proactive approach
 

Hi all, well i learned the hard way to go slow and use a q-tank.

Here I am 3 months later with only a pair of clowns and a damsel left.

I gave the fish hyposalinity for 6 weeks to be sure that my ich outbreak was no longer an issue (all parasite stages dead).

So, now I have an "ich-free" tank. The clowns are back in the main tank and the q-tanks is still running now at normal salinity.

In the qt i have placed a blue hippo and a 6line. I plan to give them 30 days there.

What I'd like to do is treat the qt so that ich cannot survive. I really want to maintain the ich free condition of the main tank and since these are "new" fish, the parasite may have hitchhiked in and at normal salinities, the parasite can survive indefintely...

Now, I know that the hippo is sensitive so what should I do?

I figure there are 2 options...

1. hyposalinity again (slow, slow and slower)
2. chemicals (stressful?)

thanks,
dave

3 week pre-copper treatment
monitor for 4 weeks after treatment for signs of outbreak.

Many would argue that you should QT for 4-6 weeks ... hypo will be effective in that period of time so I don't think its a "slow method".

ok, so slow it is if you all think that hypo would be less stressful to the tang...?

I think hypo is less stressful to fish than copper ... better yet .. its easier to administer.

what about a good freshwater dip? would that do the trick as well?

Some people will give there fish a prophylactic FW dip .. some a formalin bath .. most don't give them anything. I give my fish a formalin bath .. helps against brooklynella and many minor exterior parasites like flukes etc.

Here's a link discussing FW dip.

[url]http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/freshwaterdips.html[/url]

Heres a link discussing formalin baths

[url]http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/formalinbaths.html[/url]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10263199#post10263199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by avatar71 [/i]
[B]what about a good freshwater dip? would that do the trick as well? [/B][/QUOTE]
I just read my prior post and I want to make sure that I did not imply the dips/baths are substitutes for QTing. I give my fish a mild formalin bath and then place then in a hypo QT for a month.

Dips can be usefully for some parasites, however, ich is not one of them. While attached to the fish it is buried in the skin and two well protected by the skin and slime coat.

thanks all, hypo will begin soon... then I will wait. I can do it! I know I can! ;)