[stephaniesquires]

I've read about QT'ing (a must) and dipping and acclimating and thought I understood it all until I started running through the plan... QT is up and ready, 12 gallon cube with 2 large pieces of pvc. Water from DT.
Here are the Questions
1. I want to add 5 (yes 5) chromis, but this seems a lot for a 12 gallon QT. (Tank is 240...) I can do water changes to keep bioload under control, but is this a good idea or add them in 2 groups??

2. Dip first then QT or is dipping not necessary?

3. If dipping, do you drip acclimate to the freshwater dip or just set the freshwater temp at the QT temp? Or can you do a freshwater drip to serve as acclimation and dip??

I would really appreciate examples of how you have added fish. I know chromis are pretty hardy, but I need to know the best way so I've got it down for future, more delicate fish..

Thank you all!!

[rlcline76]

I don't dip. That is just me.
Keep in mind that, yes...12 gallons is small for 5 chromis, but this is not a permanent home. Keep up with water changes.
All that I have read on dips pretty much points to keeping the water temp slightly higher than what is in the tank and buffering.
Scroll down in this article until you get to the dip method.
Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon irritans - A Discussion of this Parasite and the Treatment Options Available, Part II by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com
Try not to overthink things like this and do not panic!

[pogodzib]

Just monitor your water parameters for ammonia and nitrite in your q-tank. If the levels are detectable, do a 25% water change. Typically, I like to do a water change 2, 5, & 9 days after adding fish just to make sure that the levels don't start rising and then I try doing weekly 10%-25% water change after that.

Regarding FW dips. I like to dip virtually all of my new fish. I dip acclimate (typically 1/2 hr+) the new fish to the q-tanks water. During that time, I prepare my FW dip water using tap water that is 2 degrees warmer than the tank water and add a tiny bit of (unscented) baking soda to raise the tap water to a pH of around 8-8.3 NOTE: If you add too much baking soda, dump out some of the water in your FW dip container and add some more tap water to help get the pH down. Once your fish are acclimated to your q-tank water. Take them out of your drip container and put the fish in the FW dip water for 3-5 minutes. You may dip longer once your are used to the procedure, but I feel that 5 minutes is long enough. The fish will probably act strange at first or may lay on the bottom. You can get them to move by gently moving the container to cause the water to move and many times the fish will start swimming and act normal. This isn't necessary, but it may make you feel better. As long as the fish is breathing, you'll be fine. If the fish's gills stop moving, take the fish out immediately and put it back into your q-tank drip container and it should recover. As far as how useful/necessary FW dips are, I feel that they are VERY beneficial for fish such as tangs that are disease (ich & black ich) prone, but not as beneficial to fish that as less disease prone. I've never had any problems doing FW dips on fish so I do it on all fish except for bottom dwelling fish. BTW - Doing a FW dip for the first time can be very scary and nerve racking (esp. on expensive fish), but once you do it a couple times, it's much less scary.

Here is another site that I like to look at for disease treatment methods. ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Treatments

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon irritans - A Discussion of this Parasite and the Treatment Options Available, Part II by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com
Try not to overthink things like this and do not panic!

Thank you - more good info... I do tend to overthink everything!!

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by pogodzib

Just monitor your water parameters for ammonia and nitrite in your q-tank. If the levels are detectable, do a 25% water change. Typically, I like to do a water change 2, 5, & 9 days after adding fish just to make sure that the levels don't start rising and then I try doing weekly 10%-25% water change after that.

Regarding FW dips. I like to dip virtually all of my new fish. I dip acclimate (typically 1/2 hr+) the new fish to the q-tanks water. During that time, I prepare my FW dip water using tap water that is 2 degrees warmer than the tank water and add a tiny bit of (unscented) baking soda to raise the tap water to a pH of around 8-8.3 NOTE: If you add too much baking soda, dump out some of the water in your FW dip container and add some more tap water to help get the pH down. As far as how useful/necessary FW dips are, I feel that they are VERY beneficial for fish such as tangs that are disease (ich & black ich) prone, but not as beneficial to fish that as less disease prone. I've never had any problems doing FW dips on fish so I do it on all fish except for bottom dwelling fish.

