Live Rock and Hyposalinity

[katguevara]

I needed to set up an emergency QT to treat my fish for ich last night and needed to cycle it somehow (I don't have a filter), so I put in a few pieces of live rock and used some water from the DT. I was just reading that I shouldn't have any sort of rock in there since when ich falls off it can hide in the rock. So I'm wondering since I'm doing hypo if they will get killed off in the rock too or if I'm doing it all for nothing. I don't want to wait 76 days and reintroduce my fish into the DT only to introduce ich into my DT again. Thoughts? TIA

 

[saltyphish]

Hypo rarely works if ever. Sorry i know thats not the answer you want to hear. The only way to deal with ich is copper or ttm. Live rock is a no go for copper treatments since the rock will absorb it and make it difficult ro keep copper levels where you need it. Plus it will later leech it out ending your inverts lives. I believe there is another treatment available @Humblefish has explained as well if i recall correctly. Dont fall for the reef safe products, or garlic scams. Going fallow for the 72 days will also be a necessity to kill off all parasites. No easy way to deal with ich correctly unless you just want to try and manage it, but it will come back adventually if you go that route.

 

[Humblefish]

The other treatment for ich is Chloroquine phosphate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

Hypo sometimes works on ich, sometimes not (due to resistant strains and operator error). However, it's important to be sure you are dealing with ich and not velvet, as hypo DOES NOT treat the latter at all.

@katguevara Can you post some photos of the affected fish, showing the white dots? Also, do you mind if I move this thread into the fish disease forum so more eyes can be on it?

 

[katguevara]

The other treatment for ich is Chloroquine phosphate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

Hypo sometimes works on ich, sometimes not (due to resistant strains and operator error). However, it's important to be sure you are dealing with ich and not velvet, as hypo DOES NOT treat the latter at all.

@katguevara Can you post some photos of the affected fish, showing the white dots? Also, do you mind if I move this thread into the fish disease forum so more eyes can be on it?

Sure you can move it!

 

[katguevara]

Hypo rarely works if ever. Sorry i know thats not the answer you want to hear. The only way to deal with ich is copper or ttm. Live rock is a no go for copper treatments since the rock will absorb it and make it difficult ro keep copper levels where you need it. Plus it will later leech it out ending your inverts lives. I believe there is another treatment available @Humblefish has explained as well if i recall correctly. Dont fall for the reef safe products, or garlic scams. Going fallow for the 72 days will also be a necessity to kill off all parasites. No easy way to deal with ich correctly unless you just want to try and manage it, but it will come back adventually if you go that route.

Is ttm the tank to tank method?

 

[katguevara]

The other treatment for ich is Chloroquine phosphate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

Hypo sometimes works on ich, sometimes not (due to resistant strains and operator error). However, it's important to be sure you are dealing with ich and not velvet, as hypo DOES NOT treat the latter at all.

@katguevara Can you post some photos of the affected fish, showing the white dots? Also, do you mind if I move this thread into the fish disease forum so more eyes can be on it?

I'll try and get some pictures but both my tangs are super skittish since I had to chase them all around the DT to transfer them. My Clowns are in there too but aren't showing any signs of ich.

 

[katguevara]

Hypo rarely works if ever. Sorry i know thats not the answer you want to hear. The only way to deal with ich is copper or ttm. Live rock is a no go for copper treatments since the rock will absorb it and make it difficult ro keep copper levels where you need it. Plus it will later leech it out ending your inverts lives. I believe there is another treatment available @Humblefish has explained as well if i recall correctly. Dont fall for the reef safe products, or garlic scams. Going fallow for the 72 days will also be a necessity to kill off all parasites. No easy way to deal with ich correctly unless you just want to try and manage it, but it will come back adventually if you go that route.

The only reason why I have the rock in there right now was so I can quickly cycle the tank since I didn't have a QT set up when I noticed the white spots. I'm wondering if it's okay to take it out now.

 

[Humblefish]

Is ttm the tank to tank method?

Yes, see here for more info: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/

The only reason why I have the rock in there right now was so I can quickly cycle the tank since I didn't have a QT set up when I noticed the white spots. I'm wondering if it's okay to take it out now.

Bacteria in the water column are few & far between, so it can take awhile for them to transfer from a rock to bio-media (like a sponge.) What kind of filter are you running on your QT?

