Hello,

I have been reading your posts with great interest. Finally I decide to talk to you and get your advice. This is the story so far:

I have a 45 gallon saltwater tank that had a ich break out. And this is what I did.

1) Transferred all my fish to QT on day 1. On the way to the QT, I gave all the fish a FW bath (Day 1 - I am not sure if it was effective or not coz I had used a little instant ocean salt to balance pH to 8.2. But the salinity was negligible).

2) I removed all LR and shrimps/crabs and put them in a bucket with an air stone and placed it under a table (Day 1). I will keep the LR in this bucket for atleast 8 weeks. (note about shrimps/crab in the end)

3) Finally the main display tank. I drained out all the water...or about 99% of it. Then I filled it with total fresh water close to about 25 gallon and have been running my external filter. (Days 1,2,3 for this activity).

I agree that all the beneficial bacteria is now dead in the main tank. But I will get BioSpira, new LR (trusted source), amquel, test kits etc to monitor the cycle when I reset the aquarium.
But my main concern is if all the ich was killed in the main tank by filling it up with complete fresh water. Please tell me that I am right and that all ich must be dead in the main tank?

About the fish: I have 2 percula and 1 of each of the following: black chromis, yellow watchman goby, coral beauty, yellow tail blue damsel.

All fish seem to be doing fine in the QT tank which also has low salinity and temperature at 82F. But yesterday (day 2 in QT after FW bath), the coral beauty was filled with big sized white spots all over it. Today (day 3) the big spots have gone and there are far less but very tiny spots all over the the fish.

Whats going on? I am treating with QuickCure in the main tank at half dosage.

Questions:

1) Firstly, is the ich all dead in the main tank that is now filled with FW?

2) After I drain out the FW (on day 4) from main tank, I plan to keep it dry for a day (This is my all out war against ich;-)). Then can I add low salinity (same as QT salinity) in the main tank and release the fish (day 5)?

3) How low in salinity can I go in the QT now and later in the main tank? WHat level will kill ich?

4) Whats going on with the Coral beauty?

5) Once the fish are in the main tank, I plan to put the shrimps/crab in the QT with normal level saltwater. How long should I keep them here as I read even shrimps/crabs could be carriers of ich?

Once my fish are in the main tank with low salinity for atleast 2 weeks, very slowly I plan to raise the salinity over a period of days/week. I will also try and match the temp of the main tank and QT.

6) Should I give the fish a FW on their way to the main tank (day 5)? Once again I will be usin ginstant ocean salt mix (very less) to balance pH.

Please tell me if my plan will work?????? Any other advice? Sorry about so many questions. But I need your help/advice.