Thank you for the good info also - I may try dipping just to get the technique down for future more disease prone fish...

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by pogodzib

Just monitor your water parameters for ammonia and nitrite in your q-tank. If the levels are detectable, do a 25% water change. Typically, I like to do a water change 2, 5, & 9 days after adding fish just to make sure that the levels don't start rising and then I try doing weekly 10%-25% water change after that.

Regarding FW dips. I like to dip virtually all of my new fish. I dip acclimate (typically 1/2 hr+) the new fish to the q-tanks water. During that time, I prepare my FW dip water using tap water that is 2 degrees warmer than the tank water and add a tiny bit of (unscented) baking soda to raise the tap water to a pH of around 8-8.3 NOTE: If you add too much baking soda, dump out some of the water in your FW dip container and add some more tap water to help get the pH down. Once your fish are acclimated to your q-tank water. Take them out of your drip container and put the fish in the FW dip water for 3-5 minutes. You may dip longer once your are used to the procedure, but I feel that 5 minutes is long enough. The fish will probably act strange at first or may lay on the bottom. You can get them to move by gently moving the container to cause the water to move and many times the fish will start swimming and act normal. This isn't necessary, but it may make you feel better. As long as the fish is breathing, you'll be fine. If the fish's gills stop moving, take the fish out immediately and put it back into your q-tank drip container and it should recover. As far as how useful/necessary FW dips are, I feel that they are VERY beneficial for fish such as tangs that are disease (ich & black ich) prone, but not as beneficial to fish that as less disease prone. I've never had any problems doing FW dips on fish so I do it on all fish except for bottom dwelling fish. BTW - Doing a FW dip for the first time can be very scary and nerve racking (esp. on expensive fish), but once you do it a couple times, it's much less scary.

Nice to see that you covered your butt so that I couldn't say anything about what fish might not like a FW! lol
Pretty simple procedure, Steph. I'm sure you'll be fine. Congrats on being ready for the first fish(es)!

[stephaniesquires]

So, the 6 (so much for 5) are home and adjusting to the QT. The lfs had 6 chromis and I couldn't leave 1 there alone... So far so good. They have regained their color and I see no signs of distress....

[Waterlogged]

If you dipped a fish that you just bought and it had ich would the dip kill all the ich?

If the answer is no and you plan to qt the fish, why dip?

[Ganrin]

A freshwater dip is minimally useful against ich, it may knock a few spots off but it isnt going to fully break the ich lifecycle.
A freshwater dip is extremely effective against flukes, fish lice, and blackspot though, where it will knock almost all of the adult organisms off.
In either case you would still want to qt after the dip to ensure that the cycle is broken and the parasites dont return.

[Ganrin]

I personally dont fw dip unless I see signs on the fish in qt that it is needed. I have been burned before by an improperly done fw dip so Id rather use it reactive to a problem not as a proactive treatment.

[stephaniesquires]

UPDATE: one of the fish died a little while ago. All six were fine last night, eating etc.. All fine this morning, no signs of distress, then a few minutes ago went to check on them and one was laying on the bottom, not moving. Got him out - no visible signs of trauma. Water temp - 82, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites all 0... Been feeding brine shrimp - possible to overfeed???
Very upsetting, what happened??

[rlcline76]

Could be a case of "crap happens". We do not know the stress these fish went through just to get to the LFS, then they were transported to your tank...

[rlcline76]

Oh and that is not me being a pain in the butt...I am sorry for your loss.

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Could be a case of "crap happens". We do not know the stress these fish went through just to get to the LFS, then they were transported to your tank...

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Oh and that is not me being a pain in the butt...I am sorry for your loss.

I figure that's what it is, that's why we quarantine - Kinda shoots down that "I did everything right" feeling!!!

[mothergoose]

sorry for your loss. the first one is always the toughest. hang in there
nina

[Waterlogged]

Originally Posted by stephaniesquires

I figure that's what it is, that's why we quarantine - Kinda shoots down that "I did everything right" feeling!!!

Maybe you did everything right but person before you didn't.

[plecosword]

yeah just think of it that way. it wasnt your fault. and you got your first fish!!
and im still here wondering when ill start. did you got to tongs by the way?