Is this ich?

[BigBlueTang]

I'm a newbie, but I'm preparing to do TTM, as a couple of my friends thought this was ich. Could you guys confirm it? In person they looked more like air bubbles and not salt specks but..
Wrasse is behaving like it has been for the last month that I've had it in QT.
Params:
Salinity: 1.023
Temp: 78-82
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrates: 20-30

 

[Giovanni]

Looks like ich to me.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Looks like ich to me.

Sigh... Oh well.
Just a quick question about TTM, since he's been in QT for about a month, does that count as a transfer? So in theory I would do:
A transfer right now, start the time frame
Transfer in three days
Another transfer in three days
And I'd be done? That would be three transfers correct?

 

[Giovanni]

Sigh... Oh well.
Just a quick question about TTM, since he's been in QT for about a month, does that count as a transfer? So in theory I would do:
A transfer right now, start the time frame
Transfer in three days
Another transfer in three days
And I'd be done? That would be three transfers correct?

Nope you have to start fresh.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Nope you have to start fresh.

So four transfers...
Here we go!
I'm going to keep this thread as a log of my first TTM, would it be okay if you guys point out if I do anything wrong?

 

[ThRoewer]

So four transfers...
Here we go!
I'm going to keep this thread as a log of my first TTM, would it be okay if you guys point out if I do anything wrong?

It's actually 5 transfers:

1. transfer from current tank to TTM tank 1

3 days in tank 1

2. transfer to tank 2

3 days in tank 2

3. transfer to tank 3

3 days in tank 3

4. transfer to tank 4

3 days in tank 4

5. transfer to clean (= not infected) holding/quarantine/observation tank

 

[Deinonych]

It's actually 5 transfers:

1. transfer from current tank to TTM tank 1

3 days in tank 1

2. transfer to tank 2

3 days in tank 2

3. transfer to tank 3

3 days in tank 3

4. transfer to tank 4

3 days in tank 4

5. transfer to clean (= not infected) holding/quarantine/observation tank

Exactly. Transfer on day 1 (initial transfer), 4, 7 and 10 with a final transfer to a clean QT on day 13.

 

[BigBlueTang]

It's actually 5 transfers:



1. transfer from current tank to TTM tank 1



3 days in tank 1



2. transfer to tank 2



3 days in tank 2



3. transfer to tank 3



3 days in tank 3



4. transfer to tank 4



3 days in tank 4



5. transfer to clean (= not infected) holding/quarantine/observation tank

Makes more sense. Thanks

Do you guys also believe that picture shows Ich?

 

[ThRoewer]

It looks like a pretty clear case of ich.
Though I would probably add formalin baths during the transfers as preventive measure against velvet and brook. You can do those in a separate container or just dose the tank he is in with the appropriate amount of formalin (1ml per gallon) about 45 minutes before transferring him to the next tank.

 

[Giovanni]

IMO after a month in the QT, if it was brook or velvet, the fish would already be dead.

 

[BigBlueTang]

IMO after a month in the QT, if it was brook or velvet, the fish would already be dead.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Okay, my dilemma is this.

I thought my parents would be 100% fine with TTM, as I was going to use buckets. I had everything set up and then my mom got really, really mad. Apparently she didn't want to deal with seeing buckets everywhere, and she said "I don't care what you do with the fish, but you are not going to have buckets everywhere".
So now I think my only choice is to use copper, correct?
Don't some wrasses react badly to copper?
I'm really nervous, the spots came back today.

 

[ThRoewer]

How big is your quarantine tank and how big is the fish?

You may be able to do tank-in-tank TTM with a set of smaller containers. I use Container Store shoe boxes or Lee's large specimen container. A small fish will do fine in one of those for 3 days and it has the added benefit that you don't need to sterilize the heater.
In the container with the fish you just need a bubbler.
The container are cheap, so you can have a dedicated one for each step.

 

[BigBlueTang]

How big is your quarantine tank and how big is the fish?



You may be able to do tank-in-tank TTM with a set of smaller containers. I use Container Store shoe boxes or Lee's large specimen container. A small fish will do fine in one of those for 3 days and it has the added benefit that you don't need to sterilize the heater.

In the container with the fish you just need a bubbler.

The container are cheap, so you can have a dedicated one for each step.

Could you elaborate on this? This could really work!!!

QT is 10 gallons and fish is ~2-2.25"

 

[Brieninsac]

Buy buckets at the dollar store.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Buy buckets at the dollar store.

The buckets are not the problem.

 

[ThRoewer]

Could you elaborate on this? This could really work!!!

QT is 10 gallons and fish is ~2-2.25"

Perfect!

I use these for acclimatization and formalin dips:
Petco Pet Keeper for Small Animals

I usually don't use the cover, but with a wrasse (= notorious jumper) this would be ideal.

The small one fits perfectly into a 10 gallon tank:

Below is a 2" Orchid dottyback in a small Lee's Specimen container. He is in there since Saturday without air bubbler or water change and doing just fine.

With the Animal carrier I usually use these pumps:
PonicsPump PP04005: Submersible Pump, 40 GPH, 120 Volts AC, 5 Foot Cord (Compare to Jebao PP300LV)

An airstone would of course work as well.

Ideally you get 4 container and 4 airstones so you don't need to sterilize while doing TTM. The 10 gallon tank where the TTM container is hanged in is ideally filled with freshwater (tapwater will be fine) and has a heater and a circulation pump. For the last transfer you can fill it with prepared saltwater and use it as the observation tank.

I've done TTM like this for small fish, and it is my standard procedure for small pipefish.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Perfect!



I use these for acclimatization and formalin dips:

Petco Pet Keeper for Small Animals



I usually don't use the cover, but with a wrasse (= notorious jumper) this would be ideal.



The small one fits perfectly into a 10 gallon tank:

Below is a 2" Orchid dottyback in a small Lee's Specimen container. He is in there since Saturday without air bubbler or water change and doing just fine.



With the Animal carrier I usually use these pumps:

PonicsPump PP04005: Submersible Pump, 40 GPH, 120 Volts AC, 5 Foot Cord (Compare to Jebao PP300LV)



An airstone would of course work as well.



Ideally you get 4 container and 4 airstones so you don't need to sterilize while doing TTM. The 10 gallon tank where the TTM container is hanged in is ideally filled with freshwater (tapwater will be fine) and has a heater and a circulation pump. For the last transfer you can fill it with prepared saltwater and use it as the observation tank.



I've done TTM like this for small fish, and it is my standard procedure for small pipefish.

Perfect!! Will placing the bucket inside the tank work as well? That seems like an easier approach..

 

[ThRoewer]

Sure, when it fits the bucket will work as well.
And that way you can leave the heater out of the bucket so you don't need to sterilize it every time. One thing less to possibly cause failure.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Sure, when it fits the bucket will work as well.

And that way you can leave the heater out of the bucket so you don't need to sterilize it every time. One thing less to possibly cause failure.

Yup! I'll fill it with tap just like you said. Shouldn't be too bad.

Just another question, should I buy another orange Home Depot bucket?
I have one HD bucket and one black bucket, that are both for fish only.
Will the difference in color spook the fish? Or will it not matter?