Cryptocaryon Irritans - tank transfer method

[snorvich]

I've successfully used the tank transfer method with 5-gallon buckets previously. I'm looking to add some more live stock to my tank, and was just trying to get an idea of how many fish people think I can get away with in a 5-gal bucket.

I'm hoping to add a pair of banggai cardinals, a yellow coris wrasse, and then maybe 3 more wrasses. I'm thinking about doing the cardinals and the yellow coris first, then maybe a couple months from now doing the three other wrasses. Will 3 fish be ok for a few days at a time in the 5-gal buckets? I've got amquel I can treat with each day to ensure the ammonia doesn't get too high.

For the wrasses, I've got some birdsnest that I was planning on just securing around the top of the buckets with a bungee cord to prevent any jumpers.

Does this seem like a reasonable plan?

My guess is that 3 small fish will do fine assuming an ammonia neutralizer such as amquel. I personally prefer adding only a single fish or a pair of fish at the most.

 

[_Mackus_]

My guess is that 3 small fish will do fine assuming an ammonia neutralizer such as amquel. I personally prefer adding only a single fish or a pair of fish at the most.

If I can find the fish I want at the LFS, I'll do just that. If I can't - and I haven't been crazy about the selection, price, or condition of the fish I've gotten at the LFS - and I need to go the online vendor route, it makes sense from a cost-to-ship standpoint to do a few at a time.

As always, thanks for the advice!

 

[snorvich]

If I can find the fish I want at the LFS, I'll do just that. If I can't - and I haven't been crazy about the selection, price, or condition of the fish I've gotten at the LFS - and I need to go the online vendor route, it makes sense from a cost-to-ship standpoint to do a few at a time.

As always, thanks for the advice!

Agreed. When I order online, I always try to exceed the free shipping threshold.

 

[zeebies]

To snorvich and all who have posted: Thank you all for your efforts, questions and answers on this great thread. As one who has read this "cover to cover" several times, NOW I feel confident to begin stocking my tank - when the time comes - the right way.

Thanks everybody!

 

[snorvich]

To snorvich and all who have posted: Thank you all for your efforts, questions and answers on this great thread. As one who has read this "cover to cover" several times, NOW I feel confident to begin stocking my tank - when the time comes - the right way.

Thanks everybody!

Always a pleasure, best of luck and enjoy.

 

[las]

What would be the procedure with a puffer fish? They are not supposed to be exposed to air because they try to inflate and instead of puffing up with water they puff up with air. They have a very difficult time expelling air and it can kill them. How do I transfer without exchanging water?

 

[mcjlance]

I've been doing the tank transfer method with all 3 fish in my tank. I'm currently on day 7.

Two weeks ago I bought a Kole tang and DID NOT quarantine. (I'll never take that risk again so let's leave it at that). I already had a 6 line wrasse and a royal gramma.

It's impossible to say whether the previous fish had it and then infected the highly stressed tang or vice versa. The tang died from the disease/stress and the gramma died from the stress of catching it and going through the transfer process, I believe there was too much flow in the QT. This I'm sure of as it was not behaving in a way that would suggest it's soon to be demise and it died the morning of day 2.

The wrasse has shown a single white spot for the entire time in the same location. In understanding the life cycle of the Ich Irritan, one would presume that even if the transfers were tainted, that specific spot would fall off and the fish would be infected in a different spot/s. Fish is eating well once a day w/ Hikari marine S pellets.

That leads me to believe it could be a different pathogen. My questions are as such, What other pathogen/s would present in this manner? Could it still be ick? Could it just be some sort of physiological abnormality. I can't take a pic as it's in an opaque tub, but it looks like an ick spot.

My transfers are taking place in two sterilite tubs.

20 gallon tubs with 15 gallons of water
77-79 degrees (I'm having difficulty keeping the temp stable for some reason) I know this could be a big problem.
pH 8.2
SG 1.021

NH3 NO3 PO4 NO2 dKH . Not tested as the water is being turned over every 3rd day.

Thanks for any help.

 

[snorvich]

Based only on the timeline, velvet is a possibility which would not be helped with tank transfer. Cryptocaryon irritans does not always present itself visually.

 

[mcjlance]

Based only on the timeline, velvet is a possibility which would not be helped with tank transfer. Cryptocaryon irritans does not always present itself visually.

Thank you, yes, I understand that ick maybe undetectable.

Marine velvet, that looks like a possibility. I checked your sticky concerning fish Disease and treatment but did not see any writings on MV. (maybe I missed it). Could you please refer me to a proper thread or sticky that addresses that.

snorvich, I appreciate your expertise and help in these threads, you are providing a great service. It makes a frustrating experience a little easier to manage.

 

[snorvich]

Thank you, yes, I understand that ick maybe undetectable.

Marine velvet, that looks like a possibility. I checked your sticky concerning fish Disease and treatment but did not see any writings on MV. (maybe I missed it). Could you please refer me to a proper thread or sticky that addresses that.

snorvich, I appreciate your expertise and help in these threads, you are providing a great service. It makes a frustrating experience a little easier to manage.

