How long to fish-free the DT

itom37

itom37

Member
My fish have been all coppered up in the QT for 3 weeks! I can't believe i've made it this long. How long does the DT need to be fish free for the ich to be gone? I'm sure this info is somewhere, and I hate to make a multiple thread, but I can't find it and I'm sure one of you knows

So how long? I only want to do this once!
 
gnorman

gnorman

Active Member
i thought it was somewhere around 6 weeks b/c thats how long the life cycle is of Ich. so i would wait maybe a few days past that to be sure.
but take other peoples advice too b.c im only guessing from memory.
 
dinogeorge

dinogeorge

Member
In my opinion I would start to remove your copper from your QT with a poly pad and water changes. I would leave your fish in the QT for another week or two and observe them. Ideally you should leave your DT fish free for at least 6 weeks if that is possible.
Keep feeding your DT to insure your bacteria are flourishing. Try to keep your water temp at 81 to 83 degrees to insure you speed up the life cycle of whatever remaining Ick is in your DT.
If, for some reason, you are unable to leave your fish in QT for a total of 6 weeks, then your chances are at least pretty good if you will give it a minimum of 4 weeks.
6 weeks seems like a long time, but like you said...you only want to do this once!

Good luck
 
itom37

itom37

Member
The temp hangs out around 80-82, so the life cycle should be sped up a bit. I may not WANT to keep them in QT for another 3 weeks, but I will. I've been feeding the DT based on my own logic about the bacteria, good to hear this isn't a bad idea.
Thanks.
 
dinogeorge

dinogeorge

Member
No, no. Nothing to fear man. All you were trying to do with warm water was to speed up their cycle a bit. They don't go dormant in cooler water, so everyting is fine. I would go ahead and turn it back on and keep your tank as you normaly do.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
I agreee, keep the normal temp and maintain normals levels. Leave your display fishless for six weeks as Dino stated.
 
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