This QT process has been a, well, process for me. Right now I have 2 batches going through QT trying to figure out how I want to do things. One batch just finished TTM tonight. They received prazi and metro on even transfers and, because there was an anthia with popeye, Furan-2 on the odd transfers. Now they are sitting in a 20L, happy as can be.
Then there's the other tank. They've been in QT for over a month. They had their time in copper, their acclimation time, their metro/prazi doses as prescribed in the "How to QT" thread. They look completely healthy. No stringy, white poop, no apparent injuries or infections, no ich and are swimming around mostly happy with the exception of the Royal Gramma who hides in the corner.
When they finished their time in copper, I transferred them to an entirely new 20L with new equipment, etc and ran them through the metro/prazi treatments. They have eaten perfectly throughout this whole process. In the tank is a purple tang, 2 clowns, 2 banggai cards, a royal gramma and a shrimp goby. I have struggled with ammonia throughout this process having to do what felt like every other to every 3rd night water changes for the past month. That is DESPITE seeding the Aquaclear 70 with Dr. Tim's at both tank starts. That is DESPITE being very careful with how and what I fed (a mix of frozen Emerald Entrée and frozen mysis soaked in garlic and Selcon). Last night I noticed that they weren't eating (hadn't replaced the Seachem badge because I was letting it dry from the last tank change). I tested the water and, of course, there was ammonia (this time being the highest and closing in on 1 I believe, but at least 0.5 by API test). I did a 75% water change.
Tonight, again, everyone but the purple tang won't eat (he eats like a horse). Stupidly, before testing ammonia again, I just added Seachem Amquel because I've been sick as hell and sick of this QT process. So I don't know what the ammonia level is tonight because now my API test can't test it. I would suspect bullying, probably by the tang, because the royal gramma hides in the corner. However, everyone else is out and about, swimming fine (after typing this, I sat there and watched them for an hour and he came out and swam about too. Tang postured at him once). The clowns will nip at mysis and then spit them out. Everyone still LOOKS perfect.... they just won't eat. Despite the fish finally being done with the QT process, the DT appears to still be cycling after 30 days with a ton of nitrites but no ammonia (I swear, this Dr. Tim's stuff doesn't work) so I can't just add them to a better environment like I would like.
If I lose this batch of fish to not eating after the INSANELY hard amount of work that completely absorbed my every night for the past month, I might just lose it. I've never struggled with a tank like I have this QT process and it's breaking me hard. Sorry for the long rant, I just need to share and to beg for help. I just can't fathom what other wrench these fish could throw at me.
TLDR: Fish finished QT and eating throughout. Now, suddenly away from any meds and chemicals in a new temporary holding tank and after an overnight ammonia spike, they won't eat. Look fine, no obvious signs of illness.
Then there's the other tank. They've been in QT for over a month. They had their time in copper, their acclimation time, their metro/prazi doses as prescribed in the "How to QT" thread. They look completely healthy. No stringy, white poop, no apparent injuries or infections, no ich and are swimming around mostly happy with the exception of the Royal Gramma who hides in the corner.
When they finished their time in copper, I transferred them to an entirely new 20L with new equipment, etc and ran them through the metro/prazi treatments. They have eaten perfectly throughout this whole process. In the tank is a purple tang, 2 clowns, 2 banggai cards, a royal gramma and a shrimp goby. I have struggled with ammonia throughout this process having to do what felt like every other to every 3rd night water changes for the past month. That is DESPITE seeding the Aquaclear 70 with Dr. Tim's at both tank starts. That is DESPITE being very careful with how and what I fed (a mix of frozen Emerald Entrée and frozen mysis soaked in garlic and Selcon). Last night I noticed that they weren't eating (hadn't replaced the Seachem badge because I was letting it dry from the last tank change). I tested the water and, of course, there was ammonia (this time being the highest and closing in on 1 I believe, but at least 0.5 by API test). I did a 75% water change.
Tonight, again, everyone but the purple tang won't eat (he eats like a horse). Stupidly, before testing ammonia again, I just added Seachem Amquel because I've been sick as hell and sick of this QT process. So I don't know what the ammonia level is tonight because now my API test can't test it. I would suspect bullying, probably by the tang, because the royal gramma hides in the corner. However, everyone else is out and about, swimming fine (after typing this, I sat there and watched them for an hour and he came out and swam about too. Tang postured at him once). The clowns will nip at mysis and then spit them out. Everyone still LOOKS perfect.... they just won't eat. Despite the fish finally being done with the QT process, the DT appears to still be cycling after 30 days with a ton of nitrites but no ammonia (I swear, this Dr. Tim's stuff doesn't work) so I can't just add them to a better environment like I would like.
If I lose this batch of fish to not eating after the INSANELY hard amount of work that completely absorbed my every night for the past month, I might just lose it. I've never struggled with a tank like I have this QT process and it's breaking me hard. Sorry for the long rant, I just need to share and to beg for help. I just can't fathom what other wrench these fish could throw at me.
TLDR: Fish finished QT and eating throughout. Now, suddenly away from any meds and chemicals in a new temporary holding tank and after an overnight ammonia spike, they won't eat. Look fine, no obvious signs of illness.
Is this the ammonia spike yesterday? Is this something about the new tank setup (no light anymore because the airstone bubbles and salt apparently shorted out the previous fixture, so they just have ambient light)? Something else? Any tips?
Eqiupment:
20L tank
Aquaclear 70
Heater @ 77F by temp probe (though requiring pretty high setting on the heater itself to accomplish that)
Airstone
PVC piping of various sizes
Eqiupment:
20L tank
Aquaclear 70
Heater @ 77F by temp probe (though requiring pretty high setting on the heater itself to accomplish that)
Airstone
PVC piping of various sizes
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