Thanks, I am less available than previously but try to help as much as feasible.

I discuss Marine Velvet here.

 

[las]

What would be the procedure with a puffer fish? They are not supposed to be exposed to air because they try to inflate and instead of puffing up with water they puff up with air. They have a very difficult time expelling air and it can kill them. How do I transfer without exchanging water?

Can anyone give some advice for this particular situation please.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I sometimes use multiple containers to reduce the contamination likelihood. Catch the fish in the first container, then transfer it to the next container with as little water as possible going from the first container to the second one. Do it again, and then transfer the fish to the tank again transferring as little water from the container to the tank as possible.

 

[mcjlance]

Based only on the timeline, velvet is a possibility which would not be helped with tank transfer. Cryptocaryon irritans does not always present itself visually.

Here is some interesting info, after two weeks of dealing with the ick and treatment, I had noted that there remained a white spot on the tail end of my 6 line wrasse and couldn't understand why it wasn't dropping. After looking at some pictures of other 6 lines it seems that it is completely natural. They all have it. Arg. Well good news for a change.

 

[rworegon]

Thank you all for the in-depth explanation of the tank transfer method. I am new to the hobby and I'm afraid I jumped the gun a bit with adding fish with insufficient quarantine time. I panicked because of increasing ammonia levels in my 10 gal QT.

Suffice it to say my Flame Hawk and Coral Beauty are showing the salted look of Ich. This is what I am planning and I would like some confirmation as to this being appropriate.

Livestock list:

( 1 ) Flame Hawk.
( 1 ) Coral Beauty
( 1 ) Lawnmower Blenny
( 2 ) Talbots Damsels
( 3 ) Blue Green Chromis

Action Plan:

Purchase: ( 1 ) Rubbermaid bin 15 - 20 gal
( 1 ) new powerhead for mixing saltwater in bin,
( 1 ) new heater for bin.

Mix new water in bin and transfer fish from DT to bin.
Empty 10 gal QT and clean and dry tank for 24 hrs.
Mix new saltwater in this tank during day 2-3.
Transfer fish to tank for day 4-6.
clean and dry bin, mix new saltwater in bin during day 5-6.
repeat thru completion of TT cycle.

My question is 2 fold. First, is this feasible with this many fish or do I need larger containers.
second would it be better to continue the transfer between these two containers at an extended interval throughout the 9 weeks of fallow or try to keep this many fish together in the 10 gal QT?

Thanks in advance.
second

 

[xtinataguba]

im using nets to transfer my fish. i really don't think that is a bad idea,

 

[snorvich]

Thank you all for the in-depth explanation of the tank transfer method. I am new to the hobby and I'm afraid I jumped the gun a bit with adding fish with insufficient quarantine time. I panicked because of increasing ammonia levels in my 10 gal QT.

Suffice it to say my Flame Hawk and Coral Beauty are showing the salted look of Ich. This is what I am planning and I would like some confirmation as to this being appropriate.

Livestock list:

( 1 ) Flame Hawk.
( 1 ) Coral Beauty
( 1 ) Lawnmower Blenny
( 2 ) Talbots Damsels
( 3 ) Blue Green Chromis

Action Plan:

Purchase: ( 1 ) Rubbermaid bin 15 - 20 gal
( 1 ) new powerhead for mixing saltwater in bin,
( 1 ) new heater for bin.

Mix new water in bin and transfer fish from DT to bin.
Empty 10 gal QT and clean and dry tank for 24 hrs.
Mix new saltwater in this tank during day 2-3.
Transfer fish to tank for day 4-6.
clean and dry bin, mix new saltwater in bin during day 5-6.
repeat thru completion of TT cycle.

My question is 2 fold. First, is this feasible with this many fish or do I need larger containers.
second would it be better to continue the transfer between these two containers at an extended interval throughout the 9 weeks of fallow or try to keep this many fish together in the 10 gal QT?

Thanks in advance.
second

The fallow period is important. Since there is no other option, continue the transfer protocol for the nine weeks. Use prime or other ammonia relief. I suggest a 20 gallon tanks for the TT but 10 is too small.

 

[snake42490]

Hey snorvich, I just got a pair of Blue Jaw Triggers that I am going to be doing TTM on. I understand the whole process clearly, but want to know what you would suggest for quarantine tank size for a pair of 3.5 inch fish? Right now I am doing the transfer between two 30 gallon tanks. How often during the 3 days should I be dosing prime to keep ammonia down and also how often should I be feeding?

If you think I need to change anything let me know, Thank you!

 

[snake42490]

delete this, doubled posted my response above

 

[lxeroxl]

Ive read the thread a few times and understand that everyone says that the fish need to be transferred in the morning preferably before 9am.

Well i had a crazy morning today and forgot about the fish till about 10:45 and immediately went and moved the fish to the cleaned tank. Should i add another transfer to the back end of the process to be safe or is 10:45 still early enough to be considered the morning

 

[islandtang]

hi All,
i was read all the method n i want to try cause all my fish ich
n now my MT only corals+LR,now how long time my MT free of ich ?

Thanks,
Ben