when to do a freshwater dip on new livestock

[robcleve]

I just read some interesting articles about acclimating new livestock. I just don't understand the time line between acclimation, and the freshwater dip. I am obviously a newbie( I don't even have my tank set up yet). I will be setting up a fowlr tank. Any help with this, or any potential problems would help
Thanks, Rob

[Reefing Madness]

I wouldn't fresh water dip anything, stresses the crap outta what ever your dipping. Instead, why not put them in a QT tank? Hyposalinity for fish. drip acclimation for corals. Bag float for inverts, then again, it all depends on which invert also.

[leebca]

Rob,

You'll find info about who I am here: Bio - Lee (a.k.a. leebca)

After the fish has been acclimated to the quarantine tank water, then you give the fish a freshwater dip on its way to being released into the quarantine tank. The FW dip of new acquisitions is important. Most public aquariums do this. There are so many parasites on ornamental marine fishes coming through the system, that this process is a good way to get rid of those who can't tolerate the dip. You don't want these parasites in your display system. The problem with some of these is that they 'hide' so well that they can be missed during the quarantine process. Those that primarily affect gills is one example.

There are many posts and stickies on this and other subjects. Look at this post of links for topics: Table/Contents - Link List

[Reefing Madness]

Rob,

You'll find info about who I am here: Bio - Lee (a.k.a. leebca)

After the fish has been acclimated to the quarantine tank water, then you give the fish a freshwater dip on its way to being released into the quarantine tank. The FW dip of new acquisitions is important. Most public aquariums do this. There are so many parasites on ornamental marine fishes coming through the system, that this process is a good way to get rid of those who can't tolerate the dip. You don't want these parasites in your display system. The problem with some of these is that they 'hide' so well that they can be missed during the quarantine process. Those that primarily affect gills is one example.

There are many posts and stickies on this and other subjects. Look at this post of links for topics: Table/Contents - Link List

So, even after you Hypo the fish, you would still fresh water dip them? Sorry, I can't go along with that one, there is absolutely no reason to do it after Hypo. As you say, they hide, especially in the gills, but Hypo takes care of that. And if I might add, that is what a QT tank is for, to medicate and or Hypo the fish.
About Hyposalinity or Osmotic Shock Therapy - A Simple, Effective, Non-Chemical Treatment for Ich

[leebca]

If I read his post correctly, he is wondering about the FW dip after acclimation. Didn't see anything about hypo. If the fish is being treated with hypo, the use of the FW bath may still be necessary for certain parasites.

There are many parasites that will not die during hypo but do in fact die/fall off with a FW dip. Brook is one of those that a series of FW dips will cure, but not hypo, for instance. In the case of many copepods, a single dip gets rid of them, but not a hypo. Most of the family Poecilostromatoida will not drop off or are killed with hypo, but some do with a FW dip. They can be treated with organophosphates, but these chemicals are more harmful to the fish than the FW treatment, so the preference would be the FW bath for those that be handled in this treatment. The FW 'dip' I suggest is more of a bath.

If Black Ich can be treated even before it creates its visible signs, the fish is pretty much 'home free' of needing the Formalin/FW treatment. The FW bath also can stop a minor Black Ich attack rather than waiting for it to display and then require the Formalin/FW bath series for treatment. Thus, I find this particularly useful for the Tangs.

[Reefing Madness]

My tank is full of Tangs, and a few corals. Never dipped one of them, and never will. That stresses the crap out of an already stressed fish. If you can get the fish out of the stress he's in and get him to eat, you win the battle, if you stress him out more in a fresh water dip, possibility you just doomed him.

[ShooterRick]

Thanks for the great discussion. Being a newbie these type of posts are informative.