Hypo In Display With All Base Rock

[Stuart60611]

I haver a FOWLR which has only base rock. Can I treat for ich with hypo in the display? I have read the bacteria should survive, and since I have no fauna on the rock I would think that this would be possible.

 

[billsreef]

The bacteria will be fine, but any fauna (including stuff that is probably present that you don't see) will die. This often leads to a secondary cycle, so watch for ammonia if you choose to do hypo in the display tank.

 

[Outerbank]

I tried this and it was clearly the wrong decision. If the rock is established with some living organisms, then you may crash your tank. Be careful if you do this. I have done it in my established QTs without a problem, but in a DT, it can crash FAST if you have a die off and amonia spike.

 

[Stuart60611]

Well, I have done it and had little die off and virtually no ammonia spike. I think I have been able to do this without any major problems for several reasons. My FOWLR tank is very young at 3 months and consists almost completely of base rock, and as such, not a lot of fauna to begin with. Second, I lowered my salinity very slowly with doing a substantial water change daily removing salt water and adding r/o water. It will take 8 days to reach hyposalinity levels. By doing so, I was able to remove any ammonia in the system from any die off each and every day which helped keep things in check. Also, by lowering my salinity very gradually, I think it was easier on my biological filter which was able to cope better with the change in salinity. So far so good. My current salinity is 1.011. Today, I plan to make my final water change and get to my target of 1.008-9.

Also, although I hate adding chemicals to the display, this is obviously an emergency situation which requires drastic action. As such, I plan on adding some amquel or the like periodically to keep any ammonia in check.

 

[Outerbank]

Sounds like good advice. I should clarify that I have used hypo successfully many times in a 29 gallon that I have set up. It is pretty basic in regards to growth and rock. That gave me false confidence that I could do the same in a display tank. What I learned is to be careful when you use hypo in tanks that have been set up for awhile.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13415272#post13415272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Stuart60611
Well, I have done it and had little die off and virtually no ammonia spike. I think I have been able to do this without any major problems for several reasons. My FOWLR tank is very young at 3 months and consists almost completely of base rock, and as such, not a lot of fauna to begin with. Second, I lowered my salinity very slowly with doing a substantial water change daily removing salt water and adding r/o water. It will take 8 days to reach hyposalinity levels. By doing so, I was able to remove any ammonia in the system from any die off each and every day which helped keep things in check. Also, by lowering my salinity very gradually, I think it was easier on my biological filter which was able to cope better with the change in salinity. So far so good. My current salinity is 1.011. Today, I plan to make my final water change and get to my target of 1.008-9.

Also, although I hate adding chemicals to the display, this is obviously an emergency situation which requires drastic action. As such, I plan on adding some amquel or the like periodically to keep any ammonia in check.