Cryptocaryon Irritans - tank transfer method

[Nina51]

agree with spar...it *could* be lympho. i have a kole tang that went through tt but had lympho. it takes about a month for it to clear up. i started using selcon/vitachem and that really helped!

I soaked the filter in a bleach/water solution and stirred it around for at least 15 minuets and then rinsed with tap water before drying with paper towel. Then I put it in the tank.

Other than that no equipment was reused.

i think the trick to doing tt is that everything you use in each transfer has to be 100% DRY before it can be used again. i'm not sure just rinsing w/bleach will kill ich, i seriously doubt it.

 

[NTP66]

Are the days you listed accurate? It sounds like you're transferring on the wrong day. For reference, here was my last schedule while TTM'ing a trigger:

3/19 (Day 1) - Put the fish in Tank A. Empty, clean (with bleach), and dry 29g QT
3/21 (Day 3) - Get Tank B ready with NSW
3/22 (Day 4) - Transfer fish to Tank B, which is temp and salinity matched
3/23 (Day 5) - Empty, clean (with bleach), and dry Tank A and all equipment
3/24 (Day 6) - Get Tank A ready with NSW
3/25 (Day 7) - Transfer fish to Tank A, which has been cleaned, and is temp and salinity matched
3/26 (Day 8) - Empty, clean (with bleach), and dry Tank B and all equipment
3/27 (Day 9) - Get Tank B ready with NSW
3/28 (Day 10) - Transfer fish to Tank B, which is temp and salinity matched
3/29 (Day 11) - Empty, clean (with bleach), and dry Tank A and all equipment - put in storage
3/31 (Day 13) - Transfer fish to 29g QT - end of Tank Transfer!
3/31 (Day 13) - Empty, clean (with bleach), and dry Tank B and all equipment - put in storage

On top of that, I'd personally recommend against re-using any filter material. A small pump and a handful of airstones are more than adequate, and can be tossed after each transfer (along with the tubing) to keep everything clean. The less that's in the tank, the easier this process will be.

 

[Spar]

i agree with both the above posts. zero need to use filter media, sponges, etc; and really just adds to complications more than would help anyway. keep TTM simple. bare tank, air stones, heater, pvc hiding spots.

i really don't have an answer to the rinsing in bleach for a short period of time, whether it works or not. but as said above, the drying out part for sure works. i don't even bother using bleach or vinegar; i just rinse and let everything air dry for 72 hours.

 

[EnderTurtle]

I dont use media or sponges with the filter. Maybe i will get more airstones. I have one but im worried ich might survive within the pores even though its been air drying for 5+ days

 

[NTP66]

Definitely discard the airstones after each use. For most people, a heater, piece of PVC, tubing and airstone are all that is needed for tank transfer. The heater and PVC can be cleaned easily, while the tubing and airstones should be discarded after each transfer.

 

[EnderTurtle]

Today I discovered my barnacle blenny dead and dried under the couch. I'm sad. Damn he was so far into the tank transfer too. Now i'm hesitant to ever get fish again due to having to do tank transfers.


The spot on the yellow tang's fin has dropped (probably on Night 11). I am now on Night 12. The fact that it was ich on Day 11 does this mean I should prolong the tank transfers?

Also how effective is this method? Have people noticed good results or do people notice having to tank transfers for 24 days+?

 

[Deinonych]

I always keep the tank covered when doing TT. Most pet stores carry folding glass tops which work well, or you can make your own using nylon mesh and a screen making kit from the hardware store.

I have found TT to be extremely effective, provided one follows the procedure properly. If you're extra paranoid, you can do an extra transfer. But, it's not really needed (again, provided you followed the procedure).

 

[lagatbezan]

You can also use egg crate to cover the top. Easy to cut down to size and inexpensive. You should be able to find it in home depot in the lightning department.

 

[Finsky]

Most humble apologies and it will not happen again.

Most humble apologies and it will not happen again.

Hello all:

The only thing more hurtful than losing my fish was to hear that I had insulted members with my post.

I thought I had put a written post on top of the picture to let people know what happened and what caused it as a warning about "natural" fish remedies.

Apologies again.

I did not mean to shock, I just did not want the company who sells the products to keep on selling them when they can cause this type of misery for an aquarist.

Apologies for my post.

I wanted to warn other reef keepers so they hopefully do not have to experience what I experienced when I used two well known "all natural" fish "medicines" as recommended by the manufacturer. It was a shocking and hurtful loss as I consider my fish to be family.

My apologies again.

Finsky

 

[snorvich]

Hello all:

The only thing more hurtful than losing my fish was to hear that I had insulted members with my post.

I thought I had put a written post on top of the picture to let people know what happened and what caused it as a warning about "natural" fish remedies.

Apologies again.

I did not mean to shock, I just did not want the company who sells the products to keep on selling them when they can cause this type of misery for an aquarist.

Apologies for my post.

I wanted to warn other reef keepers so they hopefully do not have to experience what I experienced when I used two well known "all natural" fish "medicines" as recommended by the manufacturer. It was a shocking and hurtful loss as I consider my fish to be family.

My apologies again.

Finsky

Thanks and apology accepted. Without words to clarify, the post was "unsettling" especially in this particular thread.

 

[EnderTurtle]

How important is a light source?

