Does anyone within an hour's drive of Boston have some live brine?

[clamm]

New England Tropical Pet in Lowell off drum hill rotary always had them when I lived up there.

 

[Matt L.]

...Jay is correct, I set them up the day I received the fish with ~ 50% fresh saltwater/50% NSW. I should be hitting nitrites anyday now. I'm feeding on the light side and am doing 20-30% water changes (1.020) daily. I've also got cured live rock that I got from Randoma and am running an AC filter and powerhead in each tank.

I don't ever advise putting fish in a tank that hasn't been established, and that could be affecting these fish's appetite. These two fish are particularly sensitive to new tank conditions from my experience and are likely to just go on a hunger strike until they are more comfortable.

Sometimes having an established tank up and running is not possible, though, and you are doing everything right in my opinion by using NSW, frequent WCs, and cured rock. I would not be surprised if you never detect any nitrites and ammonia. Can you skim these tanks? That will help tremendously as well.

These fish, coming from captivity, probably have large fat stores, and will be more than comfortable for a while. Please let me know when they take to food, and if you become really concerned, I have a tank that they could live in for a while until you get everything all set up,

Matt

 

[JayM]

Paul, I have an appropriate sized skimmer (as opposed to your BK) if you want/need to skim your QT tank. Lending it is the least I can do after all the shiite I've given you

 

[paulthomas]

New England Tropical Pet in Lowell off drum hill rotary always had them when I lived up there.

Thanks but I'm all set. I picked some up from Skiptons and they're only 25-30 mintues from me.

I don't ever advise putting fish in a tank that hasn't been established, and that could be affecting these fish's appetite. These two fish are particularly sensitive to new tank conditions from my experience and are likely to just go on a hunger strike until they are more comfortable.

Sometimes having an established tank up and running is not possible, though, and you are doing everything right in my opinion by using NSW, frequent WCs, and cured rock. I would not be surprised if you never detect any nitrites and ammonia. Can you skim these tanks? That will help tremendously as well.

Talking to B last night, I found out that it's tough to get Flagfin Angels to eat, period. But I'm happy to report that it ate some brine yesterday and a few mysis today. The Majestic also ate some mysis today, but then it got sick of them. It's not much to be thrilled about, but it's a start.

I've got the PBT and a Cleaner Wrasse in a 30, the Majestic and a Cleaner in a 29 and seven Bali Lyretails, two Pink Squares and the Flagfin in a 50 gallon RM tote/bin. I'm going to move the Majestic and Cleaner to a 50 breeder and the fish in the tote to a 75 this Sunday. The only tank that really showed a spike in ammonia was the tote. It got up to ~ .5, read with a Seachem ammonia test kit. I'm not crazy about that kit at all, but it had to do in a pinch.

I've got an AquaC Remora that I was planning on using on the 75 when the tank gets a little more established and the water changes got fewer. Then again, I probably should throw it on there this weekend as the AC 70 is a little undersized. It can't hurt.

These fish, coming from captivity, probably have large fat stores, and will be more than comfortable for a while. Please let me know when they take to food, and if you become really concerned, I have a tank that they could live in for a while until you get everything all set up,

Matt

Thanks very much for the offer Matt. If I need to take you up on that, I'll let you know. How big would the tank be BTW? AND... woulk I ever see those fish again?

Paul, I have an appropriate sized skimmer (as opposed to your BK) if you want/need to skim your QT tank. Lending it is the least I can do after all the shiite I've given you

Shiite? I didn't think I was remotely religious. Thanks again for the offer Jay. I probably will take you up on that. I guess you do have a conscience.

Then again, I could break the BK in nicely on that 75. It's plumbed on the back and I could use one of the totes as a sump. Would you mind if I used your skimmer to help cure some live rock?

 

[JayM]

Then again, I could break the BK in nicely on that 75. It's plumbed on the back and I could use one of the totes as a sump. Would you mind if I used your skimmer to help cure some live rock?

nope....it's a euro-reef clone Jeremy was selling a few years ago...I liked it, just outgrew it...and it's gathering dust.

 

[paulthomas]

nope....it's a euro-reef clone Jeremy was selling a few years ago...I liked it, just outgrew it...and it's gathering dust.

Thanks Jay. Is sometime this week to pick it up ok?

 

[Matt L.]

...The only tank that really showed a spike in ammonia was the tote. It got up to ~ .5, read with a Seachem ammonia test kit.

Ammonia kits often give a false positive. If it really were 0.5mg-N/L, the fish would be dead or in dire condition. In the future, a skimmer can do a lot to prevent ammonification and a piece of established live rock can turn all that ammonia to nitrate. Also, the vigorous aeration of a skimmer can strip any ammonia out of the water.

...Thanks very much for the offer Matt. If I need to take you up on that, I'll let you know. How big would the tank be BTW? AND... woulk I ever see those fish again?

Well, of course you would see the fish again. I already have a Majestic Angel in my display tank, and he wouldn't tolerate another. I love flagfin angels, but I keep a reef and have coral in my display tank that would just be too tempting.

My hospital system is about 40 or 50 gallons and is 4ft long. It has a large amount of established rock and sand and a skimmer, so handling the the bioload of these two fish would be no problem.

Matt

 

[paulthomas]

Ammonia kits often give a false positive. If it really were 0.5mg-N/L, the fish would be dead or in dire condition. In the future, a skimmer can do a lot to prevent ammonification and a piece of established live rock can turn all that ammonia to nitrate. Also, the vigorous aeration of a skimmer can strip any ammonia out of the water.
Well, of course you would see the fish again. I already have a Majestic Angel in my display tank, and he wouldn't tolerate another. I love flagfin angels, but I keep a reef and have coral in my display tank that would just be too tempting.

My hospital system is about 40 or 50 gallons and is 4ft long. It has a large amount of established rock and sand and a skimmer, so handling the the bioload of these two fish would be no problem.

Matt

Really? .5 and they'd be in dire condition? I didn't think these fish were that sensitive. Luckily I haven't experienced that. Everyone seems to be doing ok. Again, the Majestic isn't eating too well, but everyone else is chowing down for the most part. I'm going to provide it with some overhead cover so that it feels a little safer. It doesn't seem to care for the pvc I staggered throughout the tank.

I'm going to run skimmers on the 50 and 75 soon. Plus I'll be using the AC filters and a Vortech per tank.

I know the Flagfin is a pretty big gamble, but I really like them. I consider it the cheap man's Goldflake. If it turns out to be a real nuiscance, I'll have to move it. We'll see.

Thanks again for the offer. But I hope I won't have to take you up on it.

BTW, I was kidding about seeing my fish again.