restocking after ICH treatment

[likemike99]

So I have a 125gal with 3 emperor 400 HOB'b, prism pro skimmer, 45 lbs of live rock, 10 fish, hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp and 3 featherdusters. My fish got ICH so I put them in my 55gal (with 2 of the emperors) and am treating them with cooper. I plan on going 4-6 weeks with my 125 on fallow. my question is , in that time does the bacterial load decrease significantly? Can I add them all back at once ? or a few at a time?

To complicat things I am going to install my 30gal sump with biobale wet/dry on the 125 and upgrade to an octopus 150 skimmer. I know the biobale will need time to seed, so I will leave one of the emperors on temporarly.

any imput on the way I plan to proceed?
thanks

 

[fittiger]

I would suggest more live rock, at least 45lbs more. That doesn't answer your question though.....sorry, but I'm not sure about bacterial efficiency after a fallow period. I'm about to add mine back after 7 weeks, but decided to start over with fish so I sold all mine after hypo, so it will be done slowly.....so tagging along.

 

[likemike99]

yeah, I am working on more live rock, but here in Hawaii it is hard to come by and $9 a pound:eek1:

 

[mike89t]

Periodically add some food to your Display Tank while it's Fish free. This will keep your bio filter up and running.

 

[Crush Coral]

adding small amounts of food to decompose and feed the bacteria is a real good suggestion. I would do the upgrades to your skimmer as soon as possible and before adding the fish back in. Might want to try one or two fish at first to see how they do instead of haveing to catch them all again. If your tank is running 100% they should have a good shot at fightning off ich themselves with a good diet and some garlic.

 

[likemike99]

thanks guys- I have been putting in a raw shrimp every few days- to feed the crabs and decompose.