for the fish to hide in is all you really need. I don't even have a heater in mine..although I don't have heaters in any of my tanks. Not needed in my house. Oh wait, yes I do have a small heater in my QT tank...lol.
Put it this way, you can set up a QT tank for under $50.00. You'll pay a lot more than that if you end up killing off your entire tank by not using QT. Most people who don't follow this advice to begin with...soon learn the hard way. I know I did. In fact, my hard lesson was taught to me the exact same route you're going. 2 Wild Percs. Soon afterwards, everything in my tank was dead and I had to do an 8 week fishless cycle of the tank AND a hyposalinity treatment. Lost almost everything.
You can set up a QT tank very cheap. A 10 gallon tank with an inexpensive small HOB power filter and a couple pieces of PVC fittings for the fish to hide in is all you really need. I don't even have a heater in mine..although I don't have heaters in any of my tanks. Not needed in my house. Oh wait, yes I do have a small heater in my QT tank...lol.
Put it this way, you can set up a QT tank for under $50.00. You'll pay a lot more than that if you end up killing off your entire tank by not using QT. Most people who don't follow this advice to begin with...soon learn the hard way. I know I did. In fact, my hard lesson was taught to me the exact same route you're going. 2 Wild Percs. Soon afterwards, everything in my tank was dead and I had to do an 8 week fishless cycle of the tank AND a hyposalinity treatment. Lost almost everything.
Damsel13
Well-known member
yeah, and dead snails REALLY STINK when you take them out of the water I can't imagine how awful it would be for the fish...plus dead copopods etc.
I know how hard setting up a QT tank is with money and all but I am not getting any more fish until I can do this.
Everyone on here that I have learned the most from says.....
QT , QT , QT I'm listening.
I know how hard setting up a QT tank is with money and all but I am not getting any more fish until I can do this.
Everyone on here that I have learned the most from says.....
QT , QT , QT I'm listening.
Damsel13
Well-known member
joker I suggest reading the thread about "I am having trouble with my true Perculas"
How about a 20 gallon? I have a 20 gallon tank I believe thats the size that was used for freshwater by my Aunt. It has a hangover filter but no cartridges...I also may be able to find a heater. Would I need to mix 20 gallons or could I bring some over from my tank on the next water change?
LakeEd
Achilles
Either a 10 or 20 gallon QT tank should fine for Clowns. Also the "hangover filter but no cartridges" is exactly what you would want also.
I have some of the filter pad always in the sump of my display tank. When I need my QT tank, I use water from my display to fill the QT (then replace the water in my display from fresh mix... does a water change for me
), then cut a piece of the filter pad that is in my sump, and put that in the hang-on-back filter I have for my QT.
POOF! Instant up and running QT tank... that I just need to monitor ammonia on briefly if at all.
Having the filter pad always in my sump... gives me the advantage of having the nitrifying bacteria already colonize that filter pad... so when its time to use it in a QT, its good to go.
Of course, some treatments that are needed in a QT "may" hurt that nitrifying bacteria... and I have to closely monitor for that... but at least I can setup my QT in about 15 minutes now if/when needed.
I have some of the filter pad always in the sump of my display tank. When I need my QT tank, I use water from my display to fill the QT (then replace the water in my display from fresh mix... does a water change for me
), then cut a piece of the filter pad that is in my sump, and put that in the hang-on-back filter I have for my QT.POOF! Instant up and running QT tank... that I just need to monitor ammonia on briefly if at all.
Having the filter pad always in my sump... gives me the advantage of having the nitrifying bacteria already colonize that filter pad... so when its time to use it in a QT, its good to go.
Of course, some treatments that are needed in a QT "may" hurt that nitrifying bacteria... and I have to closely monitor for that... but at least I can setup my QT in about 15 minutes now if/when needed.
My advice buy a pair from Elmo18 and get a BTA mine hosted the day I put them in. I got them from Ilham when they were about 1/2" long. Here is a link to one of his sales
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26407
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26407
LakeEd
Achilles
I'll second purchasing from Elmo!!! He has done an amazing job creating the exact habitat and conditions for all of his various Clowns to span and grow up in. They also have the advantage for you, of being "Tank Raised"... so again, Brook is probably not a concern with them.
Damsel13
Well-known member
Sounds riskey
LakeEd
Achilles
I don't think I would try "cotton"... but the Floss Pads that you can purchase at about any Pet Store work well. Easily cut down to the exact size you require for your piticular filter... and don't fall apart.
