Another Qt setup ???

[cracker]

Oh Boy ! I get to setup a Qt ! I'm sooo happy . I foolishly added a Puntata Butter Fly to the display.
About 5 days after I noticed small white spots on the clear fins. Couldn't see anything on the sides due this fish is light colored... Well , I freaked out & right away started to clean up a 20 gl I had on the back porch. So the next day ,not a spot on the fish. I at least relaxed a bit but still kept on with a qt prep. The 20 gl had a bunch of stuff in it. I had soaked some agrecrete in the past & had a lot of residue in it. I soaked it in vinegar .
I still have a lot of reading to due but need to ask a couple of questions to get a bio filter going.I have 2 different simple filters. An internal Top Fin #40 & a Aqua Tech 10-20 over the back. All this stuff , tank & all I picked up on the side of the road. I have a simple light, heater etc. I still need a stand of some kind & a few other items.
I really need to get one or both of these filters up & going with beneficial bacteria. I want to use the top fin internal. It seems to have much better flow & a lot more room for material in it. I have the ceramic rocks foam blocks & all. When I 1st picked up this tank the ceramic rock was still in the plastic bag. The problem is the poor folks that tried to get this aquarium going didn't realize You had to take the ceramic out of the plastic bag ! it was,bag & all in the filter.
So now. enough rambling & on the the questions.

I want to get something in this filter tonight so I can start getting some benny's growing in it. Can I use the sponges & ceramic rock? Or will it be contaminated with chemicals . I was thinking I could stuff it with bioballs & or blue filter material. These could be easily pitched after each use. I probably have 2 5 gl buckets full of these bio balls ! Do You think the bioballs would be enough or would the blue filter material be better?

Now it's back to the reading ,. Here is a pick of both filters running on the tank. Thanks!

 

[Maritimer]

The bacteria will grow on just about anything. I use Aqua-Clear 110s, and keep a sponge or two in the sump of my display for when I need a fresh sponge with a supply of bacteria. If you're worried about the chemistry that might be on the sponge you have, the blue pad ought to work just as well - you wouldn't want to throw it out until you're done with the QT, but rather, squeeze and rinse it in old tank water whenever you do a water change. Ditto for the ceramic rings. They should be just fine, especially since they're essentially brand-spankin' new. Bio-Spira and Dr. Tim's One-And-Only are both active bacterial cultures that ought to get you up and running in short order.

Now, the less-happy news. While the butterfly was in your tank, he probably released some protomonts of whatever he's got - could be ich, could be velvet. Whatever it is, it's hunting the rest of your fish, and there's a great probability that you may have to quarantine and treat all of them, running the tank "fallow" - without fish - for six weeks (if you're looking at velvet) to 76 days (for ich ... or just to make certain).

~Bruce

 

[cracker]

Thanks Maritimer, I have a pair of maroon stripe clowns in the tank also.. They will be coming out as well. Only good thing about this affair is only 3 fish to work with. I haven't even got close to figuring how I'm going to get these 3 out of a 180 full of rock !

 

[Maritimer]

Ouch.

Fish trap?

Tiny-hook fishing?

Total tank tear-down??

~B.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks Maritimer, I have a pair of maroon stripe clowns in the tank also.. They will be coming out as well. Only good thing about this affair is only 3 fish to work with. I haven't even got close to figuring how I'm going to get these 3 out of a 180 full of rock !

I tear down my tanks entirely to do this and put it back together. If done right, it's about a 1-2 hour job for a 180 reef.

I also agree you'll need to treat the fish and run the tank fallow 76 days

 

[cracker]

I'll try my trusty fish trap 1st for sure. Plan b will be to partition off a section & remove that rock.Don't even have a plan 3 . I still have to find a spot(no problem there) & some sort of stand . I have a PVC patio table that can hold my fat butt. I could put the thing on the floor if I had to. I need proper meds (have no idea what) An ammonia badge & a good copper test kit. Other items I haven't even got to yet.. I know I have to do this right away however the fish are out and eating well. I think I have a little time. Just want to get some benny's going in the filter right away here is what I put in the topfin filter. it's in the refugium as we speak. I could fit only 10 bio balls in there. Thanks so much for the fast responses !

 

[melypr1985]

I think I would remove the bioballs and just use a good sponge in there. Lots of surface area for bacteria to grow on and cheap to throw away after.

 

[cracker]

Miss melypr. I can easy do that. be back in a minute. It's done . I have perused Your 180 build . You did a fantastic job !. My 180 is fairly similar . I'm going to my lfs & see what he has on his shelves in the way of bio boosts and meds. Also a ammonia badge. I'll come back & ask ya'll what you think. I'm not sure what this fish has. A close up pic would be impossible. The white spots come & go every 4/5 days or so. They look smaller than grains of salt I can say that. However the fish is acting healthy and eating well. So how to cover all disease will be a later query . I'm certainly don't want to go fallow for over 2 months but can do it. I started this tank about this time last year, so patience I got !

 

[melypr1985]

I have perused Your 180 build . You did a fantastic job !. My 180 is fairly similar

Thanks! Do you have a build thread? I'll check it out.

