divers den 8 1/2 achilles

[Sardaukar]

The myths that have grown up around Ich/QT/delicate fish are really quite fascinating. The idea that you must simply accept that some fish are going to get ich or that it is always present in every system, while interesting, is false. If you QT every fish with copper for a sufficient time length to cover the entire possible life cycle of ich and ensure that everything you introduce to the DT, be it coral, shrimp or rock, is left fallow for 2 months, it is scientifically impossible for you to get Ich in your DT.

Of course, the issue is that most people are not willing to go to such great lengths to keep it out of their system. Maybe they QT some fish, some might even be treated with copper, but the level of rigidity needed to keep ich out is not maintained. They end up adding a few coral frags without fallow and a bit of the water from the bag makes it in, water that had a bit of ich in it and poof, their efforts are undone. If you believe that using QT/copper/fallow properly is not worth the effort or the risk for some reason, that is your choice, but claiming that theres no way to keep ich out or that you might as well not QT an Achilles because its going to have a little bit of ich no matter what is simply not true.

Good luck with a stunning Achilles!

 

[ryshark]

The myths that have grown up around Ich/QT/delicate fish are really quite fascinating. The idea that you must simply accept that some fish are going to get ich or that it is always present in every system, while interesting, is false. If you QT every fish with copper for a sufficient time length to cover the entire possible life cycle of ich and ensure that everything you introduce to the DT, be it coral, shrimp or rock, is left fallow for 2 months, it is scientifically impossible for you to get Ich in your DT.

Of course, the issue is that most people are not willing to go to such great lengths to keep it out of their system. Maybe they QT some fish, some might even be treated with copper, but the level of rigidity needed to keep ich out is not maintained. They end up adding a few coral frags without fallow and a bit of the water from the bag makes it in, water that had a bit of ich in it and poof, their efforts are undone. If you believe that using QT/copper/fallow properly is not worth the effort or the risk for some reason, that is your choice, but claiming that theres no way to keep ich out or that you might as well not QT an Achilles because its going to have a little bit of ich no matter what is simply not true.

Good luck with a stunning Achilles!

I agree with this, if every thing that is wet is properly qt'd then it is possible to have an ich free tank. I used to qt fish and not corals, snails, shrimp etc and although rare I still got ich in my old system this way. It was such a pain qt'ing and profilactically treating all new fish and I still got ich from adding inverts without qt'ing them.
Now I don't qt fish anymore, I just give them a freshwater/methelyne blue dip and put them into the display. And I am more selective of where I buy fish from. I have had better result this way so far.

 

[mtbiker41]

achilles video

achilles video

ok everyone heres a vid of the dd achilles along with his tankmates a 10" dussemieri among several others .they get along great the one that seems to be the problem is the 3" sohal.believe it or not he occasionally chases that big ole achilles and he runs or should I say swims away.looks like the chihuahua chasing the pitbull.if he keeps it up I'll send him to the 155 to live w the 12" lionfish I bet he'd give him an attitude adjustment.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLXCOmnKuoE

 

[ctrl+f]

If you QT every fish with copper for a sufficient time length to cover the entire possible life cycle of ich and ensure that everything you introduce to the DT, be it coral, shrimp or rock, is left fallow for 2 months, it is scientifically impossible for you to get Ich in your DT.

What is involved in "fallow"? I can't imagine most people have the hardware to keep corals happy for two months outside of their DT.

 

[silverfly]

Nice collection of fish you have there!

 

[Creetin]

Very nice!! The sohal is not going to get better, Most likely get worse as he grows. IMO
I'd pull him,

 

[ryshark]

What is involved in "fallow"? I can't imagine most people have the hardware to keep corals happy for two months outside of their DT.

You can leave the coral in the tank, just don't add any new stuff during the fallow period.

 

[Creetin]

You can leave the coral in the tank, just don't add any new stuff during the fallow period.

He's talkning about new coral letting fallow for that period.
I have heard from 6 weeks up to 8 weeks+.

 

[ryshark]

ok everyone heres a vid of the dd achilles along with his tankmates a 10" dussemieri among several others .they get along great the one that seems to be the problem is the 3" sohal.believe it or not he occasionally chases that big ole achilles and he runs or should I say swims away.looks like the chihuahua chasing the pitbull.if he keeps it up I'll send him to the 155 to live w the 12" lionfish I bet he'd give him an attitude adjustment.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLXCOmnKuoE

Nice video. My achilles is still only eating nori. DD said it was eating hikari mysis and spirulina brine at their facility, but it won't eat that in my tank. Any suggestions? Garlic soak doesn't work.