 

[katguevara]

Yes, see here for more info: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/



Bacteria in the water column are few & far between, so it can take awhile for them to transfer from a rock to bio-media (like a sponge.) What kind of filter are you running on your QT?

Oh that's also another reason why I had the rock in there. I don't have an extra filter that's seeded. I literally threw this QT together in one night. I just haven't been able to get to the LFS.

 

[Humblefish]

Oh that's also another reason why I had the rock in there. I don't have an extra filter that's seeded. I literally threw this QT together in one night. I just haven't been able to get to the LFS.

You'll need a filter with bio-media capable of housing nitrifying bacteria. See below:

QT filter:

Bio-media:

You'll also need a bacteria in a bottle product (ex. Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria) to further boost your bacteria populations.

 

[katguevara]

You'll need a filter with bio-media capable of housing nitrifying bacteria. See below:

QT filter:

Bio-media:

You'll also need a bacteria in a bottle product (ex. Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria) to further boost your bacteria populations.

Okay I will head out to grab one! Thank you! [emoji38]

 

[melypr1985]

Hi there! Yes please get us pictures if you can. I agree that Hypo rarely works and I don't like recommending it for that reason. TTM, Copper and CP are the best options available.

Ick doesn't hide in the rocks. It can create a cyst on hard surfaces including rocks and can travel into the tank that way. When you have a filter ready for the tank, and before you start any meds, you can transfer the rock back into the display and just start your fallow period from that point.

 

[katguevara]

Hi there! Yes please get us pictures if you can. I agree that Hypo rarely works and I don't like recommending it for that reason. TTM, Copper and CP are the best options available.

Ick doesn't hide in the rocks. It can create a cyst on hard surfaces including rocks and can travel into the tank that way. When you have a filter ready for the tank, and before you start any meds, you can transfer the rock back into the display and just start your fallow period from that point.

I was going out to get one today. I'm curious if I need to run the filter on my DT for a bit and then transfer it to my quarantine tank?

 

[katguevara]

Probably the hardest fish to get a picture of! But it looks like the white spots are in bedded in its skin.

 

[katguevara]

One more thing, after treating with copper, can I use the filter in the main tank? If so, what do I eed to do to make it safe for my corals?

 

[melypr1985]

I'm curious if I need to run the filter on my DT for a bit and then transfer it to my quarantine tank?

I would just put the sponge in your filter or sump for a few months to seed it with bacteria. If you don't have that kind of time, then buy a bottle of bacteria (like Seed, Macrobacter 7 ect) and soak the sponge in that for an hour before using it.

One more thing, after treating with copper, can I use the filter in the main tank? If so, what do I eed to do to make it safe for my corals?

No, never use a filter or sponge from your QT on your display. Throw the sponge inside away and sterilize the QT and all equipment before using it again. Sponges are cheap and easy to replace. Keeping a few in your sump at all times is a good way to insure you have a seeded one on hand when you needed.

 

[katguevara]

I would just put the sponge in your filter or sump for a few months to seed it with bacteria. If you don't have that kind of time, then buy a bottle of bacteria (like Seed, Macrobacter 7 ect) and soak the sponge in that for an hour before using it.


No, never use a filter or sponge from your QT on your display. Throw the sponge inside away and sterilize the QT and all equipment before using it again. Sponges are cheap and easy to replace. Keeping a few in your sump at all times is a good way to insure you have a seeded one on hand when you needed.

Okay thank you! Just for the record, is the diagnosis ich in my pictures?

 

[melypr1985]

Just for the record, is the diagnosis ich in my pictures?

Shoot! I totally meant to comment on that. From the pictures - and they are pretty blurry- it looks to be ick. It's very hard to tell for sure, but I think it is.

 

[katguevara]

Shoot! I totally meant to comment on that. From the pictures - and they are pretty blurry- it looks to be ick. It's very hard to tell for sure, but I think it is.

I don't think it's velvet cause he would've been dead already. And itstarted like white bumps all over his body that seems to be under the skin. Sorry for the bad pictures it was the best I could get.

 

[Humblefish]

Okay thank you! Just for the record, is the diagnosis ich in my pictures?

The pics are kinda blurry, but it does look more like ich than velvet to me. Are the white bumps under the skin or appear to be on top? If under, it's ich.