few questions about Beths wonder info post.

mkroher

mkroher

Member
1. After cycling the Q/T and removing the LR... isn't that taking the bacteria out of the tank with the rock? From what I understand there is much more bacteria on the LR than there is in the water column. Wouldn't a mechanical filter with biological filtration capabilities be a MUST in this case? Like a bio-wheel filter?
2. How important is it to maintain a salinity of 1.009 during hyposalinity? At what level does Ich in the "tomont" stage die? Can the salinity level vary with a +- .001 buffer due to evaporation and imperfect human top-offs?
3. Can there be multiple stages of the Ich life cycle at any given point?
Thanks
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3074976
1. After cycling the Q/T and removing the LR... isn't that taking the bacteria out of the tank with the rock? From what I understand there is much more bacteria on the LR than there is in the water column. Wouldn't a mechanical filter with biological filtration capabilities be a MUST in this case? Like a bio-wheel filter?You are correct that the live rock will have most of the beneficial bacteria. I did not reraed Beth's thread before this post but I do believe that she suggests a mechanical filter that will allow the bacteria to colonize and have the QT water flow through it. If it is not stated that is what I would do.
2. How important is it to maintain a salinity of 1.009 during hyposalinity? At what level does Ich in the "tomont" stage die? Can the salinity level vary with a +- .001 buffer due to evaporation and imperfect human top-offs?You should try to keep it at 1.009 or dip to 1.008 versus 1.010 IMHO.
3. Can there be multiple stages of the Ich life cycle at any given point?Yes
Thanks
AL Mc
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I cannot answer for BETH, but I believe she might say.
1.There is very little if any nitrifying bacteria in the water column. And you should most definitely have some sort of mechanical filter media in your QT system.
2. It is essential to maintain a specific gravity of 1.009 or salinity of 14-16 ppt do not confuse specific gravity with salinity You must maintain 1.009 specific gravity for hypo to be effective. That is a draw back to using hypo to treat ick. The hobbyist must be spot on with the treatment method. At the level of 1.009 the ick parasite can not divided using osmotic pressure differential.
3. YES there are varying time frames for each life cycle so you can have overlapping cycles
Sorry AL I posted before saw you did
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
thanks for the replies!
what about a level lower than 1.009? Like 1.006-7. That way there is enough room for error.
will the fish be harmed at that level?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3075008
thanks for the replies!
what about a level lower than 1.009? Like 1.006-7. That way there is enough room for error.
will the fish be harmed at that level?
While you could get way with a lower decrees in salinity .001 remember this lower salinity is not a natural environment for your fish. Do not add unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation to allow for a more lax procedure
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
but is it really stress? I read that their bodies don't have to work as hard with lower salinity levels.
I'm just trying to learn and understand as much as I can. I found a single white spot on my tang's fin, and I want to be prepared.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3075014
but is it really stress? I read that their bodies don't have to work as hard with lower salinity levels.
I'm just trying to learn and understand as much as I can. I found a single white spot on my tang's fin, and I want to be prepared.
You are starting hypo because your fish has a parasite. This parasite is living off your fish, it is taxing his immune system which is a stressful situation. The lower salinity is not the norm for your fish. his biological make up is geared for a higher salinity any chance in the norm IMO is stressful
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
1. After cycling the Q/T and removing the LR... isn't that taking the bacteria out of the tank with the rock? From what I understand there is much more bacteria on the LR than there is in the water column. Wouldn't a mechanical filter with biological filtration capabilities be a MUST in this case? Like a bio-wheel filter?
I like to keep some rubble rock in the QT at all times. This rock would not be returned to the display.
2. How important is it to maintain a salinity of 1.009 during hyposalinity? At what level does Ich in the "tomont" stage die? Can the salinity level vary with a +- .001 buffer due to evaporation and imperfect human top-offs?
Salinity need to be at 14ppt and specific gravity needs to be at 1.009. The range is the closed using both salinity and sg measurements.
3. Can there be multiple stages of the Ich life cycle at any given point?
Oh yeah, but it should all be done and over with within 3 weeks of hypo.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
aren't SG and salinity in direct relation to each other? meaning one can't rise or decline without the other?
I'm just going by what i see in my refractometer.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Wow my new friend you are taxing my limited brain. If I remember my collage chemistry both salinity and specific gravity measure the salt content in sea water the difference is in how the test for each is conducted. Salinity is measured in PPT while specific gravity is a ratio of the density of the water tested to the density of pure water at 4 degrees C.
If I am wrong someone please correct me
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
right.. so it's two different expressiones to describe the saltiness of water.
to have X salinity you need to have Y ppt. (at a certain temperate)., where Temperature is the only variable.
I read many posts on this forum, and some threads describe salinity and SG as two different things to monitor.. when it is only one.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
For our purposes they are one in the same. I believe in a laboratory setting one method is more accurate then another
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
ppt is supposedly more accurate. If you are using a refract, then you shouldn't have any problems hitting the target.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3075300
The life on the rock will not survive at hyposaline levels and will cause quite a large ammonia spike.
if the bacteria can't survice.. then what would be there to cycle the nitrogen with the fish in the Q/T? nothing? constant water changes? Amquel+ ?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3075363
if the bacteria can't survice.. then what would be there to cycle the nitrogen with the fish in the Q/T? nothing? constant water changes? Amquel+ ?
Once again sep is confusing god knows I love her, she is not taking about nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria but higher life forms
 
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