Need help with plan of attack

[StrangeDejavu]

So I have a 40 breeder, cycled it around September and stupidly added a Bangaii Cardinal right to the tank without QT. No issues with him, nice and healthy. Thinking I lucked out, I bought a Purple Firefish and did the same. 48 hours after a lengthy drip acclimation, the Firefish dies. Freshwater dip confirmed Monogenia flukes so I treated the tank with PraziPro. During this time, I went and bought a 10g and set up a QT with PVC, heater, AquaClear HOB and sponge filter. Tank sat for weeks and never made a shred of progress even though I dosed Ace 10% janitorial ammonia in the beginning. I added rock rubble from my fuge to get the ball rolling. Few days ago, I added a few more pieces which sped it up and finished the cycle. I plan on tearing this tank down for unrelated issues and starting over. I feel like now is my chance to do everything right and have an ich-free DT, starting with ridding my Bangaii from ich that he may be hosting but not showing outward symptoms.

That said, will the TTM still work even if the fish is showing no symptoms? Second, is the fish ready to go after the fourth transfer or do they go into a tank to be observed for the remaining 6 weeks (or however much time is left)? My concern is doing the transfers and putting him into my cycled QT for observation, which might be infected with the rock rubble I introduced, totally negating the TTM. I want to do this right this time so direction from those far more experienced than I would be greatly appreciated.

 

[StrangeDejavu]

64 views... anyone? I'm new to saltwater and don't know the best way to go after this.

 

[reefsnfish]

The fish should be good to go after the fourth transfer, atleast for ich, just make sure to have two heaters, two filters, two PVC pipes, and two qts. Usually people will do the transfers and the whole qt process last at least a month to see if ich starts or to see if something like velvet develops.

I would do the TTM, then do another round of prazi for a week. Then add him to the DT when it's back up and running again. I think if I remember right, it took me 2 to 3 weeks to cycle my tank with ammonia. In the time being just keep an eye on the qt because an uncycled qt can build ammonia pretty quickly and do plenty of water changes to combat that. Also I would let your cycled qt that you suspect may have ich in it fallow for 10 weeks.

Or as a last resort you could call the fish store and tell them you're not ready for fish yet, or see if you can find him a home on here or craigs list while you get your DT ready for fish again.

 

[reefsnfish]

Just thought of it but wouldn't you need to dry the rock and sand for 24 hours to get rid of any ich parasite that may live on the rock or anything wet. Also you could let the DT fallow and just restart the cycled QT instead. Might be less work that way.

Maybe someone else could suggest something different...

 

[biomek]

first off, yes TTM will work even if there aren't signs if ich assuming correct protocol has been followed. in fact most of us prefer TTM as part of our regular QT regimen regardless of symptoms. As for after the TTM, it is recommended for a minimum of 30 days observation once TTM has been completed but that varies from one person to the next. In your situation, if it were me, any rock, rubble etc that could have potentially come in contact with the infected cardnial, would need to go through a minimum of 72 day fallow period before deemed free from ich. This is all just my opinion so i would continue to get more feedback on the subject.