Quarantine question

[reeferericb]

I’ve lost several fish in the last week due to ich. I have a 20 gallon tank setup ready to move everyone over I just don’t know if it’s best to do so slowly or not. I have a sponge in my sump for over a month sitting by the skimmer, I assume that’s all I need? My plan is to go fallow for 76 days minimum and eradicate the ich permanently. All purchases from now on will be treated as well.

 

[reeferericb]

At this moment the remaining fish appear to be fine and healthy in spite of the spots. I don’t know how much of an emergency this is. My last death was 3 days ago.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Was water being moved through the sponge, or was it just laying static? Either way, it would be a really good idea to have some bacteria in a bottle on hand and test your ammonia during the process (remember that copper treatments give false positives on many ammonia tests, so look for a change in the numbers, not the number itself per-se).

Move the fish over at once and get them under treatment. I would treat them with copper for 30 days and observe them for two weeks. That coincides with a 45 day fallow period, which if your tank is at 81 F., would be long enough.

Jay

 

[reeferericb]

Was water being moved through the sponge, or was it just laying static? Either way, it would be a really good idea to have some bacteria in a bottle on hand and test your ammonia during the process (remember that copper treatments give false positives on many ammonia tests, so look for a change in the numbers, not the number itself per-se).

Move the fish over at once and get them under treatment. I would treat them with copper for 30 days and observe them for two weeks. That coincides with a 45 day fallow period, which if your tank is at 81 F., would be long enough.

Jay

The sponge was floating on top of the water. I do have bacteria in a bottle, and a ammonia badge. I will move the fish over (there’s only 6) and start the quarantine process.

Why do I need to be at 81°? I thought 76 days fallow was enough to get rid of ich.

 

[shootingstar_reef]

It will accelerate the ich life cycle, and hypothetically shorten the fallow period required.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

The sponge was floating on top of the water. I do have bacteria in a bottle, and a ammonia badge. I will move the fish over (there’s only 6) and start the quarantine process.

Why do I need to be at 81°? I thought 76 days fallow was enough to get rid of ich.

81 will ensure that all of the ich tomonts are dead within the 45 day fallow period.
Jay