ich parasites in filter media

[amcvay1979]

Is it possible for the ich parasite to "live" or survive in a filter sock or sponge in a sump?

I'm currently seeing smaller and smaller outbreaks as I've added a UV filter that's running very slowly and I just want to be sure I'm not shooting myself in the foot by running filter media that could harbor the little SOB's. I also run Purigen in a media bag inside my filter sock as well as run 2 bags of Chemi Pure Elite. Would removing all of these help keep the parasite egg stage all inside my sand where the trophants could hopefully be killed by the UV?

Thoughts?

 

[Dmorty217]

Yes anything in the tank will have ich (rock,filter media, socks,heaters,sand ect..) 73 days fallow is the only way to rid of them of it that involves removing it to dry out COMPLETELY to ensure the ich is gone. It's very difficult to use UV to completely eliminate ich, manage possibly but every new fish that's added will trigger a outbreak. Makes getting more expensive fish out of the question.

 

[amcvay1979]

I'm pretty much done adding fish and to go fallow would be fine but then you have to QT EVERY living thing you put into the tank to ensure you don't re-introduce the ich back into the system and that's where I draw the line. I'm not going to QT snails, crabs, shrimp, etc for 2.5 months and then have it reset the clock if I see a cool coral frag I like. At this point I'm just living with it and can pull out a bad fish for treatment if it ever gets bad but so far good nutrition is keeping them all alive during small outbreaks.

 

[Dmorty217]

You do what most do for the very reasons you mentioned above. I would rather do it right and wait the 3 months which is like a week in this hobby

 

[amcvay1979]

I just don't see how you can stick to a 100% qt method. Every snail, crab, urchin, coral, is qt'd for 3 months? If people really do that 100% my hats off to them but it's just not practical for me.

 

[ThRoewer]

Shrimp, crabs and snails are easy - a little tank with a hang on filter and a heater on the window to get algae growing is all you need.
But corals are a major headache for the light requirements alone.

 

[zeebies]

I just don't see how you can stick to a 100% qt method. Every snail, crab, urchin, coral, is qt'd for 3 months? If people really do that 100% my hats off to them but it's just not practical for me.

Once you get used to the routine, I actually find quarantining everything pretty easy. It just takes a little 10 gallon fishless reef running continuously. Add things in batches every 10-11 weeks, then distribute to your DT.

If there's a "must have" during the fallow time, be it a chunk of rock, coral or whatever, just get it and reset.

Great peace of mind.