Qt??? with pics

[Awibrandy]

My FOWLR had an ich outbreak back in Feb., due to a impulse by at "Petco", and not qt. I lost almost all the fish, except for the betta, and the eel. I have since started adding new fish without problems, but now I intend to add a PBT the ich magnet. Therefore, I want to be absolutely sure to clear the tank of any ich.
The tank I have for QT is only a 29 g long. The fish that I need to QT are as follow; 6" Marine Betta, 6" Dog Face Puffer, 6" Blue Throat Trigger, 2 - 3" Cinnamon Clowns, 4 - 2.5" Damsels, and another 2.5" clown. Not sure whether or not I have to QT the eel as well. Any way as you can see they won't do well in the above described tank.
What I want to do is take my two small fresh water baby Oscars out of their 55 g, and put them in the 29 g while I use their tank as a QT for the other guys. Of course I would be taking all substrate & decorations, and the filter out leaving me with a totally empty tank.
After the two months of QT, I'll put the salt water fish back into their 75 g tank. Clean the 55 g again, replace everything and put the Oscars back.

I see no problems with this, but another member feels that this cannot be done. What do you guys with more experience think? I have in the past taken a fresh water tank to salt water, and back with out any ill effects.
And by the way, can eels harbour ICH?

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post, as well as for the input.:hug:

 

[scumonkey]

Since your fish were in a tank that had ich, will you be medicating them with copper while they are in th QT......I would?!
Have you ever had any freshwater disease visit the 55 gal?
If so that could be a problem passed on (however unlikely), but if your using a med-
I don't see where you would run into any trouble with your plan-except
for the eel (I'm not sure- been a long time- ask somebody else), might not do well with a copper treatment.
Don't put them into an empty tank- strew some cut pieces of PVC pipe around to give them someplace to hide and seek through.
PS The eel and Betta are AWESOME!

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks Scum Onkey!!
I have some toys for them to play, and hide in.:biglaugh:
My main concern is the eel. It won't like copper.
What I would like to know is, Do Eels carry ich?
I have never seen an eel with ich. I was thinking he could stay in the 75 g while everyone else went into QT. I'm not really thinking of medicating unless of course I see sign of illness. I plan to hypo down to about 1.016, and heat the tank to about 82 degrees. And only medicate if I see any ich.
Please guys help me out here.

 

[scumonkey]

I found this info at marine depot....
B. Can eels carry ich? If so can I treat them with Seachem Cupramine as well as a preventative?
Yes eels can harbor/transport ich. Use only cupramine with the eels as non chelated copper can burn/damage an eel's skin - Monitor copper levels daily.

 

[deelucky]

i really doubt that the eel can get ich.just like mandarins cant get ich,no scales and all slime.as far as the swap with the oscars go i dont see any problem because if your using the tank to treat and never will be a reef tank then i feel its cool.remember that fresh water gets ich to and lots of people treat directly in the tank,because less fresh water inverts.you have to do what you got do to save your fish.i vote go for it.

 

[Deanos]

Ich doesn't live on scales, so why would it matter if a fish had any?

 

[deelucky]

ok after seeing scumonkey's post,(i missed the eel and ich part).i checked wetwebmedia and though some say that an eel cant get it due to its highly toxic skin ther has been reports of it.and asked if it was ok to leave the eel,the answer was why take a chance.and like scum said be very careful with copper.if i can find you something to treat if you qt ill report back.good luck.

 

[deelucky]

Ich doesn't live on scales, so why would it matter if a fish had any?

im not saying scales is the factor because fish with scales also produce slime.the point im trying to make is that mandarins dont have scales and produce a slime coating ,more than your typical fish. so why dont mandarins get ich???

 

[Deanos]

Mandarins can and do get Ich. Since you referenced WWM, here's their FAQ:

Wetwebmedia - Mandarin disease FAQ

Being highly resistant does not make them immune.

 

[deelucky]

http://reefcentral.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3 just scroll to a few more thoughts.sorry awilda for taking this off topic.

