How long can fish be hypo'ed?

[prostaff]

Like the title says, does anyone know how long fish can be left in hypo treatment without harming them?

 

[luke33]

A few months should be ok, but i wouldn't go past 3 imo. There's a rumor going around that says normal sg has risen in teh last few thousand years or so and this is why fish seem to be ok in lower sg water. But like i said, its just a rumor. Question though, why would you need to know this?

 

[prostaff]

I am setting up a large tank and have been collecting fish in various tanks over the past 2 years. I would like to hypo all of them in the new display tank but that process would take a couple of months if I am going to add say 5 or 6 at a time. Right now I would estimate that I have about 70 fish that I would like to make darned sure I am starting clean. Once they go in the 1700gal (1000 + 700 gal displays) system they will not be coming out. I have suffered a few losses to parasites that I am trying to avoid with the new system. I hope I gave you a decent idea of what I am trying to accomplish

 

[luke33]

Gotcha! I would definately hypo all the fish first for a tank that large, cuz you'll never be able to catch them after there added. I would suggest a very large UV in the big tank as well. For algae control and for frying the free swimmers in the ick stage if it ever does get in there. Kinda precautionary. I"m not a huge believer in uv's but i would definately have one for a tank that size. I would think in your large tank they would be ok hypo'd for 2-2.5 months no problem. But wouldn't suggest it after that. You could keep them in a lower sg like .15-.18 for a bit longer and this isn't good for parasites either. Many pet stores keep there water at .18-.20 because of this and there cheap and don't want to spend the money on salt. Just make sure there's no LR or LS or inverts in the large tank if you do hypo it, otherwise you sound like you have a good plan.

 

[prostaff]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks luke.

 

[happyface888]

I saw a link of someone hypoing for 8months
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I3/angelfish/Angelfish.htm

 

[prostaff]

Happyface, thank you so much. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. This is also exactly the type of tank I was looking to set up except for only about 1/2 the fish and 4 times the volume(700gal display-2000gal system). Thanks again for the response. I thought this thread was dead

 

[lovelylinda]

I had to do hyposaline on my 125 last fall. All was well until 8 weeks, the the small fish started to die. I lost a clown, a royal gramma, and a2 blue chromis. Largs fish were fine.

 

[prostaff]

That's interesting, Lovelylinda. Were you still keeping up regular maintenance like frequent water changes etc?? I know the skimmer barely exists when you drop to that salinity.
I have 12 fish ranging from 1in to 11in doing just fine in hypo right now and I know its been at least 8 weeks