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View Full Version : ★Need Help★ Prized Fish Ordered (Want to setup Proper 2nd Quarentine Tank)


Wally.B
04/30/2016, 12:24 AM
** I posted (same thread) in Reef Fishes Section, but thought I might catch better expertise in this section ***

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Hello,

I've been waiting for over a year for a Black Cap Basslet.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-04-30_BlackCap_zpsopevl8sv.jpg

No luck at all, as I looked everywhere in the local fish stores. One arrived few months ago, but was DOA.

Just a few days ago I gave up, so bought two other fish, which I placed in a sump I'm building that has a small quarantine Tank section.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-04-28_New-WraseFish_zpsyzuy9co7.jpg

I have my hands full hoping I can get the Leopard Wrase to eat (but I have a live food farm for my Madarin, so hopes are high).

Then just tonight I was surfing, and I found the Basslet that I've really wanted (Near by store).
So I Just placed the order for a pickup After weekend at a LFS a reasonable drive away. (So I have the weekend to set things up).

The Sump I am building is as below.
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-03-23_SumpCardboardMockUp_zpskkcvkjnn.jpg

The detailed thread (FOR THIS SUMP) with test run on YouTube is here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2570553


The current Quarantine area is the far right section , so I can make the rest of the sump a 2nd quarantine area for the Basslet.

I don't want to place it in the same quarantine tank since (since those two new wrasses could have diseases), so my option is to use the remaining area of the sump. However I really want to make sure this fish survives (so need help to setup a perfect Quarantine)

So I could just fill sump with Fresh Made Saltwater? I worry that it will cycle, and possibly kill the fish.

I could do water changes from my tank, and mix in some fresh salt water to top it up.

I could run the DB8i skimmer (new, never used), but that takes care of nutrients and but not a cycle. (Perhaps a cycle won't happen, if I change water weekly from my other tank and change the Quarentine tank, or possibly no cycle will happen due to such a small fish). I have no idea.

ABVIOUSLY I'll place a heater in the separate section, the fish could either go into the Return Area (pretty small), or I place the skimmer into the Return area, and fish goes into the main area. THE SKIMMER WILL PROVIDE AREATION,and I'll be running a small pump between the two sections for circulation.

Please provide any advice on how to setup a fresh quarantine and keep it stable for a fish that I really want to survive. (I figure 6-8 weeks is good enough for a quarantine).

Many thanks for any advice.

Wally.B
04/30/2016, 01:30 AM
Pardon, the mistake. The picture I snagged is the wrong one. That picture is of the Orange Back Fairy Wrasse.

I DID purchase a BlackCap.

And the label for the quarentined wrasse should be Six Line, not 7 Stripe.

jbvdhp
04/30/2016, 10:59 AM
Well black caps in my experience aren't difficult to keep. The problem is your sump isn't a TRUE qt. maybe I'm mistaken- is your sump connected to your main tank?

here, when we qt, we use SEPARATE tanks- separate from the display tank. Throwing it in the sump allows it to acclimate to your tank and eat probably but we also qt -mainly- for disease. I should say qt to keep DZ out.
You need a separate tank, although in my experience wrasses have the least amount of issues with disease but can still bring in ANYTHING. If you haven't already, you should read the stickies. There's a ton of good info there. Good luck on the basslet. I had one that lived Thru the worst conditions and lived 6-7 years. They're becoming expensive now


Sent using your IP address

Wally.B
04/30/2016, 12:01 PM
sump is not connected to either tanks.

this I a new sump I am building for a future install, so totally isolated.

I understand quarentine concepts, just wonder about how new QT's cycle, and if they do.

I will go thru the stickies. Thanks for the Reminder.

Deinonych
04/30/2016, 03:56 PM
The sixline wrasse will not tolerate the leopard long-term. They both occupy the same ecological niche, and sixlines in general are bullies. I would return the sixline if possible.

Basslets are easy to keep, so you shouldn't have issues with the Black Cap.

Wally.B
04/30/2016, 06:32 PM
Setup Clarification and Plan for New Fish

Some background needed.

I have 2 Tanks (1x 15+ year old, and 1x 2 year old). Very established. Loaded with Copepods, Amphipod.
- Two established Sumps with Live Rock, Ceramic Bio Balls, Live Sand in 1 Tank.

I have a Tigger Copepod Farm that I breed Live food for Madarin, and sometimes cultivate Live Brine Shrimp.

So the way I'm thinking SHORT TERM, after Quarentine is this.

- I'll keep all 3 fish. Better me who cares and will try, than sold to someone with no experience.

