New Reefer Needs QT Help

[DobeckaReef]

I just set up a 29 gallons QT tank and put three cardinals in it. After 2 days two of three died there is 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, temp of 78, PH of 8.2 with water circulation. There is no medication in the water yet any ideas on what is happening?

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome. Could be many different things. Were there any signs of illness when you purchased them?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just set up a 29 gallons QT tank and put three cardinals in it. After 2 days two of three died there is 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, temp of 78, PH of 8.2 with water circulation. There is no medication in the water yet any ideas on what is happening?

Anytime you treat in qt, you want to add oxygen via air stone
What treatment are you using in qt, and did you acclimate them to the tank and for how long ?
What test kits are you using ?

 

[Tamberav]

I just set up a 29 gallons QT tank and put three cardinals in it. After 2 days two of three died there is 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, temp of 78, PH of 8.2 with water circulation. There is no medication in the water yet any ideas on what is happening?

Were they eating at the store? Did you test the salinity in the bag of the fish? QT needs to match this.

 

[DobeckaReef]

Welcome. Could be many different things. Were there any signs of illness when you purchased them?

No there were not, all swimming around. We asked them to feed them at the store and they all ate. They said that they had them for a week.

 

[DobeckaReef]

Anytime you treat in qt, you want to add oxygen via air stone
What treatment are you using in qt, and did you acclimate them to the tank and for how long ?
What test kits are you using ?

After doing research I do think that it may have been an oxygen issue. The only thing for flow was a hang on the back filter and they hung out at the bottom of the tank where there was not a lot of flow.

There was not any medication at this time I wanted to observe them for a few days. To see their normal behavior so I could see if they were not reacting well to the copper. I was using an API test kit.

Acclimation process was a float for 20 minutes then add 1 cup of water every 15 minutes did that for an hour.

 

[DobeckaReef]

Were they eating at the store? Did you test the salinity in the bag of the fish? QT needs to match this.

Thank you for responding. They were eating I did not test the salinity at the store but I had a pretty slow acclimation process. Great idea I will start doing that next time..

 

[vetteguy53081]

After doing research I do think that it may have been an oxygen issue. The only thing for flow was a hang on the back filter and they hung out at the bottom of the tank where there was not a lot of flow.

There was not any medication at this time I wanted to observe them for a few days. To see their normal behavior so I could see if they were not reacting well to the copper. I was using an API test kit.

Acclimation process was a float for 20 minutes then add 1 cup of water every 15 minutes did that for an hour.

O2 would have been high suspect. Hang on filter as you found inadequate to a point.
API kits are notorious for false readings and your levels may be higher than you realize. My suggestion in a case like this is to take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API for testing and see what results they come up with.
Salifert and Hanna are more reliable test kits

 

[DobeckaReef]

O2 would have been high suspect. Hang on filter as you found inadequate to a point.
API kits are notorious for false readings and your levels may be higher than you realize. My suggestion in a case like this is to take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API for testing and see what results they come up with.
Salifert and Hanna are more reliable test kits

Thank you for your time I appreciate it! I feel bad that I had to learn this lesson this way. I will get the water tested before I add any other fish.

Do you think a regular airpump and stone is enough?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for your time I appreciate it! I feel bad that I had to learn this lesson this way. I will get the water tested before I add any other fish.

Do you think a regular airpump and stone is enough?

Question is- does your tank have a sump ?

 

[DobeckaReef]

Question is- does your tank have a sump ?

Display yes QT does not.

Display is going great pair of clowns and Blue Eye Kole from a LFS who walked me through their 30 day QT process. Display is about 6 weeks old with live rock and sand.

The deaths were in my QT tank I was trying to start.

 

[Tamberav]

Thank you for responding. They were eating I did not test the salinity at the store but I had a pretty slow acclimation process. Great idea I will start doing that next time..

If it the salinity is more than a few points lower, then they should have a few DAYS acclimation. The bonus of a QT tank is you can match their salinity perfect. Just set up as as you normally would 1.025 or such and then add RODI to bring it down to match incoming fish.

Personally never found a HOB to be inadequate. I just keep the water a bit lower so it splashes/agitates.