I'm stupid

[Shellyfish]

I know better, I have been through this before. I have been using a QT tank, but not for corals, or some rock I purchased. Through my stupidity I have introduced ich...again. So it's been about a week or so, I was trying the wait and see method, feeding things soaked in selcon and garlic... I know these don't cure ich. So today after noticing spots on the clowns funny that every fish I have besides the tangs have spots) I've decided to do what I should have done a week ago. I'm going to tear down the tank:headwallblue: and treat the fish. I really like my aquascaping so this is really going to suck, but if I don't do it, every fish I add from now on will be exposed to ich.

My issue is, the only tank I have, large enough to QT my current fish (watchman goby, mimic tang, yellow tang, pair of false percs, azure damsel, talbot's damsel, purple firefish, coral beauty, green chromis, and cleaner wrasse) is the 90g my oscar is currently in. Now he is small enough to live in a 20g temporarily. I have 2 questions, there is currently gravel in the 90g, do I have to remove it? Or will the fish be ok with it if I clean it well? and second, will the goby be ok without sand?

I intend to leave the display empty for 10 weeks or so.

Thanks!

 

[Shellyfish]

Anyone know if the gravel can stay or not? I'd like to start getting the tank ready tonight if possible?

 

[daplatapus]

From what I've read, is if you're going to be treating the QT with copper, the gravel will absorb it and you'll have a much more difficult time keeping the copper at levels you will need for the treatment to be effective.
Also as the ich falls off the fish in QT they will find homes in the sand as well and will be harder for you to clean properly.

But I'm certainly not very knowledgable about the whole thing, just what I've read and think I know so far

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I would remove the gravel as you are going to treat with Cupramine and it may trap food or other nutrients and make it hard to manage ammonia. A bare bottom tank is best for quarantine.

 

[Shellyfish]

thanks guys, I actually found a second tank so I will be splitting the fish into 2 tanks for treatment, both bare bottom. What is the standard time to leave the display fallow? 8 weeks or 12?

 

[coreyg]

My tank got ich a few months ago. I didn't have a qt set up, so I just soaked my food with garlic, and in about 2 weeks the ich was gone off of the fish and has not returned. I might be a lucky one.

 

[Triton_Z]

Shellyfish,

8-9 weeks will give you the best odds of ich eradication in your fallowed DT.

 

[Shellyfish]

Thanks, I was thinking of leaving it for longer just to be safe. This is my second and hopefully last time doing this!

 

[Shellyfish]

I have a few questions for future QT purposes, I am not going through this again! What do most people do to protect their tanks from anything corals and inverts bring in? Coral dips? Do you QT crabs,snails and shrimp?

If you do QT what is your set up? Would a 10g with a powerhead and some PC lighting work for corals? Does it need a filter? How long do you QT corals, crabs and shrimp for?

Thanks!