- The Six Line Wrasse will go into the 90 Gallon Tank (with HawkFish, and Chromis). Those fish should be able to handle him in that space.
- The Black Cap will go as always planned into my 65 Gallon (with Tang, Angel and Madarin)
- The Leopard will stay in the QT Section of the Sump. I am preparing to setup a 3 inch sandbed right away. (If I manage to keep him alive thru QT, for 8 weeks, and eating, he might go into a Tank, or stay as in QT when it becomes a Refuge).

This PHOTO Should give you the Idea of the Planned Fish Distribution
(As where FISH will go).
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-04-30-NewFishBreakup_zpsueqwveui.jpg

I'll adjust things as I observe. (Last Resort is to return fish to LFS).

Still a Bad Idea?

Wally.B
04/30/2016, 09:05 PM
Improved the QT for Leopard Wrasse

This should make the Leopoard Wrase a bit more comfortable.

- Some Live Rock from Display Tank Sump (Loaded with Encrustations/Ampipods)
- Thick 3" Layer of Aragonite Sand (Seeded from Display Tank)

- Dumped in some Live Copepods, with PhtytoPlankton.
- Couple of Hermits to keep things tidy
- 1 Snail to clean Glass

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-04-30_SumpQT-Improved_zpshryqgjdu.jpg

Took off Zoa Frags from Tray for now. By Accident, broke the tray gluing.

Hoping things go well.

Now to prepare the rest of the sump for the Black Cap Basslet. (Something similar, but no SandBed)

Wally.B
04/30/2016, 10:21 PM
For the Records SUMP QT-Tank-"Leo" [ NO3=2.5ppm, Salinity=1.025 ] May 01,2016

I don't think I need to check anything else. Don't have a Nitrite, or Ammonia kit.

Wally.B
05/01/2016, 10:54 PM
2nd Quarantine Built (For BlackCap Basslet):

So I got an idea how to make the Skimmer Section of the sump useful.

- Had some left over sand, but too thin for the whole section.
- Added a small Baffle to keep Sand in a corner.
- Keep skimmer in it's own area for bubbles but works the whole section.
- The Shelf I built for Bio-Media, works great for raising the heater (which no longer fits below (due to baffle).
- I can even run a small pump to circulate thru he BioShelf with some kind of media.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-05-02_2ndQuarentineBasslet_zpsr4px0pym.jpg

This should work for the next 8 weeks for both QT.

- I can still work on completing Algae Scrubber Area since it's isolated.
- The Return Section stays empty.

Wally.B
05/01/2016, 11:11 PM
** SIX LINE WRASSE (GOING BACK!!) ASAP ** after this post on another thread.**

I had a Sixline pair and a Mandarin pair in my 450 gal. They did great for 1+ year. Then the Sixline pair decided to eliminate the competitor. They attack the female Mandarin. A few seconds was what it took I witness the whole thing and cannot do anything about it. The Sixline pair dive at my female Mandarin a peck her eyes out. One attacked one eye and the other attacked the other eye. No more than 3 seconds and they got what they wanted, no more competitor. The totally ignored the Mandarin after they blinded her.

Wally.B
05/02/2016, 06:22 PM
Quarantine #2 Ready (Basslet Pickup Tomorrow)

- I decided that the Skimmer won't be needed with a small improvise.
- Since I do weekly Water changes, I can keep both QT areas clean and stable without skimming.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-05-02_QT2Ready_zps1clkfa2c.jpg

Wally.B
05/03/2016, 11:52 AM
Dosing Pump Project (Converted to a Temp Top Up for QT's)

- I had the parts for a Future Dosing Pump Project, so put them to good use for a temporary Double Top Up Controller.

- This will keep Salinity Stable, and I can go away for a week without any top of worries.

- It's just a hack, but does the job.
- Programming has some smarts to not over-top up (time limits)
-----> Plus the top up bucket will have limited water supply anyway.
- There is a bypass switch to turn of top ups, when lowering water during water changes (Wish my Tunze Osomolator had this feature)

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-05-03_DualTopUPController_zpstyfh6wnx.jpg

Wally.B
05/06/2016, 09:06 AM
DUAL QT TopUP Installed (Delay on BlackCap Basslet)

So I installed the AutoTop Up unit. Works nicely

Small Delay on BackCap Basset, should pickup next week.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah74/wbrejnia/2016-05-06_DualTopUPV2-install_zpsrfndn1qy.jpg

Few new features. (1) 3 Color Status LED (2) DIY Acrylic Magnetic Sensors