ATTN: Terry/Beth

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
Well i think my clown might have a small bout of Ich from the stupid flatworm stuff i used (never again). Anyway, this is the situation im faced with. I have a QT with a Royal Gramma in there at the moment, 1 week into his 3 week analysis after buying him. I think the best thing to do is hypo the QT and the two fish and leave the main tank fishless (for how long??).
Now I have read all the stickys in this forum and just wondered if you could tell me step by step how to do it (I have a good quality glass hydrometer), how long for etc.
Also, if i do this and leave the main tank free for x amount of days and hypo every new fish, will that prevent any ich coming into my tank?
Thanks,
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

bump...hope you can help

 

[beth]

O.S.T. stands for Osmotic Shock Therapy which is commonly referred to in the hobby as hyposalinity [water that is deficient in sea salt]. Essentially, O.S.T. simply places the infectors [Cryptocaryon parasite---ick/ich] in an environment in which they cannot survive while the host, (or infected fish) can. This remedy WILL NOT work in reef systems, invert tanks or FOWLR as it incorporates lowering the specific gravity of the entire system to 1.009 Specific Gravity which is not tolerated by inverts or LR.
To drop the salinity, this is done as you would do a normal water change. However, you are simply replenishing your tank with fresh RO/DI water---not salt water! Monitor the lowering closely so as to not reduce it too fast. Usually over a period of 48 hours is fine. The bacteria colony which is the biological support for your tank will survive, the fish will be perfectly fine, but the ich will not. By lowering the salinity, you will also be lowering the osmotic pressure of the water. Boney fish tolerate this treatment very well, in fact, once the water become hyposaline, you will likely note a significant improvement in your fish health and appetite. There is no reason to fear this treatment. You can do a water-change out, in small increments every half hr or so.
Your goal is to drop the specific gravity to 1.009 [48-hrs] gradually. Once all signs of the parasite are gone, then keep your fish in this hypo-saline water for 3-4 wks. If all is well, then you can gradually [over the course of 4-5 days] bring the specific gravity [salinity] back up to normal levels . If all is well after a week, then return the fish to their main tank.
When the fish are eating, offer them quality and varied food soaked in garlic, zoe/zoecon, vitamin C.

 

[timsedwards]

thanks beth, leigh pointed me in the direction of the other thread on ick treatments, just got a question or two there if you could verify for me?
Thanks for your help.
Tim.

 

[beth]

Yes, if you leave the tank fishless for a month, then the ick in the tank will be killed. If you QT all your fish, and hypo them before they go into the display, then you will prevent ich from entering your tank. However, for better accuracy, you need to get a refract. Have you tried ----?

 

[timsedwards]

yes but they dont sell refrac's over here at all, they (lfs's) see them as something professional aquariums use? I know they are a good idea but over ehre marines are no where near as big as the US and because everything else is expensive a refrac is least of their priorities!
My high quality glass hydrometer will do though right?
The only other q's, is do i put the fish in the QT and then lower salinity? And how to keep pH levels correct?
Also in what incraments and time scale should i lower the salinity? And what if it goes below 1.009? Will that harm the fish?
Thanks!
Tim.

 

[beth]

Yes, acclimate the fish to the QT with the normal salinity. Once they are fine, then lower the salinity in slow increments over a 48 hr period. This is pretty time consuming as a lot of water change out are needed. Test for pH daily and if you have a problem with maintaining pH then at least 2x a day. You can buffer water before putting it in the tank if you have pH problems.

 

[timsedwards]

OK thanks Beth I shall put the clown in the QT tonight and do one water change. If the buffer is only for salt water will it work with freshwater in my rubbermaid then?
Will it harm the fish if it goes below 1.009?