dnoll

When I started a new tank with dry rock in June I used ammonium chloride to induce a cycle. My nitrates in turn spiked to a very high level. I had to do some water changes to bring them down, but really it was just time that did the most work. Since my cycle finished at ~8 weeks), I have never gotten an ammonia, nitrite or nitrate reading (all 0). I had some green hair algae growth for a while, but that has also since stopped. A large amount of live rock/sand relative to my bioload seems to keep everything in check for me so far with no additional tampering beyond regular maintenance.

Thanks. I think the lesson I learned is that for the Flipper brand of scrapper its scrubbing pad is very prone to trapping sand in it. So I would almost say that you should only use the blade and never the scrubber side.

I've been using a glass cleaner with metal blade on one side and cleaning pad on the other: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/flipper-magnetic-cleaner.html After several months of use, I have noticed more and more scratch lines across my tank, probably from cleaning with the blade side (perhaps when a bit of sand gets caught in it?) Does anyone have any best practices on avoiding scratches while cleaning the glass?

Thanks, I will try the dip. I have looked at pictures of lymphocystis, and I suppose to possible. It looks like he has a couple bits of couscous stuck to his side. I'm going to continue keeping him in QT with daily wate changes and vary his diet. I have read that good water quality and a varied diet is the only thing to do for lymphocystis.

To rephrase my question, is there any reason to think that this type of bump is innocuous and the fish could be safely returned to my main tank?

I had posted this question in an old thread, but I suspect it went unnoticed so I'm reposting here. As I posted before, one of two juvenile clownfish died on me after a week and a half in a QT tank. I suspect there may have been issues with water quality, since I had trouble with two cardinalfish in the same QT process. I'm now posting about the second remaining clownfish, with what is probably an unrelated issue. The fish is not showing any behavior symptoms (eating, very active) but about a week ago I noticed a small growth on his right side under his pectoral fin. The growth is either white or transluscent (it's on top of a white part of his body), very small (<1mm), and an irregular shape. I have read a lot of threads about various illnesses (e.g. ich, dermatic cysts) and I am not experienced enough to know how to classify what I am seeing. I do not know if this is related, but he had become accustomed to sleeping against an algae encrusted rock on that side of his body. Any help ID-ing this issue and advising on a treatment protocol would be helpful. I have since moved him out of my main tank and into a separate QT tank. Out of an abundance of caution given my issues with my previous QT attempts, I am doing daily water changes of 20 percent on this tank. I have several medications on hand, but do not know what to use. In my closet are cupramine, prazipro, furan, kanaplex. I've seen some people say they have had success treating similar looking things with time and observation, hyposalinity, or various medications. Thanks.

Photos attached

As I posted before, one of these two fish died and the other has lived on without any symptoms I described of the second (rapid breathing, lethargy, etc.) I'm now posting again about the second remaining fish, with what is probably an unrelated issue. The fish is not showing any behavior symptoms (eating, very active) but two days ago I noticed a small growth on his right side under his pectoral fin. The growth is either white or transluscent (it's on top of a white part of his body), very small (<1mm), and an irregular shape. I have read a lot of threads about various illnesses (e.g. ich, dermatic cysts) and I am not experienced enough to know how to classify what I am seeing. I do not know if this is related, but he had become accustomed to sleeping against an algae encrusted rock on that side of his body. Any help ID-ing this issue and advising on a treatment protocol would be helpful. I have since moved him out of my main tank and into a separate QT tank. Out of an abundance of caution given my issues with my previous QT attempts, I am doing daily water changes of 20 percent on this tank. I have several medications on hand, but do not know what to use. In my closet are cupramine, prazipro, furan, kanaplex. I've seen some people say they have had success treating similar looking things with time and observation, hyposalinity, or various medications. You can see the bump when he is swimming to the right of the screen: Thanks once again in advance, the guidance of this community has been extremely helpful.

Thanks, this is helpful. Based on these comments, Ammonia seems a likely culprit. But I am pretty sure my test kit is good and I've been testing every day (sometimes multiple times per day). Last month I did a fishless cycle using ammonium chloride and was repeatedly dosing to 2ppm ammonia, then watching it fall as nitrite and nitrate would rise, repeat. I used the Dr. Tims instructions, and my ability to accurately measure during that process makes me think there isnt a problem with my test kit. Since the cycle finished I've never gotten a reading above 0.2ppm. Sometimes on the red sea kit it's hard to tell if a reading is 0 or 0.2, but it's never been anything close to 1. I think next time I will let the water settle in my QT for a couple days before adding a fish to make sure it's not reading any ammonia. And I'll try to pick a hardier species.

