Help - fish dying

[szavoda]

Hey all -

I had an outbreak of Ich that had my tang looking super bad. I put up a 55 gallon QT on Sunday. Since I have moved all of the fish to the QT, 2 Royal Grammas have died. I have a suspicion that the ammonia is spiking.

Unfortunately, I left town Monday and my girlfriend is in charge. She is trying to test the ammonia levels now, but she has no idea what she is doing.

Is there any chance that someone would be willing to visit and help? I am afraid that if it is ammonia that all fish are doomed within 24 hours. I live in Stplaeton.

Thanks!

Shawn

 

[Irishman]

Have her do a water change if you have water mixed up, if not then it should be pretty easy to tell her how to make some. I would go, but I've had a few beers in me.

 

[szavoda]

heh - Yea - I know the solution, but having her do it is another story. She will be my absolute last resort. I might even fly home.

 

[szavoda]

In fact, I might just have her put them back in the DT...

 

[Haddonisreef]

In fact, I might just have her put them back in the DT...

As long as she aclamates them that's what I'd do

 

[szavoda]

Acclimation should not be an issue - same sg and temp

 

[Irishman]

If the temperatures and salinity matches she can throw them in with out acclimating them. I can help out tomorrow if needed, I'm in Brighton of highway 76

 

[Balz3352]

What pare of town are you in? Maybe a fellow reefer could help.

 

[Balz3352]

But I would probably throw into display and overfeeding hopefully helping boost fish natural immune systems
Then deal with big wc when you get back for display.

 

[szavoda]

well, Ammonia is almost at the max - I am not sure how this is happening after 5 days. I used Prime per the instructions.

She is going to xfer them to the DT.

 

[szavoda]

I am very curious how my QT is so ammonia bound. This is not new - everything I QT, I see that the tank has to have WC very often to reduce ammonia.

I need to fallow my DT for the big 76 day cycle and cannot do WC every 3 days - what could cause this? The load is typically ok for the QT size. 10 Smallish fish for 55 gallon - does that sound like a lot?

 

[Irishman]

What is your filtration on the QT?

 

[szavoda]

Just filter floss - I am running CP medication, so I cannot run anything else.

 

[Irishman]

I'm not sure with how many fish you have but I had 3 fish in a 20 gallon QT with a HOB, it had carbon, media pellets and filter floss, and the ammonia jacked up really quick on it.

 

[Balz3352]

Aeration?

 

[szavoda]

aeration is an HOB and 2 x 4" air discs

 

[szavoda]

Well, she was able to xfer all ofthe fish - one more was dead (an anthia) before she got to it. Other than Ich, everything should be fine for them. Gotta figure out how ammonia is spiking so high. Perhaps the RODI is not as clean as it should be. New filters and DI for the most part, but who knows...

 

[Balz3352]

aeration is an HOB and 2 x 4" air discs

Probably good with that.

 

[that0neguy1126]

If I remember right you can't overdose Prime, so might as well dump the whole thing in.

You said you just put up the 55 QT on sunday. Did you use anything to help with the cycle? that would be my 1st guess on NH3 spiking would be the bacteria can't keep up with the NH3 being created.

 

[szavoda]

No - I couldn't do anything to help with the cycle. Seeding from the DT would have included the Ich. And, I usually do Tank Transfer Method, so you really cannot cycle the QT without seeding. But, you would think that a tank with Prime would last more than 4 days or so...