Not good news...

Well, New Penny died. It wasn't eating at all since being placed in the DT. I'm 99% sure that's what killed it. I had been having some trouble getting it to eat while in the QT, but the glass-breaking problem caused me to rush putting New Penny into the DT. It's not how I wanted it to happen, but realistically, with it not eating in the QT, either, it was probably on borrowed time, anyhow. That's the last time I'm going to try to get a copperband for at least a long while. Maybe when I'm more of an advanced aquarist. For now, it seems I'm not able to get them to eat properly.

I'm working on a deal with a guy for some of his stuff, which may include a fish or two. More on that as it develops.

Photos

Some long overdue photos:

FTS - Aug. 8, 2009

View from Left Side of Tank

View from Right Side of Tank

New rock with green and red mushrooms

New Penny in its new home - the DT

New rock full of Red Mushrooms

Feather Duster with new rock behind it

Colt Coral - looks more white than the picture really shows.

One of the orange ricordias moved down to the sandbed.

Pink Zoot Suit Zoas kind of closed up.

New Penny. Great shot.

New Penny enjoying the new atmosphere.

Acan LPS coral.

New rock with green and red mushrooms.

Top-Down of Elizabeth and the red mushroom corals.

Top-Down Shot of Green Candy Cane Coral. The polyps are kind of retracted in the shot.

Top-Down of new Green Mushroom Corals.

New rock with green mushroom corals.

Candy Cane LPS.

Feather Duster and new red mushrooms.

The sort of Left Side of the tank.

Orange Ricordia and Pink Zoot Suit Zoas.

Colt Coral.

Been a while...

Between working waaay too much and the holiday weekend, I have not been able to find time to post. Well, since Penny died, I decided to try a healthy Penny, but this one I had to pay for. This Penny has been in quarantine for about a week and a half now. Earlier this evening, I was working on the tank, and decided enough time had passed and I needed to get some photos of the new Penny. Well, things did not exactly go according to plan. I decided to clean the glass so that I could get nice photos. As I was scraping some algae, I accidentally hit the glass thermometer and broke it. This poses two problems - 1. the liquid (not mercury) leaked into the tank, and I'm not sure what affect it will have, and 2. there is now clear, broken glass in the tank that I can't find. So, while I was planning to go slow with this Penny and keep it in quarantine for a while, it gets to graduate to the big tank tonight! It is currently acclimating to the new tank, and should be going in there in about 45 minutes. In the meantime, I have to empty out the QT, make sure it is completely devoid of broken glass, and start it up again. Considering I have family visiting this weekend, it doesn't look like that will happen any time soon. So, for now, the photos of new Penny will have to wait. I also picked up a few new corals that I have to get some snaps of in the near future. All those lovely pics will come in the near future, I prom---errr--- hope. :)

Until then...

Penny Watch Day 6 - The End

Unfortunately, Penny was found dead today. I will clean out the QT, and start again with what is hopefully a healthy fish. While the idea of nursing a sick fish back to health is intriguing, I found it to be quite difficult, and certainly very demanding. I'm glad this experience was free (well, the fish was free - the medication, salt, etc. was at my own expense), but honestly, I'd rather not have to do it again, unless I had to.

Hopefully, my work schedule will allow me time to clean out the QT and get to the store for my next fish.

Until then...

Penny Watch Day 5

Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worse with Penny. Last night, it didn't eat, in spite of being fed brine shrimp - the most popular option to date. I thought I might have seen it breathing heavily, as well. Not a good sign.

This morning/afternoon, I went down to find Penny not only breathing even more heavily, but also swimming around on its side. This is definitely not normal for fishes, in general, nor have I seen it in Penny, so far. I did a 50% water change and put in a new carbon filter, to hopefully provide the best possible environment for Penny.

In the past, any fish that has swam sideways was generally dead in a day or two. I fear the worst for Penny at this point. I hope not to find it dead in the next day or two, or worse - next couple of hours.

I will keep you posted...

Penny Watch - Day 3, part 2

I just noticed two small white spots on Penny's tail. I'm not sure if I just missed them before, or if the viral infection is spreading. I put the carbon back into the filter, and tomorrow I will do a 25% water change. Man, I hope this fish can make it. It really is a beautiful specimen.

I'll keep you posted...

Penny Watch Day 3

Well, if Tuesday was Day 1, then today must be Day 3. Penny seems to be pretty healthy, although not eating as much as I would like. It didn't go for any of the blood worms I fed last night. The mysis shrimp were only somewhat attractive - only 2 bites. It loved the brine shrimp, though - ate probably 3 or 4 pieces. Last night, I was watching Penny play with the current created by the powerhead. It swims around the whole tank, not hiding in a corner, or inside the PVC piping. To me, that seems pretty healthy (with the exception of the eating).

Specifically with regard to the cysts, they seem to all still be there. I was told it might take a few weeks or even months (in rare cases), so I shouldn't expect any changes yet.

Tonight, I am stopping the medication, putting the carbon back in the filter, and doing a 25% water change. I'll let the carbon run for a few days, then start the medication again. Hopefully, this kind of cycle of medicating, water changes, and running carbon will keep most of the bad stuff out of the water. More to come (including pictures) in a few days...