LakeEd
Achilles
Like any Salt-Water tank you set-up... it needs to "cycle".
That "cycle" is the process of developing the bacteria to process the Nitrogen Cycle.
My recommended way for "future" use, is having the Floss pad already in your current system, so that bacteria has had the time to develop on it.
For a "NEW" QT system... sometimes you have to set it up, ensuring the water is the correct pH, S.G and temp... get filters running (the hang-on filter you mentioned)... then place fish in it for guaranteeing.
You will just have to monitor more closely the buildup of Ammonia, Nitrites (daily at least, if not 2 or 3 times a day at first)... then Nitrates... and use water changes to help combat this buildup during this cycle.
That "cycle" is the process of developing the bacteria to process the Nitrogen Cycle.
My recommended way for "future" use, is having the Floss pad already in your current system, so that bacteria has had the time to develop on it.
For a "NEW" QT system... sometimes you have to set it up, ensuring the water is the correct pH, S.G and temp... get filters running (the hang-on filter you mentioned)... then place fish in it for guaranteeing.
You will just have to monitor more closely the buildup of Ammonia, Nitrites (daily at least, if not 2 or 3 times a day at first)... then Nitrates... and use water changes to help combat this buildup during this cycle.
I'd rethink that "one time" thing. You should QT every single fish you put in your tank!! In fact, more and more people are recommending QTing ANYTHING WET. This would include live rock, corals, inverts and fish. Unfortunately, I'm not set up to do that so only QT all fish.
Decided to go waste some more of my parents money so I went out and picked up this for my QT :badgrin: :badgrin:
Seachem:Stability-For the Cycle
Polyfiber Cut to Fit filter pad.
LifeGuard made by Instand Ocean tablets that treats infectious ailments such as ick, oodinium, fungus, milky or shedding slime, bacterial gill disease, mouth and fin rot, clamped or torn fins, and ulcers.
Seachem:Stability-For the Cycle
Polyfiber Cut to Fit filter pad.
LifeGuard made by Instand Ocean tablets that treats infectious ailments such as ick, oodinium, fungus, milky or shedding slime, bacterial gill disease, mouth and fin rot, clamped or torn fins, and ulcers.
LakeEd
Achilles
I believe you will be happy with that Polyfiber Cut to Fit filter pad!
Personally, the Stability-For the Cycle & LifeGuard... I would return.
You want/NEED even your QT tank to cycle. Using the Stability will detur that from happening.
One thing I've found out, those "Wonder Drug" fixes, don't ever work.... and the LifeGuard sounds like yet another one. It sounds like one of the "Fresh Water" miracle worker drugs... that usually do nothing at all in our Salt-Water environment.
You should probably wait to hear Lee's input on both of those above, but from my knowledge, I wouldn't of purchased them.
Personally, the Stability-For the Cycle & LifeGuard... I would return.
You want/NEED even your QT tank to cycle. Using the Stability will detur that from happening.
One thing I've found out, those "Wonder Drug" fixes, don't ever work.... and the LifeGuard sounds like yet another one. It sounds like one of the "Fresh Water" miracle worker drugs... that usually do nothing at all in our Salt-Water environment.
You should probably wait to hear Lee's input on both of those above, but from my knowledge, I wouldn't of purchased them.
Instant Ocean Salt is a great product. A lot of their other products aren't so great. Most "wide spectrum" medications are garbage. In fact, you'll rarely if ever actually medicate fish, even in your QT. There's a lot of other more effective treatments that don't actually involve medications, for most problems you'll encounter. Yes, there may be times when you'll need to medicate. When those times come, you'll want to have very specialized medications instead of the wide spectrum stuff.
I don't think any product that is advertised to "kick start" your cycle really works. The best way to get your cycle going is from a sponge or filter pad that's been sitting in an established aquarium. Another way is to put some small pieces of live rock from your established tank into your QT tank. Keeping in mind that if you ever use any copper based medications, nothing from the QT tank can ever go back in the display tank...except of course your fish...lol. Copper based medications leave traces that never go away and will kill any inverts.
I don't think any product that is advertised to "kick start" your cycle really works. The best way to get your cycle going is from a sponge or filter pad that's been sitting in an established aquarium. Another way is to put some small pieces of live rock from your established tank into your QT tank. Keeping in mind that if you ever use any copper based medications, nothing from the QT tank can ever go back in the display tank...except of course your fish...lol. Copper based medications leave traces that never go away and will kill any inverts.
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