 

[marrone]

i really doubt that the eel can get ich.just like mandarins cant get ich,no scales and all slime.

Both can get ich. Eels and Mandarins have a very heavy mucus slime over their bodies, which makes it hard for the ich to penetrate, they can and do come down with ich from time to time, though it's not as common as regular fish. A lot of time you'll see the ich spot on an eel's eye.

 

[marrone]

im not saying scales is the factor because fish with scales also produce slime.the point im trying to make is that mandarins dont have scales and produce a slime coating ,more than your typical fish. so why dont mandarins get ich???

Remember ich effects the gills, eye, mouth and the inside of the fish. The white spots that you see on the body is the final product before it falls off and starts the cycle again. Now the very thick slime or mucus can make it hard for the ich to penetrate the body of the eel of mandarin, cutting off the cycle. A Mandarin could still be heavily effect with ich and the ich mayn't make it to the white spot, spore, stage. The ich could still do enough damage inside the Mandarin body to kill it.

 

[deelucky]

i stand corrected.awilda sorry for the wrong information.

 

[Awibrandy]

Cool, lots of info while I was gone.:hug: Thank you guys. Think I'll start tomorrow. And just incase I have to end up medicating if anyone knows what would be good to use on all the previously described fish and the eel please let me know. Thank you...

 

[Awibrandy]

I need you experts advice. I just got of the phone with Drs.Fosters & Smith. I was trying to decided on which med. to get, and their tech support people are telling me not to medicate.
That I should just raise the temp. to 81 - 82 degrees, and suppliment with garlic extreme for 10 days and that will kill all the ich that is in the tank.

Would you guys take this advice, those it sound like sound advice to you? I don't want to loose any more fish.

Remember I want to introduce a PBT to this tank shortly.

 

[deelucky]

thats why i asked you what was your temp.my tank is at 82 degrees with no problems.but you should check with the other guys being that they know more.

 

[scumonkey]

If your talking about your display....after you take out all the fish,
it won't need anything else done to rid it of ich except keeping the fish out for 8 WEEKS- not 10 days.
If you want meds to treat the fish in the QT....I believe you can use cupramine (even with the eel)....but ask Deanos as well- just to make sure!

 

[JHOV2324]

Mandarins can get ick...my first mandarin got ick when my blue hippo introduced it....at first i was like wtf..i thought they couldn't get ick either...but it got ick and then i never saw the mandarin again...

 

[scumonkey]

Remember I want to introduce a PBT to this tank shortly.

Are you putting the tang in the reef or the FOWLR?
You do know that if you get the ich out of your tank,and then add a PBT, you will have to QT ANYTHING that you decide to add later- yes ALL corals,snails,rock...
ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!
Ich has different stages that will allow it to enter your tank as a hitch hiker
on the surface of almost anything.
So if you want to be safe add the tang last.
I waited till my tank was DONE (no more anything unless something dies- and then QT the replacement what ever it may be),I'm not taking any chances....PBT now in 5th week of QT!
I feel for you....patience is the best remedy!
I can hardly stand it....I'm chompin at the bit!!!!

 

[marrone]

I need you experts advice. I just got of the phone with Drs.Fosters & Smith. I was trying to decided on which med. to get, and their tech support people are telling me not to medicate.
That I should just raise the temp. to 81 - 82 degrees, and suppliment with garlic extreme for 10 days and that will kill all the ich that is in the tank.

Would you guys take this advice, those it sound like sound advice to you? I don't want to loose any more fish.

Remember I want to introduce a PBT to this tank shortly.

If you're going to take all the fish out of the main tank, then all you need to do is raise the temp to 81-82 and wait 8 weeks and the tank should be free of ich. There isn't a need to treat it as there wouldn't be any hosts for the ich to attach to.

As for the other fish, you'll need to treat them for ich. I would use Copper Power, as you can treat at higher levels, than regular copper, and it's doesn't hurt the fish. Also get a good test kit, so you'll have the correct level of correct in the tank.