How quickly to drop salinity in qt for hypo?

[Amazon4]

I just moved three fish in to a qt since they have ich. I am going the hypo route and will leave the DT without fish for 6+ weeks. (they were the only fish in the DT)

Now that I have moved the fish, how quickly should I bring the salinity down to 1.009? I know you have to increase slowly (.001 - .002 per day) at the end of hypo. Just not sure how fast I can bring it down to give these guys relief.

Also, what do you use to maintain the PH? I moved a pinpoint PH monitor to the QT so I can keep a constant watch on the PH. But I'm guessing that folks some how buffer the tank to maintain 8.3 through the hypo treatment?

Thanks for your help!

 

[nureefer2008]

The LFS guy told me to drop it down as quickly as you can. However, other members in this forum would disagree.

 

[JHemdal]

nureefer is correct - you can drop the SG rapidly. Over 24 hours is fine, I've even halved the salinity of tanks in the time it takes to just drain and refill. Remember that this 1.009 target is NOT what the original study by Chueng showed - in that paper they used 1.0125 if I recall. Some species of fish will not tolerate 1.009 AND you must be absolutely positive your salinity meter is spot-on accurate. If it is off by .001 in the wrong direction, fish may die. Also be aware that Uronema is much more common at this low SG. Hypo treatment of Cryptocaryon is a slow process - depending on how badly your fish are infected, it may not work fast enough. I'm not sure where you heard to target a pH of 8.3 during hypo - the fish will be fine at 8.0 and even lower.
And you are correct - raise the SG VERY slowly at the end of the treatment.....

Jay

 

[Amazon4]

Well I've been lowing the salinity cautiously slowly. They're at 1.012 right now. The PH hovers at 7.9. I'm thinking of adding a small airstone - I'd prefer not to have the PH dip further, and avoid any kind of buffer additive.

The fish in the QT are (knock on wood) doing fine. The rabbitfish has what looks like some spots of scarring or skin damage from the parasites. Am I correct in that they should heal while in QT? I haven't seen any white spots or skin bumps reoccur.

I have noticed that the rabbitfish has gone from some what docile and not swimming much, to being quite active. I hope that means he's feeling better!

 

[poknsnok]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12496638#post12496638 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JHemdal
nureefer is correct - you can drop the SG rapidly. Over 24 hours is fine, I've even halved the salinity of tanks in the time it takes to just drain and refill. Remember that this 1.009 target is NOT what the original study by Chueng showed - in that paper they used 1.0125 if I recall. Some species of fish will not tolerate 1.009 AND you must be absolutely positive your salinity meter is spot-on accurate. If it is off by .001 in the wrong direction, fish may die. Also be aware that Uronema is much more common at this low SG. Hypo treatment of Cryptocaryon is a slow process - depending on how badly your fish are infected, it may not work fast enough. I'm not sure where you heard to target a pH of 8.3 during hypo - the fish will be fine at 8.0 and even lower.
And you are correct - raise the SG VERY slowly at the end of the treatment.....

Jay

jhemdal is dead on saying make sure your refratometer is accurate. Mine was off and uronema broke out. luckily i saved all the fish