Ich killed a fish in the QT

[Jacob]

I had a new tang in quarantine yesterday and it died over night. I tested ammonia, nitrite, nitrate (all 0) and it also has perfect pH and alkalinity. My local fish store (LFS) said it died of Ich because it had white spots on its fins and face when purchased. Long story short: The LFS said I can exchange it for a replacement, but today only (no store credit option).

If the fish did indeed die of Ich, do I need to replace the quarantine tank water and filter media before introducing a new fish into the quarantine tank? Should I do anything else to the quarantine tank?

[berkdog]

Sorry about your loss! I don't think replacing the entire tank's water would be necessary, but you might want to do a 25% water change (as often as needed) to keep ammonia/nitrite levels null. I don't know about the filter media, but you probably will need to start Ich treatment immediately using a copper treatment, so remove all carbon based media from the tanks filtration systems.

See this for using copper treatments: Copper - Treatment, Use, Problems

[leebca]

First, shame on the LFS for selling you a sick fish. If it were me, I would not do any further business with them -- no new fish or replacement anything. I would isolate them and warn others of their method of doing business.

Next, if that fish was sick, what makes the next fish healthy? There is a great chance the next fish is sick -- maybe with some other disease or problem. Why acquire another problem fish?

Regarding your question:
Since the equipment is exposed to Marine Ich, it needs to be cleaned and left to totally dry out. This is usually a few day process to be conservative. Obviously, this would mean dumping out all the water. It is contaminated. Certainly not going to be helpful if all you have is one day to get another fish.

You can do the following still within the one-day limit: Do not use all the equipment except the tank itself. Buy new equipment for the tank. As for the tank, dump all water, wash it out with warm water with 1:10 bleach in it. Then rinse and rinse in hot tap water a few times; rinse in cold tap water a few times; and finally rinse in distilled or RO/DI water many more times.

Now the tank with new equipment is ready to use, but there is no biological filter running. This will require multiple water changes daily until the biological filter is running.

If you are going to go through with acquiring another fish from the same source, I would also have on hand a lot of medicines -- at least Cupramine and a Salifert Copper Test kit.

Congratulations on using a quarantine process. Very good idea.

[berkdog]

Where'd you buy your fish?