Copperband Butterfly help

[Pants]

I bought a Copperband butterfly on Saturday and have been having trouble with it in quarantine and wanted some advice. The major issue is that ammonia levels in the QT tank keep rising very quickly. 

 

The fish was eating at the pet store and is still eating for me, but seems to be exhibiting some signs of stress. She keeps swimming up near the top of the tank (not on side) and poking her nose against the surface like a fish who doesn't have enough oxygen (there is a lot of flow in the tank though).

 

Ammonia levels are currently at 1ppm.

 

This morning ammonia was at 0.5ppm.

 

Last night I did a 100% water change because ammonia levels had risen over 4ppm. (test after the water change and it was at 0).

 

The QT tank is 10G with a sponge filter, hob waterfall filter, and a sicce voyager 1 powerhead. I dosed DrTims 2x but I've done so many water changes I don't think that could help much. The waterfall filter has carbon and a bit of filter cloth from an established tank at the LFS. The sponge from the sponge filter was in my DT for 3 days before starting the QT. I also have two very large diameter pieces of pvc to have some low flow areas.

 

Other then going up to the surface every now and then the fish seems strong and healthy. She is eating live black worms voraciously from the pipet and is also tanking frozen blood worms. She has pecked a bit at a clam I smashed open and some marine cuisine. She is friendly and comes up to the tank when I get near sort of begging for food.

 

I don't think I can keep doing 100% water changes every night, but the ammonia levels rise fast enough that it seems like it is necessary. I wanted to keep this fish in QT for a long time to get her eating a variety of frozen food before she had to compete with a couple of clowns and bangaii in the DT.

[smallreef]

Firstly, I'm assuming you are n, y feeding as much as she is eating? No extras...

Secondly yes, the ammonia in a QT easily rises as there is no biological fiber, and that sponge for 3 days didn't really do anything...

Next, how is your surface agitation? You can have lots f flow wit low oxygenation levels if you don't have any surface aggittin, so if there is a powerhead in there and point it towards the surface...

 

But, yes you will be needing to do 50-75% water changes every day or 2 ...if your ammonia is rising like that....

[surf&turf]

Do you have any live rock to spare you could add the to tank? Would help get some good bacteria in the system and if your planning on keeping her their a while, would really help with changing so much water. 

[Pants]

Unfortunately my DT has only really big pieces of live rock. Nothing that can be moved. One piecemight fit but it is covered in favia and the QT has no light. 

 

There is a lot of surface agitation. The waterfall filter splashes, the powerhead rotates and hits the surface in part of its arc and the sponge filter is bubbling so the bubbles break the surface. The temp was a bit high 82°F so I lowered that but I don't think this is O2 related. In google searches it sounds like stressed out CBBs do this.

[surf&turf]

Sounds like water changes are your only option, maybe find someone close with a used filter pad, but then risk ex-poser to something.  

[Pants]

Am I crazy to think of just popping her in the DT and hoping I can train her to eat frozen in there?

[surf&turf]

That's the way i did mine, black worms first out of my hand, then frozen.

[Pants]

Funny thing is I thought getting her to eat would be the hard part not managing the QT. She's been eating really well.

 

I normally keep a sponge for a sponge filter in my refugium so I can set up at QT fast, but unfortunately I cleaned out the refugium a couple days before getting the CBB. I'd been searching for one so long I had sort of given up on finding it and then poof, a fiesty looking little CBB at the store.

[gmerek2]

1ppm and rising quickly is very very serious. Get it to 0 or get her out of there or that fish won't be eating at all soon laying on side.

[Pants]

I moved her to the DT last night. With ammonia rising this fast even 100% water changes daily wouldn't be enough so it was this or let the fish die. I've never had so much trouble with a QT before. No idea why the ammonia was so out of hand.

[SunWyrm]

Imo it's very hard to qt butterflies in a bare tank. They pick on rockwork all day at little worms and things. It'll be better to get her to eat in the DT, and it wont be as stressful for either of you.

 

That's some crazy ammonia tho...

[Pants]

Well this morning she is hiding wedged under the biggest rock in the tank. Not looking good. She slept all night normally (just swimming in a low flow area between a duncan and a frogspawn). I turned off half the lights so the other fish will be more chill, but I'm worried.