Last winter I set up
my-first-quarantine-tank Over the next couple of months I lost two different fish in the QT and at Leebca's reccomendation I decided to tear down the QT and clean it thoroughly.
It remained dry for about 3 weeks while I seeded new sponges in my DT sump. In Early May I set up my 2nd QT. I added a little ammonia 2-3 ml and a small raw squid (to feed the bacteria) to kick start the cycle. I decided to be more laid back with this QT.
I did not test daily to track the cycle. I just let it go. Every couple of weeks I added a little more pure ammonia and I kept a small piece of fresh food to keep the bacteria well fed.
In late May I knew this tank was ready for a fish. I added 5 ml of ammonia and tested the next morning. Ammonia was 0. NitrIte was 0. TrATes were HIGH as expected. 50% WC. Then I started watching Divers Den for a Long Nose Hawk Fish. They soon had one but I hesitated for some reason and missed out on him. I did weekly 50% WC and kept a small piece of fresh seafood to keep my bacteria fed.
Saturday evening after work I stopped at my LFS and they had a great looking Midas Blenny. Larger than my first one. It looked healthy and it ate well at the LFS. I brought him home and acclimated him to the QT.
He acted rather tramatized trying to hid at the bottom of the tank. He did not swim around much that I could see. When I walked into the room he would go to his safe place if he wasnt already there. I tried to stay away and the lights in the room stayed off. Sunday late afternoon I introduced him to mysis shrimp that I had soaked in garlic and selcon. He ate well and he seemed a little less shy afterwards. By Monday afternoon he was swimming around the tank. He ate well again early on monday and again he seemed less shy afterwards. He is out and about until I walk into the room and then he goes to a safe spot and peeks around the corner. If I sit still in a chair in front of the tank he comes swimming out.
He is also getting his bright yellow coloring back. When frightened or stressed the midas blenny gets some dark colorations that help Camouflage him in the rocks
Of course I am testing for NH3, NO2 and NO3 twice daily.
I had no ammonia until this afternoon and I did a 50% WC.
Oh right after the WC I set up and calibrated a ph monitor that I bought from Woodstock. Thanks again Doni. ph was a bit low - 7.83 so I raised it to 8.0 using a PH Adjuster which is just NaHCO3 and NaCO3.
Its been tough getting a decent pic of him. . . or her.
But I tried.