hypo in a DT? need some advice.

[reefjunkie42]

Hey guys I am dealing with a slight bout with ich in my 55 DT that I set up to house some fish. There is approx. 25-30 Lbs. of LR in the tank with a bare bottom. There aren't any snails or inverts in there so that shouldn't be an issue. What Im concerned about is the bacteria in the LR and what will happen to it. It is currently just a simple 55 gallon with a HOB filter, heater, and DIY metal halides. Any help or links to helpful threads would be great, thanks!

 

[reefjunkie42]

please guys I could really use some of your input.

 

[reefjunkie42]

anyone?

 

[sandwi54]

Hypo in the DT is fine given that you don't have inverts. However, it will kill all the critters in your LR, but won't harm the bacteria. Just monitor the water quality, especially pH since in hypo there's not a lot of alkalinity to buffer the pH. The LR will help buffering but it's good to keep an eye on it

 

[reefjunkie42]

Hypo in the DT is fine given that you don't have inverts. However, it will kill all the critters in your LR, but won't harm the bacteria. Just monitor the water quality, especially pH since in hypo there's not a lot of alkalinity to buffer the pH. The LR will help buffering but it's good to keep an eye on it

thanks a bunch!I was thinking that but wanted to be sure

 

[sandwi54]

no problem! i have done hypo in both QT and DT. in my opinion, hypo in DT is easier than hypo in QT since the the LR/LS help buffer the pH, hence avoiding the most difficult part of hypo: pH shift. however, there is one thing i recommend you to do. when you have achieved the 1.008 SG, stir the entire sand in the tank to mix the water well, especially if you have a deep sandbed. this is just a theory and i have no scientific proof, but i believe in a fine-grain sandbed, there could be part of the sand that do not have good flow and the water in there is not well mixed with the rest of the water. this creates opportunity to have pockets of water with higher than 1.009 salinity, and ich could survive in there.

 

[reefjunkie42]

It is actually bare bottom, should i turkey baste the crevices?

 

[sandwi54]

It is actually bare bottom, should i turkey baste the crevices?

i don't think it's necessary if you have good water flow, but it doesn't hurt.

does algae grow on the bare bottom?

 

[reefjunkie42]

no not really, just ditritus build up that gets siphoned out. It is a qt tank for long term observation. no meds though thats why I want to hypo.

 

[reefjunkie42]

maybe ill add a maxijet or something. right now its just a HOB filter.

 

[sandwi54]

oh this is a QT? i thought you said this is a 55g DT.

anyway, yeah definitely add a powerhead for water movement. i have a big aquaclear 110 filter on my 55g QT and i still need a powerhead for good circulation. HOB filter sucks at circulating water...