Question on filtering while dosing meds...

ShoniNikki

New member
So I am currently medicating my tank for ich after losing all fish but 1...
I was just curious as to how long I need to leave the carbon filter out of my tank? This is probably a very silly wisdom but I feel as if I should ask!
I know it will defeat the purpose of medicating because it is carbon however do I leave it out till I'm completely done medicating or can I put it in during the day and then medicate at night?!

TIA
 
So I am currently medicating my tank for ich after losing all fish but 1...
I was just curious as to how long I need to leave the carbon filter out of my tank? This is probably a very silly wisdom but I feel as if I should ask!
I know it will defeat the purpose of medicating because it is carbon however do I leave it out till I'm completely done medicating or can I put it in during the day and then medicate at night?!

TIA

Have you actually lost all your fish or just most with a few left?

If you have actually lost all you fish, I suggest that you start a cycle for the qt now.

About the carbon filter, if you have really lost all your fish, you can just allow the carbon filter to go fallow just like all things for the dt, at least 12 weeks.

It is when you still have some fish you want to save now that matters may be urgent now. If you have really lost all fish, just relax and think for a while and be intellectually committed to eradication of ich--the only correct approach.
 
Wooden reefer: I have 1 clown left! He appears to have gone "foggy" but I'm not seeing spots on him! He eats like crazy!
When you say let things go fallow what exactly does that mean? I have my qt up and running, I'm checking the params today to make sure all is safe! I do however still need to lower the salinity but I've read that this needs to be done over a few days while the fish is in there?!
 
If there is a parasite in the display tank, it must "remain fallow" (with no fish) in order to let the parasite die out because it cannot find a host. It sounds as if your clown is also infected.
 
Okay so I set up my QT last week and all my levels are good have to check the ammonia and salinity again in the morning to make sure it's good to go... so would it be safe to dose the DT with chemiclean for algae while fallow or should I dose it with caribsea purple up? Also I am experiencing an aiptasia problem and was curious how I could care for that as well while my DT is fallow?! I have a cuc in my DT that includes skunk shrimp, fire shrimp, porcelain crabs (2), emerald crab, hermit crabs, banded serpent star and snails! Oh and my few corals and coco worm!
 
Okay so I set up my QT last week and all my levels are good have to check the ammonia and salinity again in the morning to make sure it's good to go... so would it be safe to dose the DT with chemiclean for algae while fallow or should I dose it with caribsea purple up? Also I am experiencing an aiptasia problem and was curious how I could care for that as well while my DT is fallow?! I have a cuc in my DT that includes skunk shrimp, fire shrimp, porcelain crabs (2), emerald crab, hermit crabs, banded serpent star and snails! Oh and my few corals and coco worm!

Fish are not allowed, everything else is fine during a fallow period. I would not get in the habit of dosing anything to chemically trying to eliminate algae.
 
Wooden reefer: I have 1 clown left! He appears to have gone "foggy" but I'm not seeing spots on him! He eats like crazy!
When you say let things go fallow what exactly does that mean? I have my qt up and running, I'm checking the params today to make sure all is safe! I do however still need to lower the salinity but I've read that this needs to be done over a few days while the fish is in there?!

In your DT now, do you have any filter medium that does not have invertebrate on it but only bacteria? I am talking about sponges and socks etc.

If you have any mature medium in your DT now that can be taken out (and does not have lives to die and decay), you can take it out to function as a biological filter to support the clownfish while it is in QT.

Just one clownfish, How much work do you want to do? It is a sentimental cause. You can also use Prime or Amquel also.

make sure that the DT stays fallow for 12 or more weeks, no fish, not even one that appears to have no ich.
 
Last edited:
I tested my QT today and the only thing that wasn't ideal was the ammonia! But I believe it was because I used the "shrimp" cycle that I read on here to get it cycled quickly
 
Is that what you're meaning? Darn phone

Fallow mean NO FISH, only inverts. 72 days fallow from the day you catch the last fish from the DT. Also I wouldn't add anything wet during that period with QTing it for several weeks 8-12. This includes but not limited to corals, snails, shrimp, macro algae... Anything wet otherwise you stand a good chance of introducing disease again and will need to start the 72 day count over again
 
I tested my QT today and the only thing that wasn't ideal was the ammonia! But I believe it was because I used the "shrimp" cycle that I read on here to get it cycled quickly

To instantly cycle a tank you can either use a seeded sponge from your DT or there is a product called TLC Startsmart that works wonders, I have used it several times with great success. Saved what fish I had left when my ammonia spiked because of dosing chloroquine phosphate and underestimating the invert/bristle tooth population in my rock. Also get a ammonia badge
 
To instantly cycle a tank you can either use a seeded sponge from your DT or there is a product called TLC Startsmart that works wonders, I have used it several times with great success. Saved what fish I had left when my ammonia spiked because of dosing chloroquine phosphate and underestimating the invert/bristle tooth population in my rock. Also get a ammonia badge

It is never possible to instantly cycle a tank.

If the seeded sponge is just that, seeded.

Whether it now has enough bacteria is an unknown.

If the sponge is big enough, then after cycling it by feeding ammonia it will surely have enough bacteria. Such is cycling (or boosting, if no sharp nitrite peak is detected).

Seeding + feeding with ammonia = having enough bacteria, or cycling, or boosting.
 
For emergency QT, a seeded sponge is good enough provided it has been inoculated thoroughly (3-4 weeks). It can also be augmented with a product like Bio-spira, along with porous media in a HOB filter. I've used Bio-spira countless times and have never had an ammonia issue in QT. It's one of the few "bacteria in a bottle" products that actually works.
 
Okay ammonia level today is between 0 and 0.25 is it okay to move him over? Also salinity is at 1.009 do I need to drip acclimate him to the lower salinity or just toss him on in?
 
7ae5bdf42f1275e45314b3e11d492d2d.jpg
 
Back
Top