QT at 1.02 salinity?

[salty joe]

A lot of vendors keep fish at 1.02 to tamp down parasites so I wondered why not run QT with copper, Prazi, etc., at 1.02 and slowly bring up salinity after treatment for the observation period.

 

[Flippers4pups]

A lot of vendors keep fish at 1.02 to tamp down parasites so I wondered why not run QT with copper, Prazi, etc., at 1.02 and slowly bring up salinity after treatment for the observation period.

1.02......what? 1.020, 1.021, 1.026....etc.

I'm assuming 1.020. It wouldn't make any difference in SG if your using meds. Some LFS keep SG low for numerous reasons......

1) Cheaper on saltwater.
2) Does keep parasites down, but not out. Fish infected won't show visable signs as much which allows them to sell fish that look healthy. A sick fish you wouldn't buy.

Lower SG in a tank that your treating with meds won't have any better effect on treatment. It's the meds working, not the lower SG.

 

[salty joe]

Just 1.02. Or so.

Anyway, it seems reasonable that the lower salinity is hard on the invertebrate parasites allowing for an easy one-two punch when using any single medication.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Just 1.02. Or so.

Anyway, it seems reasonable that the lower salinity is hard on the invertebrate parasites allowing for an easy one-two punch when using any single medication.

It slows their reproductive rate, but doesn't kill them. Meds will do that. The idea is to kill them not mask them.

 

[4FordFamily]

True hypo and meds will kill fish. 1.020 is fine but it won’t marginally impact parasites.

 

[salty joe]

I realize 1.020 won't kill parasites but it seems like a hostile environment for parasites compared to full strength saltwater.

Do you see any downsides to using 1.020 along with meds in QT?