Start over completely or not??

[EllWay]

Hello,

I had an ich outbreak. I removed the rockwork and treated in the display tank with Cupramine (150 gallon fish only tank). I only lost 1 fish :-( I treated with Cupramine for 30 days and the fish have recovered. My water parameters and biological filtration are still excellent. Question: Do I need to start over completely or can I do this (fyi- I do not wish to go fallow for 45 days)

Sterilize previous rock/add new rock
Sterilize skimmer, pwerheads etc
do an 80% water change
remove copper

I would like to keep my substrate to maintain the biofilter. The substrate and everything in the tank has had 30 days of copper. Would the disease be out of the tank due to the prolonged copper or do I need to "go nuclear"?? Thanks!

 

[Reef Jedi]

Did you treat copper in the main display?

 

[Fish Fan]

A couple questions that I think may help:

When you removed the rockwork, what did you do with it? Was it allowed to dry out, or did it remain wet and was that over 30 days ago?

Do you intend to have any inverts at all, even clean up critters like snails and crabs, or is this strictly a fish tank?

 

[EllWay]

A couple questions that I think may help:

When you removed the rockwork, what did you do with it? Was it allowed to dry out, or did it remain wet and was that over 30 days ago?

Do you intend to have any inverts at all, even clean up critters like snails and crabs, or is this strictly a fish tank?

I used H2O2 and very hot water soak and oven dry at 200 degrees. But I think I will use all NEW rock to start with. Thoughts?? Thanks for the reply!

 

[EllWay]

Did you treat copper in the main display?

yes, I did. Removed rock to keep therapeutic levels going. Fish only, No inverts

 

[EllWay]

A couple questions that I think may help:

When you removed the rockwork, what did you do with it? Was it allowed to dry out, or did it remain wet and was that over 30 days ago?

Do you intend to have any inverts at all, even clean up critters like snails and crabs, or is this strictly a fish tank?

no plans to have inverts in this tank. Did copper tale care of the parasites in the DT and substrate etc.??

 

[Fish Fan]

no plans to have inverts in this tank. Did copper tale care of the parasites in the DT and substrate etc.??

Likely, if you maintained the therapeutic copper level for 30 days.

I used H2O2 and very hot water soak and oven dry at 200 degrees. But I think I will use all NEW rock to start with. Thoughts?? Thanks for the reply!

You can use all new rocks, or you can bleach cure the old rock, which will kill everything and anything, and give you basically all new, dry rock again:

Bleach Curing Dry Rock for a Saltwater Reef Tank - BRStv Reef FAQs

There are three main methods for curing live rock for a saltwater reef tank: natural, bleach and acid. Our focus today is using bleach for curing dry rock and we answer three direct questions. 1. What is a bleach cure? 2. When is it appropriate to bleach cure rock? 3. How to do

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Euphyllia97]

I would say if you have treated at therapeutical levels for 30 days. Just remove the copper and see what happens? Fallow period is to get rid of the parasite in your tank without having to use copper. You have treated the main tank, so it should be free of ich. (At least a big chance)

If you have removed the rockwork, in worst case you have kept it wet and the fallow period for your rocks is only 2-3 weeks

 

[EllWay]

I would say if you have treated at therapeutical levels for 30 days. Just remove the copper and see what happens? Fallow period is to get rid of the parasite in your tank without having to use copper. You have treated the main tank, so it should be free of ich. (At least a big chance)

If you have removed the rockwork, in worst case you have kept it wet and the fallow period for your rocks is only 2-3 weeks

Thanks for the advice!