Interesting, so maybe a multi-tank-transfer is the way to go about it?
Maybe this is the wrong forum for the topic now, but I'll continue and see what you think. If I set up 2 20g QTs, how long would would keep a nem in the first tank before moving to the second? Would you need "a cycled tank" or just fresh mixed salt water?
Or just keep looking for another sweet colored nem?
Seems like figuring out the QT approach would be "good practice" before bringing anything into a mature tank, because ya never know what you couldn't see in the origination tank ;p
Thoughts?
I think QT'ing is very smart. Like DasCamel said...You can bring in brook or ICH from just "one" Cyst. I just got rid of Brook, and it's pretty tough.
When it comes to tank transfer, normally we do it for ICH only and hit brook with Formalin MS 37% or Velvet with Copper. Prazipro for flukes and other parasites.
TT method is quite simple for ICH. It completely kills the life cycle. Copper can be hard to maintain at theraputic level and it's been noted that some strains of ICH are resistant to Hyposalinity and Survive it. Anyway...You transfer the fish on days 1- (fish in qt) 4,7,10, and 13. You do this at 8am. Don't use a net. Only plastic container with holes and transfer as little water as possible. After transferring, you sterilized all PVC, heaters, filters/powerheads, thermometer, etc with a mild bleach solution. Rinse well. Let it dry before next transfer. That's it...just 12 days and you're done.
Both Brook and Velvet will show symptoms on fish in a non-chemically treated tank about 3 weeks if you have fish under observation or you think your treatment may have been ineffective.
ICH Life cycle: By Snorvich
"The trophont leaves the fish and becomes what is called a protomont. This protomont travels to the substrate and begins to crawl around for usually two to eight hours, but it could go for as long as eighteen hours after it leaves it's fish host. Once the protomont attaches to a surface, it begins to encyst and is now called a tomont. Division inside the cyst into hundreds of daughter parasites, called tomites, begins shortly thereafter. These are the infectious portion of the lifecycle. Tank transfer totally obviates the infection portion. The reason for four transfers is because not all trophonts leave the fish synchronously."
Trying to identify Brook without a fish present in the tank would difficult. You could throw a small feeder type fish in for bait and observe for 3-4 weeks.
If your worried about ICH too...go 6 weeks to be safe. Or just do TT method first and then observe for Brook or Velvet for 3-4 weeks.
Understand that it's pretty rare for a nem to bring in brook or ICH. It can happen though...just ask DasCamel.
I blast my Nems with jets of freshly mixed water after acclimation and also transfer as little water as possible. I've been pretty lucky so far.
Good luck...Hope that helps you!
