Can cryptocaryon irritans theronts be mechanically filtered?

[dedvalson]

Hi all,

In reading various articles, I have found that the smallest size observed for a theront is on the order of 20 x 30 microns. The other stages are much larger.

Am I missing something here, or does this mean that water that passes through a 5 micron filter cannot contain theronts?

Don

 

[pinnatus]

Diatomaceous earth will filter down to less than the size of a single cell. So, yes they can be filtered out. However, the problem is the same as using a UV, which will kill the theronts, is that not all the water is filtered or exposed to the UV. There is always some remaining behind. Therefore, the disease cannot be 100% defeated unless the entire water volume is sent through the filter with none remaining behind.

 

[dedvalson]

I can certainly see that you could not cure ich in a display tank using anything like this.

But I was wondering about the possibility of using it to seed filters for later use in a QT. If the display tank water were to flow through a 2 or 5 micron filter and then flow through a sponge filter, it seems that perhaps the sponge filter could acquire the "good" bacteria for the nitrate cycle without being able to acquire any crypto.

I was envisioning using a reactor or sump chamber that was only exposed to tank water after it had passed through a 5 micron filter. This would provide a "seeding area" for sponge filters or other biological media.

This was just an idea I was kicking around, wondered if it might work.

Don

 

[wooden_reefer]

I can certainly see that you could not cure ich in a display tank using anything like this.

But I was wondering about the possibility of using it to seed filters for later use in a QT. If the display tank water were to flow through a 2 or 5 micron filter and then flow through a sponge filter, it seems that perhaps the sponge filter could acquire the "good" bacteria for the nitrate cycle without being able to acquire any crypto.

I was envisioning using a reactor or sump chamber that was only exposed to tank water after it had passed through a 5 micron filter. This would provide a "seeding area" for sponge filters or other biological media.

This was just an idea I was kicking around, wondered if it might work.

Don

Why go thru so much? Why rob the DT for its needed bacteria? Better is to make/grow more.

Just cycle the medium.

Cycling medium for QT is an absurdly simple process.

Just use some DT water to cycle and the bacteria seed is included. Then just cycle in a separate container and feed ammonia. I do so routinely with the simplest ease.

 

[wooden_reefer]

I had two vortex diatom filters for over 30 years, one broke and one still runs.

It is useful in filtering waterborne ich but is only good in reduction in population but will not eradicate ich.

It is useful in situation when adaptation must be first. Some fish will not eat anything but live food on rock for a few weeks, which is killed by treatment against ich. I then run my diatom for a few weeks before eradication of ich, while it learns to eat prepared food.

 

[Trailermann]

Diatomaceous earth will filter down to less than the size of a single cell. So, yes they can be filtered out. However, the problem is the same as using a UV, which will kill the theronts, is that not all the water is filtered or exposed to the UV. There is always some remaining behind. Therefore, the disease cannot be 100% defeated unless the entire water volume is sent through the filter with none remaining behind.

Hello Pinnatus,
Regarding filtering out ALL ich, when doing the TTM approach. Does it not seem feasible to siphon some of the water in tank #1, passing it through a fine filter, and using the filtered water to partially fill the tank #2. Then filling #2 with RODI (properly adjusted to match) before moving the fish into it. Thus, you make the receiving water a little more comfortable and less stressful for the fish.

 

[mattcoug]

getting rid of ammonia/etc with new clean water is going to be the least stressful to fish. Match your temp perfectly and your fish will be happy

 

[Zane24]

If you're matching PH, temp, and salinity then the fish will not be stressed by the water. It can be 100% new water or 100% water from tank 1 and the fish will not know the difference if all parameters match. If you have to match parameters anyways why not use all new water to make it cleaner for the fish?

 

[pinnatus]

Hello Pinnatus,
Regarding filtering out ALL ich, when doing the TTM approach. Does it not seem feasible to siphon some of the water in tank #1, passing it through a fine filter, and using the filtered water to partially fill the tank #2. Then filling #2 with RODI (properly adjusted to match) before moving the fish into it. Thus, you make the receiving water a little more comfortable and less stressful for the fish.

I guess you could do that, but I am not understanding what the benefit would be versus using all new water. You would also likely be filtering out all beneficial bacteria, so essentially you would have the equivalent of new water anyway.

However, DE will not remove chemicals like ammonia, nitrite, etc. So new water is probably preferred.

 

[ThRoewer]

If you're matching PH, temp, and salinity then the fish will not be stressed by the water. It can be 100% new water or 100% water from tank 1 and the fish will not know the difference if all parameters match. If you have to match parameters anyways why not use all new water to make it cleaner for the fish?

Besides temperature and salinity you really don't match much else, assuming that the pH is within the safe range.
Many fish and even coral can handle quite a bit of variation, especially if they live in tidal areas in the wild. Shallow coastal waters and tide pools see significant swings in temperature, salinity and pH and it doesn't necessarily harm the creatures living there.