Praises of Tank Transfer Method

[spechty]

For those of you who dont really want to spend the money to invest in the equipment needed, or want to take your chances, I would like to share my experience.

I think putting this in financial terms might make more of an impact.

TTM investment = $85.00 (approx)

I purchased 2 five gallon tank setups from a major pet store. Got them when I had a coupon. So I paid about $35 for tank hood and hang on filter. I then purchased 2 pre-set heaters on a major online commerce company for about $12. PVC - like 3 bucks. I got a 4 ft piece I think its 1/12 inch


Total fish investment= $175.00 (approx)

So after losing 1 firefish, 1 clownfish, 1 royal gramma, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 green chromis to ick, and a mystery death, I decided to invest in the equipment for TTM.

So I re-purchased 1 firefish, 1 clownfish, 1 royal gramma, 1 sixline wrasse. (I did two at a time, not all four at once)

Its been several weeks after TTM and NO DEATHS NO ICK!!

It was about $93 for the fish that all died, and $82 for the repurchases.

Plus the emotional toll on my kids and the stress of having to run out to buy the replacements that were close enough in size to the originals, and lying to my kids that the fish were hiding!!

 

[Baxterdawg1974]

I agree 100%. I have had tremendous success with the TTM. I tried hypo and did not work for me, to much of a pain and too little tolerance between right and wrong salinity levels that support success or failure.

For what its worth, i always moved my fish in the morning while they were asleep and lights off. Minimal stress with the move and then they had the morning to settle in under low light.

Wish i used this method sooner. I have lost hundreds of dollars of fish trying other methods

 

[hkgar]

I hope that you had the display tank fishless (fallow) for at least 72 days to insure that all Ick was gone from the water column?

I am a strong supporter of TTM after experiencing a tank wipe out from Ick. I did Hypo in the DT for the Yellow Tang that survived after removing all inverts to a QT tank.

 

[spechty]

@Baxterdawg1974
I usually did it in the early morning or late at night. whichever was before the 72 hour transfer time limit.

I also used water from the local store I got the fish. that way it was always consistent. and I didnt need to keep making water for every three days.


@hkgar

Yes I actually did 90 days. the way it worked out with $$.

 

[Uncle99]

I have tried all three from time to time, all worked on hardy type fish like clowns, copper no good for delicate tangs, hypo was actually easier than I anticipated, quite successful on tangs, copper, not so much...

 

[kmbyrnes]

I became a TTM proponent after getting wiped out by ich on 2015.
Since then, I have fish that get came in sick or died in TTM or QT, but my DT was disease-free.
Until I read that I could skip TTM/QT on a Mandarin. I was wrong.
I lost 25 beautiful pets, worth thousands of dollars, because I didn't listen.

A TTM setup is the best money you can invest after you get the DT.

 

[billdogg]

A TTM setup is the best money you can invest after you get the DT.

This.

My TTM gear is 5g buckets, spare 50w heaters, and disposable airstones, and a couple of nets. When not in use, it all sits in a corner of the fishroom cleaned and ready.

 

[Yellow Eyes]

Looks like everyone agrees but I'll throw my hat in too. Easy process (in my opinion), cheap and great results.

I also used to do Prazi-Pro after the 1st and 3rd transfers.

Never had ich or any problems...could be luck...could be science.

 

[Uncle99]

When we run into hardy type fish that are very infested with ick, we go copper always hoping for speed, approx 3-5 days for noticeable improvements

 

[JTL]

I use a couple of $10 storage tubs and put about 10g of water in each one. Plenty of room for multiple fish. I am also a fan of Prazipro on the 1st and 3rd transfer and a formalin dip at the very end for 45 minutes. I don't QT but rely on the 12 days of the ttm to spot any obvious problems.

I have heard that it is unlikely that a mandarin will bring any ich to the party because of their slime coat. Also it is very difficut to QT or even ttm these fish due to their eating habits.

 

[Uncle99]

I have heard this as well, but I don’t agree, had one fall to ick so if they can catch it I think they can have it when transferred.

I QT the replacement for just two weeks feeding live pods I bought from LFS.

 

[JTL]

I have heard this as well, but I don't agree, had one fall to ick so if they can catch it I think they can have it when transferred.

It is most likely one of those "chances are far less than with other fish" things which may be true but not too helpful when they do have and infect your tank. I just think the qt/ttm difficulty makes it more likely most people will run the risk.

 

[hkgar]

I became a TTM proponent after getting wiped out by ich on 2015.
Since then, I have fish that get came in sick or died in TTM or QT, but my DT was disease-free.
Until I read that I could skip TTM/QT on a Mandarin. I was wrong.
I lost 25 beautiful pets, worth thousands of dollars, because I didn't listen.

A TTM setup is the best money you can invest after you get the DT.

Sorry for your losses. When I got hit I only had a 90 with 10 fish.

Most skip the TTM with Mandarin because of the difficulty of feeding them. But it is a gamble.

 

[kmbyrnes]

I have heard that it is unlikely that a mandarin will bring any ich to the party because of their slime coat. Also it is very difficut to QT or even ttm these fish due to their eating habits.

I know from personal experience that Mandarins will bring ich and everything else in the kitchen sink in to a party. Invite one to your DT at your one peril.

 

[JTL]

I know from personal experience that Mandarins will bring ich and everything else in the kitchen sink in to a party. Invite one to your DT at your one peril.

I think you mean "can" not "will". Many have put them in directly into their tanks with no problems. Captive bred are likely a safe bet to be disease and ich free but they are also expensive. That is probably what I will get.

 

[Thornbreaker]

So I re-purchased 1 firefish, 1 clownfish, 1 royal gramma, 1 sixline wrasse. (I did two at a time, not all four at once)

Did you run the firefish and royal gramma through at the same time? Wondering, because it's probably the next two fish I'll get, and I have no idea if they'll get along in 5 gallon buckets for 12 days together.

My 2 clowns have gone through TTM with no sign of ich, and I dosed prazi on transfers 2 and 4. Seem to be healthy and happy. DT is cycling now.

 

[spechty]

Thornbreaker,

No I did the firefish and 6 line. the 6 line pretty much left the firefish alone. But in my DT, the royal gramma made sure he let the firefish know who's side of the tank was whose! So they both pretty much hang in their respective sides of the DT. My six line could care less when the gramma opens his mouth and gills at him when the 6 line swims by.

You might want to keep an eye on the gramma and firefish in QT.

 

[Thornbreaker]

Thornbreaker,

No I did the firefish and 6 line. the 6 line pretty much left the firefish alone. But in my DT, the royal gramma made sure he let the firefish know who's side of the tank was whose! So they both pretty much hang in their respective sides of the DT. My six line could care less when the gramma opens his mouth and gills at him when the 6 line swims by.

You might want to keep an eye on the gramma and firefish in QT.

Thanks, good to know. I'll probably just do those 1 at a time.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[kmbyrnes]

I think you mean "can" not "will". Many have put them in directly into their tanks with no problems. Captive bred are likely a safe bet to be disease and ich free but they are also expensive. That is probably what I will get.

You are absolutely correct. I should have related only opinion.
The reason these forum existence is to debate and share experience.

 

[hkgar]

Will or can? Both can be correct. If you add enough fish they each individual CAN bring ick, but over time , with enough additions, one WILL bring Ick.

It took me six years to get that fish that brought the Ick - tank wipe out.

I always TTM now