Ich in tank

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Already started the process! Unfortunately I do not have 2 different devices for measuring, but I recalibrate every single time just in case & check a couple of times after 60 mins of the water circulating.

Currently I’m at 20 ppt.

Kind of going slow. I started July 13th, around 5pm.

I just do not want to go quickly & shock them. I do not notice the spots & all of the fish are doing well.

I figured out where the ich came from. In the beginning, it was the clownfish I had purchased, sadly from Petco. Went in & asked them how they handled the ich if they ever had it and they told me Ich is in every tank and they use this artemiss herbal medication & lower the salinity for 10 days. Lady said fish are born with ich in their immune system and it will always arise when fish are stressed, which I know is not true. Will always quarantine from now on.

Is it ok if I take more than 48hrs to reach 12ppt? I will probably reach it tomorrow.

Thank you.

The risk is that if you go too slow, the disease can continue to multiply. I would never take longer than 72 hours to reach full hypo, 48 hours is better. Time isn't the main controlling factor though - it is the number of reductions that is made during the process that is most important. Six reductions, spaced evenly across the time span is good.

Now, RAISING the salinity after hyposalinity is a LOT more stressful to the fish - I will often take 5 days to bring the fish back out of hypo.

 

[northernreefin]

Watch for an ammonia spike as you go hypo, be surprised how many little critters die during it as well as new strains of bacteria need to take over nitrogen cycle. Have some binder on hand.

 

[maheenio]

Watch for an ammonia spike as you go hypo, be surprised how many little critters die during it as well as new strains of bacteria need to take over nitrogen cycle. Have some binder on hand.

Understood! I do have some prime (would that work well or a different binder?) as well as some bottled bacteria I could add to start up the bacteria again.

 

[maheenio]

The risk is that if you go too slow, the disease can continue to multiply. I would never take longer than 72 hours to reach full hypo, 48 hours is better. Time isn't the main controlling factor though - it is the number of reductions that is made during the process that is most important. Six reductions, spaced evenly across the time span is good.

Now, RAISING the salinity after hyposalinity is a LOT more stressful to the fish - I will often take 5 days to bring the fish back out of hypo.

Hello Jay!

Thank you so much for your help! Reached hypo yesterday. All the fish are doing amazing, acting normal. I do have a lemon peel angelfish in there & she’s the only one who’s being a little more shy & hiding in her little cave. Only came out for a couple of minutes when I fed but went straight back in. Not noticing any ich on her at the moment, and doesn’t seem to be breathing heavily, just hiding all day.

Is that normal?

Also tested pH. It was around 7.8, kind of on the low end of things, but any tips on how to manage pH from getting too low? I do have good surface agitation.

Thank you so much, you’ve been so much help!!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello Jay!

Thank you so much for your help! Reached hypo yesterday. All the fish are doing amazing, acting normal. I do have a lemon peel angelfish in there & she’s the only one who’s being a little more shy & hiding in her little cave. Only came out for a couple of minutes when I fed but went straight back in. Not noticing any ich on her at the moment, and doesn’t seem to be breathing heavily, just hiding all day.

Is that normal?

Also tested pH. It was around 7.8, kind of on the low end of things, but any tips on how to manage pH from getting too low? I do have good surface agitation.

Thank you so much, you’ve been so much help!!

If the lemonpeel is eating, I wouldn’t be too concerned.

I don’t worry about pH in hypo unless it drops to around 7.5 or so. Then, I’ll raise it with some sodium bicarbonate, or if there is also an ammonia issue, partial water changes (with low salinity water of course)

 

[maheenio]

If the lemonpeel is eating, I wouldn’t be too concerned.

I don’t worry about pH in hypo unless it drops to around 7.5 or so. Then, I’ll raise it with some sodium bicarbonate, or if there is also an ammonia issue, partial water changes (with low salinity water of course)

I did put in some mysis this morning and put in a clip of nori but she did not eat. The rest of the fish did. She came out to see the food but went right back in her cave after. Maybe it is just stress? Only a couple of ich spots visible on her. Not laying down on her side or anything. Should I do anything? Thank you.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I did put in some mysis this morning and put in a clip of nori but she did not eat. The rest of the fish did. She came out to see the food but went right back in her cave after. Maybe it is just stress? Only a couple of ich spots visible on her. Not laying down on her side or anything. Should I do anything? Thank you.

Tough to say - neither a light case of ich or hyposalinity would keep the angel from feeding, so it must be something else going on, I just can’t say what.

If you can post a clear video of the angel under white lights, maybe I can tell more? I’ll be offline until tomorrow morning……