How long do I have to wait...

[tdbrown75]

After a disease outbreak, say Marine Velvet, how long does a tank have to run without fish before its safe to add more?

Would 6 weeks se sufficient?

Tim

 

[leebca]

When I know I've had Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) in the tank, I let the tank go fishless for 8 weeks. When I'm unsure if the tank had any disease in it or not, I let it go fishless for 6 weeks.

The reasoning behind the 8 week time frame is the discovery by Dr. Burgess that Marine Ich (MI) cyst stage can actually last as long as 6 weeks. The 8 weeks allows for such a cyst to exist, then release the infecting, free-swimming Theronts, and then some time for them to die off (not being able to find a host).

 

[tdbrown75]

Thanks Lee, I am very much in the ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œunsureââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ stage at this point. I have had reef chromis dropping like flies, but I have been doing a lot of reading and am finding out this is not at all uncommon. Better safe then sorry, I think I am going to get rid of the few I have left and quarantine some corals and inverts for a 6 weeks cycle, just to be safe.

Anyone else?