Ich and Hypo.......

[linuxguru]

Hey everyone, I want to ask a question abt Ich. I have 3 tanks, one of my tanks was set up before I knew anything abt quarantinig and when I first got into the hobby. In that tank I have 50 Lbs live rock, numerous (A LOT)invertebrates. I have 2 clowns, 1 hawkfish, 2 firefish and a Lawnmower. These fish are constantly getting ich on and off. Since I have so many inverts it would almost be impossible for me to do hypo, is this the ONLY way I could get rid of the ich in thew tank, how about a UV sterilizer?

Now lets say I did find a way to do hypo (I wish) would that guarantee me 100% that it would rid the ich? Also if I quarantined every fish CORRECTLY and after put them in the tank, would I NEVER get ich again? Is that possible, to NEVER get ich in one's tank? And also, what abt my live rock and all the little inverts living in it, would i have to move my LR also? And all my coepods, isopods all my little bugs and worms in my tank would they die?

[Meric]

When I do Hypo on my Quarantine Tank all invertabrates die.

In theory it is possible to eliminate all ick from a tank forever. In practice it is very hard.

You would have to remove all fish from your display tank for a minimum of 6 weeks and place them in a tank that is HypoSalinated for at least 2 weeks. I believe that is the life cycle from Cyst to Free Swimming stage.

After that you would have to Quarantine all new additions, every fish, coral, live rock, invertebrate, etc. For at least 6 weeks before adding it to your display tank.

All invertebrates/live rock could be kept in standard saltwater, but your new fish would have to be kept in a hyposalinity tank for at least 2 weeks.

So yes it can be done, but it would take an enormous amount of patience, time, and effort to do it. You would have to buy invertebrates and fish on different time tables and always at least 6 - 8 weeks apart, Unless you had multiple sick tanks.

Also most sick tanks are not equiped to handle the lighting requirements of Corals properly.

Personally I quarantine all new fish in hyposalinity for 2 weeks and keep them in my Q tank for at least 4 weeks before putting in my display tank. This gives them time to get healthy and reduces their stress since they are not bothered in the Q tank. I also quarantine Snails and Live rock to make sure no parasites are travelling with them. But I do not Quarantine Corals, Shrimps, Stars, etc.

I have never had an Ich outbreak in my main tank. This is probally from the fact that my tank is not overcrowded. I have 7 peacefull fish in a 125.