The white spots come & go every 4/5 days or so. They look smaller than grains of salt I can say that.

with that life cycle, it could be ich. Though them being smaller than a grain of salt is concerning. The fact that they are acting fine and eating well is a good thing and adds more weight to the ich side of things. I would absolutely advise going fallow for the full 76 days and treating with copper to cover them for both ich and velvet - just in case.

 

[cracker]

Oh Yes I will go the long way here. As we don't know for sure ,I will have to treat for both just in case. You mention using copper. I 'd like to use just one type of med this 1st go around. I certainly have no experience with treating diseases. Also I enjoy tinkering with my tanks more than watching them. This will also make me a better salt keeper . Thanks again

 

[melypr1985]

You mention using copper. I 'd like to use just one type of med this 1st go around.

Well, CP would work as well if you can get an Rx for it from a vet and get it filled. That's the hard part. Copper is much easier to get ahold of. I like coppersafe personally. It will cover both ich and velvet. 30 days with copper at therapeutic levels (2ppm for coppersafe) then observation and lots of good, healthy food until the fallow period is over. This also gives you the chance to be sure there isn't anything else lurking on the fish that need to be treated for.

 

[cracker]

Good evening Everybody, Hope You had a good day, I'm not long till my bed ! So I went to the LFS today, All he had on hand was a Sea Chem copper test kit and Frit'z turbo start. I don't know if these are up to Your standards . I would think the Frit'z would be ok but nit sure if the Sea Chem test kit is what I'm looking for. I understand some copper tests are more accurate than others. what would You suggest in the way of a test kit? I will be looking for copper safe . Thanks for any suggestions. here is a pic of the Qt tank & where I decided to put it. I really haven't ever put a tank on anything other than a stand I built or a good ole fashion metal frame stand.A( lot's of room below) I crawled my 236 pounds butt on this shelf. it didn't give way. It was rather comical doing it & was happy nobody witnessed the action ! This is the best place to put it but still not really happy with the support. I had to shim a little . Good night !

 

[Maritimer]

Those shelves are pretty sturdy...

Different forms of copper require different test kits. The best kit for Coppersafe (and other chelated coppers) is API's.

~Bruce

 

[cracker]

Thanks Maritimer & Humble fish, I think the rack will be just fine. So I found the Marden copper safe at the pet smart And the api test kit& am badges from amazon. My friend & neighbor has prime so I will have it like Monday. Are the am badges a one time use? Don't know if I should get 4 or 5. I will be adding more fish to this tank in the near future. Thanks !

 

[Humblefish]

Are the am badges a one time use? Don't know if I should get 4 or 5.

They are good for a year, but when breaking down/sterilizing your QT store the ammonia badge in some RODI.

 

[cracker]

OK, I ordered an API copper test,marden copper safe & 4 seachem ammonia badges from Amazon. I'll have these items Saturday. I filled the tank with 17gls of tap water , added a small maxijet & the over the back with blue/white floss.
I could have added another 1/2 gl but wanted a round number of gallons . I'm not used to working with this small amount of water at all ! it's makin me nervous ! LOL If the stand holds over night, I'll feel better for sure. If it give way, I'll surely hear it ! Also I'll cover the backs & sides with something, maybe a paper grocery bag or such. Oh Ya I gotta find a place for the stuff behind it !

 

[Humblefish]

Can you get store-made cajun sausage at the Winn-Dixie's in Florida?

 

[cracker]

Sorry HF ! They do have cajun sausage but it;s not made in store ! May I ask if Your busting my chops over the redneck groceries around these parts ? We even have
Piggly Wiggly groceries a little further west ! LOL

 

[melypr1985]

Sorry HF ! They do have cajun sausage but it;s not made in store ! May I ask if Your busting my chops over the redneck groceries around these parts ? We even have
Piggly Wiggly groceries a little further west ! LOL

When I lived in Lousiana we had Piggly Wiggly and Winn Dixie right next to each other. After about a decade they put in a Walmart a little further away. Since humble is from Louisiana he's probably reminiscing about yummy food found in his home state.

 

[cracker]

I'm having concerns about keeping 3 fish in such a small amount of water. The female clown & butterfly are fairly large fish The male clown is much smaller.
1st keeping these fish well fed will make it difficult to maintain good water.
2nd not sure if this clown pair will put up with another in their small confines. If I add a barrier it will just compound the issue.
So I'm considering treating just the butterfly 1st. Then put her in the 75 with a Copper band . The Copper band shares this 75 with a lawnmower blenny only. I think the 2 butterfly's would be just fine until I'm ready to put them both in the 180. Then treat the clowns and then wait the time for the tank to go fallow. A pair of clowns in a 20 gl for 2 month or so would be a LOT easier. However the time involved would put me close to Thanks Giving Then I have to qt the next fish ! WAAAAA ! Now I do have a 40 gallon, the 3 in there would be a lot easier but that would take some time to setup. Yet all the fish are out & eating just fine! Do I take the time? do I rush this? I'm at a big loss on which way to go here. Any way I did cut a partition out of eggcrate to separate the fishes. It just looks so small to me ! That one purchase has created a whole lotta trouble ! I'll have a pic for Ya in a few minutes . Oh also, I did cover the back & sides with a grocery bag. I thought about using a Harry's , Wholefoods or Trader Joe's bag but I had so many WD bags ! LOL