 

[mtbiker41]

achilles

achilles

Nice video. My achilles is still only eating nori. DD said it was eating hikari mysis and spirulina brine at their facility, but it won't eat that in my tank. Any suggestions? Garlic soak doesn't work.

he's not eating as good now as he was in qt. when in qt he ate but didn't stop swimming to eat would just grab it as he swam by each pass. have had best luck with nori ,nls pellets,and plankton .feed everything with ecosystem garlic,vit.c,and selcon.good luck with your new fish.Butch

 

[Sardaukar]

What is involved in "fallow"? I can't imagine most people have the hardware to keep corals happy for two months outside of their DT.

If we are talking about Ich, then fallow just means fish-less. The life cycle of ich is 100% dependent on fish being present - take out every fish for 2 months and it will be ich free.

 

[ryshark]

he's not eating as good now as he was in qt. when in qt he ate but didn't stop swimming to eat would just grab it as he swam by each pass. have had best luck with nori ,nls pellets,and plankton .feed everything with ecosystem garlic,vit.c,and selcon.good luck with your new fish.Butch

He started to show signs of interest in the Mysis and Brine tonight. I think in a couple days he will be eating it. As far as the Nori he is not shy to get right up there with the other fish. What kind of Plankton are you feeding?

 

[ctrl+f]

If we are talking about Ich, then fallow just means fish-less. The life cycle of ich is 100% dependent on fish being present - take out every fish for 2 months and it will be ich free.

I guess that's why I was confused. I can't believe anyone actually does that every time they add coral.

 

[Outerbank]

I have not read the whole thread, but that is one beautiful fish!!!

 

[michealprater]

I guess that's why I was confused. I can't believe anyone actually does that every time they add coral.

They dont. They avoid adding nuisances to the display by quaraniting or dipping all new additions according to what they are and the proper way to avoid such issues. By doing this, the nuisance is never introduced to the display, thus never being a need to go fallow.

People who do not QT fish, or dip coral properly, eventually end up with something they do not want in thier display. I know from experience.

 

[tcmfish]

they dont. They avoid adding nuisances to the display by quaraniting or dipping all new additions according to what they are and the proper way to avoid such issues. By doing this, the nuisance is never introduced to the display, thus never being a need to go fallow.

People who do not qt fish, or dip coral properly, eventually end up with something they do not want in thier display. I know from experience.

+1

 

[ryshark]

Even if you qt fish and dip coral there is still a chance of getting parasite in your tank from adding other inverts like shrimp, snails and crabs. And you cannot dip them. They would have to be QTd for 6-8 weeks with no fish. I know its rare but possible to get parasites from adding them.

 

[michealprater]

Even if you qt fish and dip coral there is still a chance of getting parasite in your tank from adding other inverts like shrimp, snails and crabs. And you cannot dip them. They would have to be QTd for 6-8 weeks with no fish. I know its rare but possible to get parasites from adding them.

Splitting hairs. In 14 years inthis hobby I have never seen that happen.

 

[Sardaukar]

I guess that's why I was confused. I can't believe anyone actually does that every time they add coral.

Eh, not that hard. Its easier to do it before its a problem. Setup a smaller secondary reef that is fishless. Leave Coral frags you get in there for 2 months, move them to your DT - problem solved. Could do it with any shrimp/crabs/snails to make sure as well.

 

[ryshark]

Splitting hairs. In 14 years inthis hobby I have never seen that happen.

It happened to me. I used to QT all fish and give them hyposalinity treatment at 1.009 for 8-weeks, just to be safe. I would dip all coral and do my best to acclimate shrimp/snails/crabs and rinse them off before adding them to my tank. My tank still broke out with Ich.
Now my new approach is, get a big skimmer and feed heavily with a wide variety of food which is sometimes soaked in garlic,selcon and vita-chem, to build up the fishes own immune system to fight off disease. I also am very selective on where I buy new fish from and I do a Freshwater Dip with Methylene Blue.
This technique has worked out better for me so far. I now have 17-fish with my Achilles being the last one. Luckily still no signs of Ich and I am done adding fish.
It was discouraging when I was so careful with QT before to end up with ich anyways. So much less of a pain to do it my new way.