Hypo-ing display tank

[Torno]

Im at a desperation point! My beloved boxfish is absolutely covered in ich! Im currently treating it (day 1) with this 100% Organic stuff made by Kordan. However, I had an idea, tell me if you see any flaws in this plan.

In my 55 gallon tank, there is only a boxfish and a small lionfish. Theres also some base rock mixed with liverock and a half dozen hermit crabs. The crabs and the fish are the only living things in the tank, this is a fairly new tank.

I wanted to know if I could remove the crabs, (so they won't die), and drop the salinity of my tank down to about 1.010 for a period of 5-6 weeks and treat ich.

Would this have a negative effect on my biological bacteria? Can saltwater bacteria survive in these conditions?

Please advise ASAP, I want to tackle this ich problem aggressively and fast!

 

[VolitanLioness]

If you want to hypo the main tank, remove your rock and place it in a container with your tank water. You need to put a Power Head or pump of some type in the container for water movement. Leaving the rock in the container fish less for 5-6 weeks.

You can get PVC pipe for the display tank, this way your fish have something to rest on or hide in. Lower the salinity, use a refractometer if you plan to hypo the tank. Do not use a hydrometer during the hypo.

Kaye

 

[Torno]

Thank you for that information! What's the reason for having to remove the rock? Is it the live organisms on it that will die-off, or is it the bacteria? Also, this tank was only setup around two months ago, using 40 lbs of completely dry rock. I dont think that 40 lbs. has had enough time to become live yet, do you? Would there be any die off from this new base rock?

PS Would the ich stay on the live pieces of rock if I only removed those pieces, then get re-introduced after the hypo period was done?

 

[Torno]

BUMP

 

[Torno]

Taking into consideration that the base rock can't possibly have turned live yet, I'm going to go ahead and hypo the display tank, but remove the hermit crabs and the few pieces of live rock that I seeded the base with for the period of 5-6 weeks.

thanks

 

[saltyESQ]

just hypo it down to .08 and do not use any chemicals.
let the salinity kill the ich

 

[818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7497136#post7497136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltyESQ
just hypo it down to .08 and do not use any chemicals.
let the salinity kill the ich

Ditto, it should kill it within 2 weeks, but 4 to be safe.

 

[Torno]

.08 is 1.008, correct? Thank you, Im going to start tomorrow!

 

[SaltyMember]

This is a good article on Ich which also discusses Hyposalinity (tx option 4 in the article). Hope this helps.

Ich Treatment

 

[VolitanLioness]

I think you should be fine, since I am unable to say how Live your rock is at this point. If you leave it in the tank, just keep an eye on your parameters.


Good Luck with the hypo..........


Kaye

 

[Torno]

Thank you for the kind words Kaye, and to all who chimed into this thread! I'm gonna beat the !@#$ outta this ich!

 

[cloudjockey]

i just did that very same thing on my 265 fowlr tank. It worked well. I had no problems, good luck