luvtolean
New member
I don't have a QT set-up (I know, I'm stupid) so I tend to do dips as part of my intro process of corals.
Fish have always been a slow drip/temp and salinity equalization. It's normally fine, but with fish like tangs, I normally end up with ich.
I recently bought a black tang and wanted to avoid the ich if at all possible.
Well, against all of my intution, I followed Fenner's advice from The Consciencious Marine Aquarist and did a freshwater+methylene blue dip.
I used a 5 gallon bucket, a small powerhead with a venturi to aereate and got the temp up to that of the tank. I also buffered the pH to 8.3.
With MUCH trepidation I dropped in the black tang fulling expecting massive stress, and to have to pull it out immediately. To my surprise it acted like nothing was going on, and just played in the current the whole time.
I think we did it for like 6 mins and put the fish into the main tank. Of course the tang was breathing rapidly, but other than that, no signs of stress. (other than lots of aggressive posturing like any new fish)
Within a couple of minutes it was picking at rocks...nice. Never an ich outbreak. (I always use ozone on a ORP controller, and alternate soakings of Vit C and Garlic extreme to their food)
We recently added a small scribbled angel with the same exact results.
I find it fascinating that this process doesn't stress the fish more. I mean it's freshwater, so blue from the methylene I use a maglight to watch the fish during the dip!
Fish have always been a slow drip/temp and salinity equalization. It's normally fine, but with fish like tangs, I normally end up with ich.
I recently bought a black tang and wanted to avoid the ich if at all possible.
Well, against all of my intution, I followed Fenner's advice from The Consciencious Marine Aquarist and did a freshwater+methylene blue dip.
I used a 5 gallon bucket, a small powerhead with a venturi to aereate and got the temp up to that of the tank. I also buffered the pH to 8.3.
With MUCH trepidation I dropped in the black tang fulling expecting massive stress, and to have to pull it out immediately. To my surprise it acted like nothing was going on, and just played in the current the whole time.
I think we did it for like 6 mins and put the fish into the main tank. Of course the tang was breathing rapidly, but other than that, no signs of stress. (other than lots of aggressive posturing like any new fish)
Within a couple of minutes it was picking at rocks...nice. Never an ich outbreak. (I always use ozone on a ORP controller, and alternate soakings of Vit C and Garlic extreme to their food)
We recently added a small scribbled angel with the same exact results.
I find it fascinating that this process doesn't stress the fish more. I mean it's freshwater, so blue from the methylene I use a maglight to watch the fish during the dip!
