Hi! If you’re unlucky enough to have Ich and Marine Velvet in your tank such as myself, what would you say would be a really safe fallow period. I see things as low as 4 weeks and as long as 10. Thanks for your help in advance!
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Okay thanks! I’ve lost a few really amazing fish in this tank so I’d be willing to wait 4 months if it meant the risk would be gone lol76 days I believe is the risk off time for f
I feel your pain. I lost half of my fish in 18 hours to a velvet introduction.Okay thanks! I’ve lost a few really amazing fish in this tank so I’d be willing to wait 4 months if it meant the risk would be gone lol
There is a thread in the sticky section above where we discuss 45 day fallow periods. Longer is of course safer, but 76 days is longer than needed. The sweet spot is somewhere in between these two numbers…..Okay thanks! I’ve lost a few really amazing fish in this tank so I’d be willing to wait 4 months if it meant the risk would be gone lol
Thanks for your help. Would it be okay if you could post the link to that thread? I’m on mobile and I’m not too sure what you mean by sticky section. Thank you!There is a thread in the sticky section above where we discuss 45 day fallow periods. Longer is of course safer, but 76 days is longer than needed. The sweet spot is somewhere in between these two numbers…..
Jay
Ha - I was mobile also, so couldn't link. I'm at my desk now, here is the link:Thanks for your help. Would it be okay if you could post the link to that thread? I’m on mobile and I’m not too sure what you mean by sticky section. Thank you!
Awesome, thank you for that. I’ve read through quite a lot of the thread and I just had 2 questions. I keep my tank running at 26 degrees Celsius and my salinity is 1.025sg. Would you recommend raising either of those parameters at all? I’ve currently got soft and LPS corals in this tank. Thank you.Ha - I was mobile also, so couldn't link. I'm at my desk now, here is the link:
45 Day Fallow periods
I've been doing some research into the "76 day fallow period". I never heard of that prior to coming to Reef2Reef this past summer. I had always used 32 days as the maximum time for a tomont to remain viable under tropical conditions, and then I would round up to 45 days to help ensure that...www.reef2reef.com
Jay
At 26 C., you'll need to leave the tank fallow for longer - trouble is, this isn't an exact science. Basically, the lower risk is seen in the longer fallow times at higher temperatures. Reinfection is more common in shorter times at lower temperatures. The range is 45 days to 76 days. If you are risk averse, go for 76. If you are in a hurry, raise the water temp to 27 C. (presuming your inverts can adjust) and then go for 45 days. However, in looking back, it seems you had a die off. If that is the case, opt for the longer period, AND raise the temp a bit.Awesome, thank you for that. I’ve read through quite a lot of the thread and I just had 2 questions. I keep my tank running at 26 degrees Celsius and my salinity is 1.025sg. Would you recommend raising either of those parameters at all? I’ve currently got soft and LPS corals in this tank. Thank you.
Thank you for your reply. I’ll crank up the temperature so I can be extra sure as opposed to having a lower temperature. I’ve had some pretty bad deaths from velvet lately to the point I questioned my position in the honby but persistence and learning is key so fallow is the best method for me before I start to quarantine in 45-76 days. I had one last question. If I purchase coral while my tank is fallowing, can I consider the fallow reset because of the risk of Ich and velvet being on the coral or would it be okay? Thanks!At 26 C., you'll need to leave the tank fallow for longer - trouble is, this isn't an exact science. Basically, the lower risk is seen in the longer fallow times at higher temperatures. Reinfection is more common in shorter times at lower temperatures. The range is 45 days to 76 days. If you are risk averse, go for 76. If you are in a hurry, raise the water temp to 27 C. (presuming your inverts can adjust) and then go for 45 days. However, in looking back, it seems you had a die off. If that is the case, opt for the longer period, AND raise the temp a bit.
Jay
If the new coral comes from a system that has a sick fish in it, then yes, that would reset the counter. Trouble is, you probably won’t know if it did or not. Diseases moving on corals can happen, but it isn’t a certainty. I try to hold new corals in a tank without fish for 30 days if I can.Thank you for your reply. I’ll crank up the temperature so I can be extra sure as opposed to having a lower temperature. I’ve had some pretty bad deaths from velvet lately to the point I questioned my position in the honby but persistence and learning is key so fallow is the best method for me before I start to quarantine in 45-76 days. I had one last question. If I purchase coral while my tank is fallowing, can I consider the fallow reset because of the risk of Ich and velvet being on the coral or would it be okay? Thanks!