Both cardinalfish (the one that died and one still alive) have acted similarly: fairly inactive and staying near the bottom of the tank. I have only tried feeding once with mysis shrimp and they ignored it. Today right before dying, it was breathing heavily and it looked like one eye was getting cloudy. The live one does not have these symptoms, but stays in a bottom edge of the tank.

This is embarrassing, but I am obviously doing something wrong and can't figure out what it is. I posted last week about my problems with two small clownfish. One survived and one didn't. I have since moved the survivor into my display tank where he is doing fine. Since I couldn't identify a reason, I assumed the death was due to disease or just bad luck. On Friday, I bought two small kaudern's cardinalfish. Today one of them died and the second doesn't appear to be doing all that great. The obvious conclusion would be that there is something wrong with my water quality or QT setup. I've read a lot of threads to try to figure it out, and I can't. My QT tank is 10 gallons with two airstones, heater, powerhead, pvc elbow, small led light, thermometer and an ammonia alert badge. I am using water from my display tank that is ~78 degrees, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5-10 nitrate, 1.024 salinity. I am using red sea test kits and a refractometer. When I got these fish I floated the bag for 15 minutes before putting them in. I did not drip acclimate, but did make sure the salinity matched. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks to all. It died today. Its pair still looks happy and healthy. I'm not sure I'll ever figure out the cause, but am going to wait a while before adding any other livestock.

Thanks. I have used seachem prime and stability at the same time I've done small water changes. I also have removed uneaten food and testing regularly so I fell pretty confident ammonia is low if not 0. I just contacted RE who said again they feel its safe to add them over to my main tank (which makes me a bit uneasy). But they say they do a pretty extensive quarantine and treatment process for all fish. They also said that since its two males it is normal for one to be very docile and they have had other customers with similar experiences to what I describe and that it should resolve itself in the next week. They said it is very unlikely they could be harboring flukes or other parasites. Anyways, I appreciate the feedback. I'm still a bit unsure if I should take their advice and drop them in my display tank or not...

Thanks. The second clown is acting normal, eating, active, not breathing fast. Ammonia has been below 0.2 on all tests over the week. I have not done any medications. I bought these fish from Reef Escape and they said they had already treated with copper, so I have only been observing. I have cupramine and prazipro on hand. Will slowly lower salinity and temp as suggested.

It's day 8 and one clownfish still won't eat as far as I've observed. I have tried pellets, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, cyclop-eeze, and even soaking food in garlic. I also blacked out two sides of their tank. The one not eating is very inactive and appears to breathe heavily: Should I try moving them to my main tank to see if that induces a change in behavior? Any other suggestions? Thanks

That's really helpful info. My biggest concern is the fact one hasn't eaten yet, so I will take your advice on frozen foods, reducing flow, and blacking out 3 sides.

This is a beginner question about two small clownfish that hopefully will survive to be my first fishes. Advice would be appreciated on whether I am an over-concerned new fish parent, or what steps if any I should take. I purchased two snowflake clowns Saturday and their swimming behavior is making me worried. They looked healthy in store, but pretty soon after I put them in my quarantine tank they are spending almost all their time at the bottom, fairly inactive. One will eat, the other has ignored both pellet and frozen food the three times I've fed them. Water is from my DT that is cycled after 7 weeks, parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate, salinity 1.024, temp 78. The clowns are in a 10 gallon QT tank with two air stones, a powerhead, heater, pvc elbow, and one piece of well established live rock. Here are two videos that show examples of their behavior: Thanks in advance. Daniel

Thanks that's very helpful. I can rub my finger on it firmly and it won't come loose so I would think that means it's coralline. Much appreciated.

Hi ya'll- Noob question: I got this rock from a store to help seed a new tank with otherwise dry dead rock. Can one of you experienced folk give me some assurance that the red and white algae in the pic is nothing to worry about? Also attaching a pic of my aquascape in progress for your viewing pleasure. Thanks! Daniel

Just the tank and equipment, so I'll be going through all the fun of establishing a new system, including curing some rock. I'm sure I'll make some mistakes along the way, but decided I'd rather it be my mistakes!

Hi DMV reefers- I thought it would be polite to introduce myself here first before posting elsewhere what I need your advice or gear! I'm Daniel, a new member living in NW DC (Petworth) who is also new to the (saltwater) hobby. I'm originally from Texas, but have been in DC since 2014, and after taking a new job that ensures I'll be here at least a few years longer it seemed like a good time to finally jump in with both feet. I've had a freshwater aquarium at home before, but this will be my first time with a saltwater setup. I'll be working to build out a 70 gallon setup (purchased from another WAMAS member) and look forward to sharing that experience with the community. I think my first challenge will be redo-ing all of the old plumbing from metric to standard. In preparing for this over the past month or so forums like this have been invaluable resources, so thanks very much. DNoll