Reef nutrition

Setting up a hospital tank

Reefdad

Reefdad

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I need to set up a hospital tank to rid my fish of ICH. What should the SG be, i know it needs to be low but how low? right now I have it @ 1.020 but I havent put the fish in yet. is this too low?
 
It depends on what kind of treatment you will be using. If you plan on just using Rid-Ich, or any other chemical nuking, I do not see anything wrong with a specific gravity 1.021-1.026 . I guess parasites and such have a harder time really taking off in the tank at a lower SG so in that sense it may help ... but to me I've always seen that more a preventative measure -but that's not to say it won't help. However, if your plan is to use hypo-salinity as a treatment method, you're probably going to be lowering your SG slwoly to 1.010 (that's the lowest I'd go).
That's my .02 :)
 
I like hypo at 1.009-1.010 for about 8 weeks.

You can drop the s.g. by about .004-.005 per day until you are at target.

Coming back up you have to go slower.

I've had fish in hypo for 8+ weeks without problem.
 
Check your pH and water quality when doing hypo.

There's less buffering capacity at low salinity, so your pH can drop.

I use a pinch of baking soda to keep the pH up if necessary.
 
Ok so I have it all set up. I am at 1.020 right now and am treating with rid Ich. I am using a 20 gallon tank with a small power head and holding temp at 79.3. Right now I only have a tang in there I lost my two clowns today while I was at work. So just a few more questions, do I continue to feed the fish as usual, and is light nesscary or will it help? Lastly how often should i do a WC and how much?
 
How big is the tang? 20G might be a bit small for a big tang. That could make thing worse..

I'm one of the guy who believe there is no way you can get rid off ich in the tank (I'm sure a lot disagree with that but that is JMO 8) ). I feed my fish good food. I check the fish very carefully before buying from the store. I try to buy fish for other reefers if I can.

soak food in garlic before feeding. I believe that help the fish a bit.
 
Erik
Soaking food in garlic will help to boost the tang's immune system. I would definitely place a light above the tank, as I think it is important for any critter to have a consistent day night, or light dark cycle. And it only needs to be a dinky NO fluorescent light fixture. It wouldn't hurt either ... it would allow you to observe your fish carefully; can't really do that with no light over the tank. Also, be sure to put a piece of PVC in the tank to give the tang a hiding spot.

Phong, I believe if a display tank is literally fish-less for at least eight weeks, the ich will cycle out of the aquaria due to lack of a host.
 
When these fish are effected by this how do you know when the fish is past the point of recovery? Right now the fish is layng on its side in the tank. every once in a while it gets up and swims. is this characteristic of the disease?
 
That's good!

When people start a hypo-salinity treatment, do they begin it with a freshwater dip? I know Bob used to do 15 minute freshwater dips on tangs. What does a 15 minute dip do to ich compared to 8 week hypo compared to FW dip + 8 week hypo.
 
Ok I came home today and the tank is still alive. It only swims with stimulation otherwise it is laying on the bottom of the tank. I put something in the tank so i could hide. The tang did not eat today and physically looks worse amy be dying. But all the wite spots are gone. Is this possible this fast with chemical treatment? Lastly What physical effects does ICH do to the fish? Will it just lay around looking dead? And If all the spots are gone how should I change my treatment at this point?
 
I'd go for hypo rather than chemical treatment.

Hypo allows the fish to divert energy otherwise used for osmoregulation to recovery instead.

Less stressful for the fish.

Dealing with the chemicals is another stressor on top of the disease.
 
Well It's over. Damn the hobby is expensive and depressing. I lost my last fish tonight a total of 5 fish. Sucks!! So I am thinking of giving my tank a couple month break form fish before adding any more. What preventative measures can I take for the future. Would it be in my best interest to start to quarantine all fish before putting them in my display, or us that just being paranoid?
 
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