I only let the tank get indredt sunlight. Hopefully the difference in light at night will be enough to stimulate ich life cycle.

 

[snorvich]

How important is a light source?

I only let the tank get indredt sunlight. Hopefully the difference in light at night will be enough to stimulate ich life cycle.

Light source is irrelevant in TT. Cryptocaryon irritans is unaffected by light.

 

[mbauma]

Thanks

Thanks

Here is an excellent article on this transfer method. The article is many years old and I can't believe it hasn't been more widely distributed.

http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/3daytransfer.html

I've been advocating this method for years on RC to mostly def ears... everyone wants a quick easy fix. Once you read the article it really makes sense why it works. This method is performed on all fish entering my tank even if they show no signs of ich in QT.

A few notes from my experience using this method...

I don't use any filtration... IMO They aren't in the water long enough for ammonia to build to toxic levels, even if it does, an ammonia neutralizer would suffice.

I do substantially drop the salinity to reduce stress on the fish. Not quite hypo but close.

I use Rubbermaid tubs with PVC pipes and fittings. They are very easy to clean and dry.

No need to sanitize anything. The act of being dry for 24 hrs kills any cysts.

Always use a smooth clear container to catch and transfer the fish... No Nets. Yes you will transfer some water, but you would have to transfer those same cysts at minimum twice before they would hatch... small chance in one cup of water out of 10 or 20 gallons.

Good luck! It's not as hard as it sounds.

How large of tubs do you use? How does TTM tie in with using a normal QT tank? I have a 20l QT that I just setup that has a trio of lyretails in there since Tuesday.

Do you treat with Prazi while doing TTM? I'm a little confused with QT versus TTM.

 

[Spar]

How large of tubs do you use? How does TTM tie in with using a normal QT tank? I have a 20l QT that I just setup that has a trio of lyretails in there since Tuesday.

Do you treat with Prazi while doing TTM? I'm a little confused with QT versus TTM.

TTM is a method of QT. The 4 most common QT methods in order of effectiveness (IMO/E) are TTM, Copper, Hypo, Observation.

By "normal QT tank", you are probably referring to Observation (could be wrong here, but to most people that is what they are picturing in their mind when "QT" is mentioned). Observation is the least effective method at eradicating ich, while TTM is nearly 100% at eradicating it. The downside of TTM is it takes a decent amount of time to administer properly, the upside is no ich.

Yes, you can do PraziPro along with TTM if you do the procedures in 3-day increments. Since PraziPro only lasts 3 days, and you need to dose 5-7 days part, you can dose it on the 2nd and 4th transfer and would be effective.

 

[hogfanreefer]

My strategy is to do TTM and then transfer to a "clean" QT. One that has been disinfected and cycled without possibility of Ich exposure. Only fish that complete TT go in that QT . There they get Prazi X2 and a few more weeks of observation.

I also have another cycled QT that I can put more difficult fish in when they come in to get them eating and healthy before TTM.

 

[snorvich]

My strategy is to do TTM and then transfer to a "clean" QT. One that has been disinfected and cycled without possibility of Ich exposure. Only fish that complete TT go in that QT . There they get Prazi X2 and a few more weeks of observation.

I also have another cycled QT that I can put more difficult fish in when they come in to get them eating and healthy before TTM.

Excellent strategy.

 

[mbauma]

My strategy is to do TTM and then transfer to a "clean" QT. One that has been disinfected and cycled without possibility of Ich exposure. Only fish that complete TT go in that QT . There they get Prazi X2 and a few more weeks of observation.

I also have another cycled QT that I can put more difficult fish in when they come in to get them eating and healthy before TTM.

So you dose Prazi in your final qt and not during TTM?

Do you have to break down and clean your QT that you dose Prazi in?

 

[mbauma]

I put together a quick checklist, does this cover everything?

Step # TTM Steps Day Actual Date Completed
1 Clean Final QT if necessary Day zero
2 Prepare TTM tank 1 Day zero
3 Prepare TTM tank 2 Day zero
4 Put fish into tank #1 Day 1
5 Move fish to tank #2(am) Day 4
6 Clean/sanitize tank #1 Day 4
7 Treat with Prazi in tank #2 Day 4
8 Move fish into tank #1(am) Day 7
9 Clean/sanitize tank #2 Day 7
10 Move fish into tank #2(am) Day 10
11 Clean/sanitize tank #1 Day 10
12 Treat with Prazi in tank #2 Day 10
13 Move fish into Final QT Day 13
14 Clean/sanitize tank #2 Day 13
15 Clean/sanitize tank #1 Day 13
16 Move fish into DT Day 43

 

[snorvich]

The critical success factors are:

1. No more than 72 hours residence within a given tank
and the tank receiving a fish is clean and dry
2. At least 12 days total in residence within the overall tank transfer cycle
3. Total time including tank transfer and subsequent quarantine observation should be a minimum of 5 weeks.

 

[hogfanreefer]

So you dose Prazi in your final qt and not during TTM?

Do you have to break down and clean your QT that you dose Prazi in?

Yes, I guess I could dose Prazi in tank 2 and 4 but since I'm going to watch them in the cycled QT anyway I don't see the point.

As long as I don't see any other disease I just do water changes after each dose of Prazi and a pretty big one after transfer to DT. No need to breakdown/sterilize and re-cycle the QT.