Ich infestation in my DT

[tidenknox]

I have detemined that I have ich in my DT. I am buying another tank to use as a QT and move all of my fish to it so the ich can cycle itself out. I do however have a few questions about this process.

1. Is it ok for me to leave my live rock in my DT while I quarantine and treat my fish? Will ich attach to live rock as well?
2. Is it better to add water from my DT to the QT or would it be better to add water purchased from my LFS? Does my QT have to cycle before I can add the fish from my DT?
3. Since you aren't supposed to use substrate if possible in a QT, what do you suggest that I do with my Diamond Goby? He won't survive in a QT with no substrate.

I am sure I will have more questions as I complete this process but wanted to see if you guys could help me get this process started. I have only been doing this for a little over a year so still quite new at it. Thanks for any suggestions you have.

 

[Sk8r]

1. yes--- b) yes, it will, but 8 weeks with no fish will starve it out and kill the ich.
2. you don't have to cycle a qt, but if you are going to use 'used' water, it will make a problem with bacteria. Since you don't have time to cycle the dt, I'd get new water and start clean: in the stickies above, are several suggestions for both cycled and non-cycled qt procedures, plus ich treatments. Hypo is the one that doesn't depress appetite, however it is very exacting to apply.
3. A diamond goby is a real problem. I honestly don't know what you can do with him except to get some Formula One sinking pellet, medium Grade, [with garlic], and see if he gets desperate enough to eat it. You can meanwhile try actually cycling yet another qt, off the 'used' water of your dt, and hope he won't starve before you can put him in there. That would be a pretty spendy solution, but it would probably work. It's my hope, howeve,r that he will eat the sinking pellet: yellow watchmen gobies certainly will eat it, and they have a similar habit.

 

[tidenknox]

I do have a separate 10 gallon that I could put the goby in and I guess add some substrate. He does eat pellets now in my DT. Can I just do that and add some new substrate until the 8 week cycle completes in my DT?

 

[tidenknox]

3. A diamond goby is a real problem. I honestly don't know what you can do with him except to get some Formula One sinking pellet, medium Grade, [with garlic], and see if he gets desperate enough to eat it. You can meanwhile try actually cycling yet another qt, off the 'used' water of your dt, and hope he won't starve before you can put him in there. That would be a pretty spendy solution, but it would probably work. It's my hope, howeve,r that he will eat the sinking pellet: yellow watchmen gobies certainly will eat it, and they have a similar habit.

Do you think I would be ok to add him to 10 gallon QT and put some new substrate in there while I complete the 8 week process of letting my DT go with no fish in it?

 

[Chris27]

When I QT a fish that requires sand, I just put a shallow tupperware full of sand in the bottom of the tank, the fish will find it.

As for the filter, it's beneficial to have an established bio-filter, but not absolutely necessary. Water changes and Prime/Amquel can be used to control ammonia while it's cycling with the fish in there.

Fill the tank with fresh SW, conditioned tap water is just fine, no need to spend the extra money for RO/SW from the store.

Leaving the display fallow for a good bit will ensure that the parasite will die off, rock, inverts and coral do not provide a host to continue the lifecycle.

 

[snorvich]

If you are treating, it is a hospital tank. If you are watching, it is a quarantine tank. In a hospital tank, if you put a container of sand in and are prepared to throw it away afterwards, you should be fine.

 

[tidenknox]

When I QT a fish that requires sand, I just put a shallow tupperware full of sand in the bottom of the tank, the fish will find it.

As for the filter, it's beneficial to have an established bio-filter, but not absolutely necessary. Water changes and Prime/Amquel can be used to control ammonia while it's cycling with the fish in there.

Fill the tank with fresh SW, conditioned tap water is just fine, no need to spend the extra money for RO/SW from the store.

Leaving the display fallow for a good bit will ensure that the parasite will die off, rock, inverts and coral do not provide a host to continue the lifecycle.

Its ok to use sand from my DT for this since I will be treating the fish, right?

 

[Chris27]

Its ok to use sand from my DT for this since I will be treating the fish, right?

Yep - that'll be just fine.