darrellw

How did you put an external overflow on a glass tank? I would like to see pics of that.

I'm sure a picture would be better, but basically is there is a "box" attached to the back, with an area of the back wall cut down to provide the overflow.

Probably too soon to declare a complete recovery, but both fish ate some cyclopeeze today. They still don't have the energy level they did before, but they are improving. So while I still don't have any idea what was wrong, I'm glad they are getting better!

What are you trying to feed? Garlic has many pros and cons...mostly it is used to help make the food more palatable. Try feed cyclopeeze...fish are naturally attracted to the small copepods and they are easy to eat!

 

Hope they get better...have you tried any medication?

 

Kris

Thanks, Kris.

I have not tried any meds, since no one seems to have any idea what might be wrong. I've been feeding mysis, cyclopeeze, and formula-1. They ate it all before this. This morning the little one (the first to get sick) went after finely chopped up formula-1, and would mouth it, but I don't think it ate any. No interest in the cyclopeeze, which was their previous favorite.

So all in all, it looks like they may be recovering.

-Darrell

In what may be a sign of improvement, the smaller clown (the one that started acting up first) was pecking around one of the hermits. I don't know if it wanted to eat it, or was just harassing it, but in either case that is more interaction and awareness of it's surroundings that it has shown in weeks.

-Darrell

Got any tricks to keep the tap vertical while cranking? I've found a drop of mineral oil helps with the cut' date=' but I'm still too uncoordinated to keep things upright (sad)[/quote']

 

Maybe a dumb question, but are you maybe using bottom taps? Regular through taps should fit in the hole and stay relatively straight before they start cutting.

 

-Darrell

Sorry to hear it isn't doing well. I would test ammonia, just in case.

Are you using Amquel, or anything else for ammonia control?

-Darrell

You may want to ask the store you purchased them from where the clownfish originated from; whether they were tank raised or wild. If they were wild caught clownfish there could be several issues. A lot of times wild clownfish do not adapt well in captivity.

 

Hopefully if they were wild they were caught with nets.

 

 

Thanks, Ricky Soutas Jr.

-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

FYI, the are captive-bred Ocellaris from ORA.

-Darrell

Hey Trever,

Looking good! Thanks for sharing.

-Darrell

Darrell,

 

Your current dKH will not effect him, It would be more effective for your corals if you lowered it to 10-12 though (More on the 12 side).

 

As far as the freshwater dip goes, it will be very stressful on the fish, but if you decide to do it make sure that the temperature of the freshwater is the same as the tank as well as the PH.

 

You might try adding a tiny amount of garlic to the frozen food you are feeding them. Many companies make a garlic additive and it should not be that hard to find. We currently stock the Kent brand. It's also a great immune booster that you can add weekly to food, as routine maintenance for your fish.

 

You may want to ask the store you purchased them from where the clownfish originated from; whether they were tank raised or wild. If they were wild caught clownfish there could be several issues. A lot of times wild clownfish do not adapt well in captivity.

 

Hopefully if they were wild they were caught with nets.

 

 

Thanks, Ricky Soutas Jr.

-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

Hi Ricky,

Thanks for the reply. I re-tested my hardness, and it is only about 10. Not sure what I did to get 15.

Neither of them have any interest in food at this point, they are basically swimming zombies. I also think their respiration is faster than usual, but it is hard to tell without one to compare to any more.

-Darrell

Would there be any point in doing a freshwater dip? I've read everything I can find about illnesses, but can't find anything that fits what is going on with them.

Did you use any lube, or just dry?

darrellw, i was thinking about getting a emerald crab because they are good at algae control and scavaging but i decided to go a crab free tank becuase i dont want to risk them nipping at fish or corals

Yes, that can be a concern, but by emerald has been well behaved. My hermits has been too, other than they think nothing of walking across my zoas (but then some of my snails do that too!).

My emerald crab was a monster on getting rid of the GHA after my cycle.

Does anyone carry the Elos kits locally?

One more thing to add, my KH remains very high, 14 or 15 dKH. Could that be the problem? Should I try to bring it down? It has not come down on its own.

Now that sounds a lot more like their organs have been damaged from a internal parasite or chemicals.

 

I'm not quite sure where to advise you to go from here. Once this happens they usually end up dying. :(

 

I do hope they get better though.

 

 

Ricky Soutas Jr.

-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

Thanks, I hope they pull through also. I was surprised how sudden it came on in the second fish, literally overnight. The first one to get it still isn't eating, and is getting thinner, but in some ways seems a little more alert/aware than before.

-Darrell

Well, now my other perc seems to have the same problem. Saturday it was wolfing down everything, yesterday it had no interest in eating. The little one (which has not been eating for a week) is now getting a sunken belly, the big one is still fat.

So far my clown goby is still fine. No external signs of anything. All the inverts seem happy, tank params are fine, etc.

Just an update. I decided to keep the sick fish with the rest, thinking that moving it into a hastily prepared home would be stressful, and with the thought that the other fish would have already been exposed. Anyway, after nearly a week the other fish are still fine, this one is still acting about the same. I have not seen it eat, but it does at least seem a little interested in food now. No external signs on anything.

Just a quick update, got my pipette from Aquatic Eco-systems today. It is the perfect size. But I noticed printed on the side is "for in vitro use only". Just had to share that tidbit....

Thanks everyone for the leads and ideas. I ended up ordering one from Aquatic Eco-Systems, found a few other things I wanted from them.

I guess quarantine would be the way to go, to see what develops and be able to treat, once symptoms become clear.

 

Are they the only fish in the tank?

Yes, they are the only ones.

Thanks,

Darrell

Oh' date=' okay! So they've all been happy and healthy in another tank (not a fishstore)?[/quote']

 

No, they were from the fish store (Upscales).

If you take him out, I would set him up in tankwater, and use the mixed saltwater to replace what you take out of the tank.

 

Do the other fish pester him at all?

 

It's always a gamble to add a new fish, and he could have all sorts of problems, from intestinal parasites, to bad catching methods, to ich...

If he eats, supplementing garlic might help a little.

The other fish are not bothering him (another perc and clown goby). They all went into the tank together (from the same tank).

How long have you had him, and how long has he displayed the symptoms?

I wouldn't try any treatment in the main tank.

A qt can be as simple as a 10G tank with a heater and pump, and a cheapo light on top.

A couple of pieces of pipe to hide in and frequent water changes.

Hi,

I've had him for a week, he stared acting a little odd yesterday (in hindsight).

I have a 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of saltwater that has been mixed (and heated) for a few days.

-Darrell

My smaller perc is acting very listless, swimming very stiff, no interest in food, maintaining position in the current, but little more. All water parms look good, the other fish, corals, crabs and snails all appear fine. I don't see any visible signs of any disease. Any treatment I should try, or just wait it out? I don't have a quarantine tank of any sort.