One and Only for QT?

change some water to get the pH back up and add the clowns (of, course do not add anu more ammonia)

 

Before I saw your reply I checked everything again.

Day 4
10am
Temp - 77
SG - Just under 1.023
Ph - 8.0
Ammo - 0.25ppm
Trite - 0
Trate - 0

I then, at noon, changed 3 gallons of water and at 7pm, added 2 O Clowns and a 5mL dose of your First Defense.

Day 5
530pm
Temp - 77
SG - 1.024
Ph - 8.2
Ammo - 0.25ppm
Trite - 0
Trate - 0

Followin the directions on the bottle, I added a buffer(Seachem Marine Buffer) to help get Ph to 8.3.

Day 6
2pm
Temp - 77
SG - Just under 1.023
Ph - 8.0-8.2
Ammo - 0.25ppm
Trite - 0
Trate - 0

Per buffer directions I added the buffer again and I added a little salt to get the SG up.

Day7(today)
5pm
Temp - 77
SG - Just over 1.022
Ph - 8.0-8.2
Ammo - 0.50ppm
Trite - 0
Trate - 0

I have fed the fish(Omega One Small Marine Pellets w/garlic) 2 or 3 times a day and I remove the uneaten food a few hours later with a turkey baster. The larger clown doesn't eat much but they are both very active and look healthy.

I am concerned, because my ammonia went up from yesterday to today and I have never registered any nitrite or nitrate. Is there any recommendations that you can give me? I'm going to get another type of food(Instant Ocean Gel Marine Blend Omnivore Diet) in hopes that it will entice the larger clown to eat a little more and to offer something different than the pellets.

 

Personally i'd do a wc again, you may have to do a small one every few days due to the small size of the tank and lack of a well established bacteria colony. Also, make sure you add your PH buff to any top off if your top off PH is showing low...

 

ammonia kills FAST so keep a real close eye on it...

 

Figured I'd add a video link of the clowns.



Yes, that is a glass coffee mug. I threw it in to hold up the acrylic airstone shield and because I didn't have ay PVC on hand for a hiding place.

 

I looked at your video - your tank is bare bottomed. Have you been siphoning the bottom? Also where/what is the substrate the bacteria are suppose to stick to? They do not want to be in the water column - they need surfaces to colonize?

Right now do a small water change but make sure you are taking the water from the water column - do not siphon the tank bottom.

 

The only siphoning I do is to get the food off the bottom of the tank. I have 2 small square sponges in the HOB filter. I can take them out and put them in the water column if I need to.

I have 3 gallons of new water mixing right now. I will let it mix all day and do a water change tonight. Is that a good enough water change or should it be smaller or larger?

 

Dr. Tim, wouldn't the bacteria stick to the sides/bottom of the aquarium?

 

Yes but still you need more surface area for all good bacteria to grow and take care of the bio-load needed to eliminate all the ammonia.

 

Maybe that's my issue with the ammonia staying detectable. I have 2 small sponges in the HOB filter. Should i take one out and place it in the water column?