Ich worries in new system

[Abominable Snow Crab]

Just upgraded my tank and used my liverock from my prior tank. About 3 years ago I tried a tang and it eventually died of what I believe to be ich. Being that I never went fallow I assume the ich is still present. This upgrade came with some fish which included a tomini tang. Its been 21 days now since the upgrade and ive seen zero signs of any ich. Ive been running a 13watt 395 gph uv in the sump as an added measure of protection (futile i suppose but makes me feel better). How long should pass before I feel good about this tangs odds of not catching ich? Also hope to turn off the uv when that time passes. Thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just upgraded my tank and used my liverock from my prior tank. About 3 years ago I tried a tang and it eventually died of what I believe to be ich. Being that I never went fallow I assume the ich is still present. This upgrade came with some fish which included a tomini tang. Its been 21 days now since the upgrade and ive seen zero signs of any ich. Ive been running a 13watt 395 gph uv in the sump as an added measure of protection (futile i suppose but makes me feel better). How long should pass before I feel good about this tangs odds of not catching ich? Also hope to turn off the uv when that time passes. Thanks.

Typical life cycle is 21 days and with UV running should help
After day 30 you should be deemed safe

 

[Abominable Snow Crab]

Typical life cycle is 21 days and with UV running should help
After day 30 you should be deemed safe

Thank you

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Just upgraded my tank and used my liverock from my prior tank. About 3 years ago I tried a tang and it eventually died of what I believe to be ich. Being that I never went fallow I assume the ich is still present. This upgrade came with some fish which included a tomini tang. Its been 21 days now since the upgrade and ive seen zero signs of any ich. Ive been running a 13watt 395 gph uv in the sump as an added measure of protection (futile i suppose but makes me feel better). How long should pass before I feel good about this tangs odds of not catching ich? Also hope to turn off the uv when that time passes. Thanks.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There is a much, much greater risk that the tomini (or other new fish) will bring ich into this tank than there is of ich still being viable in a tank from an infection three years ago.

 

[Abominable Snow Crab]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There is a much, much greater risk that the tomini (or other new fish) will bring ich into this tank than there is of ich still being viable in a tank from an infection three years ago.

Should I even bother with the UV I put in my sump?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Should I even bother with the UV I put in my sump?

I wouldn’t bother using it - UV needs to be plumbed into the main tank as a side stream, not in the sump. Too many of the parasites can short cut it that way.

 

[Abominable Snow Crab]

I wouldn’t bother using it - UV needs to be plumbed into the main tank as a side stream, not in the sump. Too many of the parasites can short cut it that way.

I know in the past ive had blooms in the water that turn it milky and the uv quickly clears it up, that makes me believe that most of the water is captured and passes through? I know my uv is probably too weak for ich anyway.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I know in the past ive had blooms in the water that turn it milky and the uv quickly clears it up, that makes me believe that most of the water is captured and passes through? I know my uv is probably too weak for ich anyway.

Those are two different uses - UV works fine for clearing water of planktonic bacteria and/or single celled algae.

To treat parasitic organisms, the dose must be much higher (10x) and the “dwell time” is critical - where you need to capture the planktonic life stage asap, and that means having the UV intake start in the main part of the tank.