I’m pretty confident that my LFS doesn’t have stuff on their corals but as you said you can never be too sure and that would be a nightmare to Introduce a potential parasite after fallowing. Thanks for all your help!If the new coral comes from a system that has a sick fish in it, then yes, that would reset the counter. Trouble is, you probably won’t know if it did or not. Diseases moving on corals can happen, but it isn’t a certainty. I try to hold new corals in a tank without fish for 30 days if I can.
Jay
It really is a shocking lesson to go through. I think for most of us, because we think a QT is ugly and more time etc. we don’t bother until we get a hard lesson. I definitely agree I started with freshwater myself and still have those tanks but just for me, nothing beats the colour and variety of salt water there are always new fish that make me drop my jaw. Best of luck to you as well fingers crossed for both of us that we never need to hear the word disease in our tanks again.I feel your pain…31 days into my 76-day fallow now, following an Ich outbreak. Fish get to go back in on 10/6. Nothing will get to go in it now without QT first. If I knew I’d need 2 (or 3) SW tanks to have one running, I probably would still have African Cichlids. But I gotta say, the variety with SW is fun. Best of luck.
In regards to keeping the nitrifying bacteria alive while my tank is fallowing, how often would you say feeding would be needed? Would twice a day as per usual be excessive? ThanksIf the new coral comes from a system that has a sick fish in it, then yes, that would reset the counter. Trouble is, you probably won’t know if it did or not. Diseases moving on corals can happen, but it isn’t a certainty. I try to hold new corals in a tank without fish for 30 days if I can.
Jay
If the tank has a good population of bacteria (say the tank has been set up for 6 months or more) you don't need to feed them. Corals give off some material for the bacteria to feed on (which they get from photosynthesis). If the fear is getting into an ultra low nutrient situation, you could put in a pinch of pellets once a week or so, and monitor your phosphorus and nitrate.In regards to keeping the nitrifying bacteria alive while my tank is fallowing, how often would you say feeding would be needed? Would twice a day as per usual be excessive? Thanks
I’ve heard Dr Timothy Hovanec say something similar. It’s remarkable how long they can go without nutrition but on the other hand most people including myself tend to anthropomorphisise simple organisms such as bacteria. Thanks for your help!If the tank has a good population of bacteria (say the tank has been set up for 6 months or more) you don't need to feed them. Corals give off some material for the bacteria to feed on (which they get from photosynthesis). If the fear is getting into an ultra low nutrient situation, you could put in a pinch of pellets once a week or so, and monitor your phosphorus and nitrate.
Jay
I just had a late follow up to this thread. I’m starting the fallow today. The tank is 24 degrees Celsius with LPS and soft corals in it. Would you recommend putting it up to 28 instantly or over the course of a few days? Thanks!If the tank has a good population of bacteria (say the tank has been set up for 6 months or more) you don't need to feed them. Corals give off some material for the bacteria to feed on (which they get from photosynthesis). If the fear is getting into an ultra low nutrient situation, you could put in a pinch of pellets once a week or so, and monitor your phosphorus and nitrate.
Jay
Well, 27 c is a better target. You need to raise it over a few days. If there is ANY concern that your corals can’t handle it, you should just keep the tank as is and opt for a longer fallow time.I just had a late follow up to this thread. I’m starting the fallow today. The tank is 24 degrees Celsius with LPS and soft corals in it. Would you recommend putting it up to 28 instantly or over the course of a few days? Thanks!
Hi,Well, 27 c is a better target. You need to raise it over a few days. If there is ANY concern that your corals can’t handle it, you should just keep the tank as is and opt for a longer fallow time.
Jay
You are pretty close to the full term, however are you certain that there are no diseases issues in the tank this fish would be coming from? Often moving a fish will cause a latent disease to start up.Hi,
I’ve almost finished the fallow that we discussed as you recommended a 75 day fallow for me as I had a bit of a die off. You firstly started by saying that in many cases, 45 is adequate. I started my fallow on the 1st September and is due to finish on the 19th. I’ve got a fish in another tank being bullied. Would it be okay to put him in this tank permanently or would I be putting him in jeopardy considering the 75 days is not finished? Thank you