ich!

[aquaph8]

Agree with all above, probably get away with a 20 long if space is tight.

 

[sillygoose]

Brett - when you say "seeded sponge" what does that mean? Could I grab a little gravel from my non-infected nano and just add a little every couple of days?

 

[CReyes350]

@Sillygoose
I wouldn't put anything extra in that hospital tank. Especially live rock or gravel. Some people do add actual filter sponges that have been in their systems long enough to build a beneficial bacteria colony (seeding a sponge) but I have started a hospital tank without one so I guess it just depends on your preference or if you have time to seed a sponge

 

[CReyes350]

This is my quarantine/hospital tank and you can see its pretty plain. I have a HOB filter and heater (essentials) along with a skimmer and some PVC cuttings for shelter (both not necessary to run a hospital tank).

 

[aquaph8]

Exactly, it's basically a sponge that would go in a hang on the back filter meant for keeping ammonia at bay in a pretty sterile environment. Basically halls keep your tank from going through the cycling process. Your biggest enemy in QT is ammonia.

 

[sillygoose]

Won't treatment kill the nitrifying bacteria too? That's why I was thinking of adding gravel occasionally.

 

[aquaph8]

Won't treatment kill the nitrifying bacteria too? That's why I was thinking of adding gravel occasionally.

Maybe some, it's always best to keep an eye on ammonia for that reason though. You don't want to be adding anything from your display tank though, it needs to sit fish-less for 8-10 weeks.

 

[sillygoose]

Oh I misunderstood what we were talking about. I was thinking of taking my tang and my clown out and treating them with copper and leaving the other seemingly "immune" fish in there. But then I wondered what would happen to them when I put the cured fish back in. You're suggesting that I basically go nuclear.

I bought a 20 long to set up as a hospital. Even if I could get all my fish out, I'd need a much bigger tank for the long haul.

I'm sorry to be such a whiner - but it sounds like I'm "you-know-what"

 

[CReyes350]

Just move the tang and clown for now and see how it goes. What medication you go with after all?

 

[aquaph8]

I'd move all or none, it's not gonna do any good to treat fish and then put them back in with fish that are infected. I know it's nasty stuff, most people don't understand until they go through a bad case. Eventually it does happen to all of us though. This is why I QT all my fish now and am pretty picky about what goes in my tank.

 

[sillygoose]

Heavy sigh. You know the stages of grief - denial, anger, sadness, and finally acceptance. I don't even have the energy to cuss. I'm going to fallow my tank or I will never get to get a new fish again - no to mention keep the ones I have happy.

For the start, I'll try to get my two sickies out and into a copper bath. Fishy Biz had malachite green. I will leave them in the hospital tank while I'm out of town. When I get back - as timing permits - my clown will go into the nano. (No fish in there for months.) Then I will cycle my other fish through the hospital with the smaller ones headed for the nano and my larger ones will stay in the hospital (exchanging the 20 for a 29g) for the duration.

How long does it take to seed a sponge? My nano is clean. Can I just put a sponge in there and let it sit for a few days? Maybe a stupid question - can it be a new, clean kitchen sponge or should it be a filter-type sponge?

BTW - thanks everyone for holding my hand.

 

[aquaph8]

Longer you seed it the better, should be a filter sponge like they sell for aqua clear hang on the back types. Get some cupermine and ramp up the dose about half the speed as the instructions to let the fish get used to it. Good luck

 

[sillygoose]

And what about using something like an API pharmaceutical pack to keep any secondary bacterial infections in check during the whole process?

In my frenzy I bought two different meds today because I couldn't find cupramine. One is the Kordon malachite green and the other is API Super Ich cure. Obviously I'll choose one. They both specifically say they treat Cryptocaryon.

 

[aquaph8]

I'm assuming super ich cure is copper so I'd go with that but I'm to positive.

 

[sillygoose]

The active ingredient is benzaldehyde green but I read somewhere that green didn't mean copper in this one. However, people have said it works so I guess I will go with that one.

Does anyone know if putting some powerheads/pumps outside in July for a couple of weeks would essentially disinfect them? Starting my fallow tank I won't use stuff that I've used with my DT but I have useful stuff that I would hate to have to buy again if a good drying would do the trick.

 

[CReyes350]

Dipping your equipment in fresh RO water will disinfect it and should allow you to use that equipment in your hospital tank while you fallow your display tank. At least that's what a marine biologist from the Long Beach Aquarium told me on my back stage tour lol.

I would dip the equipment in fresh RO water over night and let it air dry before using it in that 29g tank

 

[aquaph8]

I use a mild bleach/water mix and then let it dry out real well.

 

[sillygoose]

So sometimes it all just sucks at once LOL. I'm setting up the 20g hospital and I hear my ATO pump sucking air. Alright get a bottle of RODI to pour in the reservoir no problem. Then I walk into the kitchen for a few seconds and I hear pouring water. My DT is overflowing! Holy F@%&! Scramble to pull the plug on the ATO and turn off the pumps and...key crazy cartoon music. Apparently the float valve stuck. Luckily, I had an empty 20g tank sitting right there to siphon some water into. Now my DT is a bit hyposaline but ich hates that anyway right? And this is war.

 

[sillygoose]

RIP powder brown. Died in the hospital tank.

 

[CReyes350]

Ouch. Sorry to hear that.