Why not just start over?

[roenicknewf]

I have been thinking about this for some time now and with lots of ich and whatnot threads popping up(which seems like everyday) why not do this,mostly for fish only tanks obviously..


OK ,your DT has ich ,,you didn't QT ,things get introduced ,,bad things ...
You now have to QT your fish and treat or attempt treating the DT(which seems very hit or miss)..Lately it seems leaving your tank fallow has went from 6 weeks to 8 weeks now 10 weeks ,heck i've seen suggestions of 12 weeks to be real sure ..Hmmm,well ,are we ever really sure the ich has died off in DT.Seems more and more people are having ich reappear after months of fallow and QTing ..
Why not do a tear down and start over ..Your fish won't be going back in for 10+weeks anyway(or maybe you lost all your fish) ..Plenty of time to cycle the fresh 100% ich free tank..I realize there are costs that come with this but i think if you add it all up it may be cheaper than losing more fish ..
IDK ,food for thought i guess ..Yes ,it is a lot of work to tear down and restart ,but are we heading towards this with ich and what seems to be new strains popping up anyway ..

 

[SDguy]

I cupramined my DT before. It's another option.

 

[roenicknewf]

I have never used copper nor do i know much about it , would that eliminate the chances of ever being able to keep inverts in a tank that has seen cooper treatments ?Say you wanted to maybe start o reef someday ..I'm not saying that is a bad choice ,but just wondering if the tank is now unsafe for any possible inverts in the future

 

[SDguy]

When I did it, I removed almost all my rock, and the tank had no sand. I wouldn't recommend it for a reef, obviously. With respect to the casual invert (like a CB shrimp and such) I haven't had an issue.

 

[roenicknewf]

OK ,,good to know..
Did you reuse the LR you took out or get all new
I have also read crazy stuff like cooper getting into the silicone then seeping out over time..I mean ,can that even be possible ..

 

[Deinonych]

I have also read crazy stuff like cooper getting into the silicone then seeping out over time..I mean ,can that even be possible ..

That's an urban legend that just won't die.

 

[SDguy]

Yes, I reused the LR. Copper doesn't get into silicone, glass, etc.