Learning my lesson

[GoogleEyes]

Ok for about the last year i have had a 29 gallon FOWLR setup. It had a blue tank and 2 clowns and was doing great. Well for christmas i received a 60 gallon so I dont my first ever tank swap. Everything went well but like lots of people i got over excited and bought an angel fish a week later. They all got ich and i lost them all. Well needless to say i have hit the wall and will start doing some things that i have been neglecting. I will be quarantining new fish. I have a biocube thats been setup for about 8 months, its doing awesome and the clown in it is beautiful so i will be using that as a qt. The ticker started today, i got the last fish out lastnight and im letting the tank set fallow for the next 8 weeks. so finally, the question is, can i feed the tank every few days to keep it cycled or leave it alone??? not sure what exactly i should do.

 

[thegrun]

If you have a clean up crew you should feed the tank once every other day. If not the bacteria is fine without food for a year. FYI you should let your tank sit fallow without fish for 72 days if you want to be sure you get rid of it. At 56 days there is still in the neighborhood of a 10% chance the tank still has ich. I know you do not want to go through this again, so I would advise waiting a full 72 days.

 

[GoogleEyes]

Thank you so much bro!!

 

[Texas Paul]

If you have a clean up crew you should feed the tank once every other day. If not the bacteria is fine without food for a year. FYI you should let your tank sit fallow without fish for 72 days if you want to be sure you get rid of it. At 56 days there is still in the neighborhood of a 10% chance the tank still has ich. I know you do not want to go through this again, so I would advise waiting a full 72 days.

+1. Not fun. Tank transfer method is really easy. Try it. You won't be disappointed.

 

[GoogleEyes]

do u mean i should try the transfer method on new arrivals?

 

[MJV0103]

yes, new arrivals, your 60 needs to fallow

 

[A.Astore]

Tank Transfer is definitely a great way to keep ahead of ICH on new arrivals. I tried Cupramine one time and it was simply a pain. You have to maintain the level for 14 days but keep in mind maintain a stable environment which will include water changes. Was just a pain.

The other nice thing about TTM is that you can use PraziPro still to ensure other issues are taken care of as well. You need the bare minimum for this because the fish is moved every couple days. I would highly recommend and can honestly say I understand why so many others swear it is the only way one should deal with ICH/qt.

Also, a 60 gallon and especially a 29 gallon is much too small for a Blue Tang. And unless it was one of the smaller dwarf angels, an angel is also too large for a 60 gallon. If you try keeping fish that size in a 60 gallon tank you are going to run into some serious aggression issues sooner rather than later. If you go to www.liveaquaria.com they have information on a whole boat load (pun intended) of fish and the minimum recommended tank requirements.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Sorry for your troubles, but you are learning from it, so there is an upside.
TTM is the way to go. Read the sticky on it at the top of the forum.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2507836

The first time is a bit tough, but after that is is practically a no-brainer and I find it keeps me paying more attention to fish's other behaviors.

 

[ZeeSparrow]

Sorry for your losses. That's rough. As said above, TTM is the way to go. It seems like a lot of work but it really isn't too bad after you've gone through a time or two. And it is infinitely better than risking your DT again.

With the tank fallow for 72 days, you'll have plenty of time to TTM and qt your new arrivals.

Good luck!

 

[GoogleEyes]

The TTM sounds like a great thing but wouldnt it be pricey to do that much saltwater? and how many gallons per minimal in each tank?

 

[lonbrat]

Also just a little input info ^^ if you raise the temp of your tank a little, it makes the ich life cycle go a little faster, making it die off a little faster. Making the day 60 a little bit safer xD

And Idk if this helps, a uv light to clean your water, I've heard helps keep ich at bay, but I have no solid proof or anything, just a fellow hobbyists info back when I had the ich problem