Hypo*fish Healthy*no Ick*why Not Keep Salinity Low?

[saltwatergal]

I thought I would let everyone know how my fish are doing after the salinity has been dropped to 1.009 for about a week. They have no sign of ick* Their color is great * eating * Happy*.
I know I have read that you keep the salinity down to 1.009 for about three weeks to break the ick cycle.
My question is "Why Can't The Salinity Stay At 1.009 In A Fish Only Tank?" That way you don't have to worry about ick returning to that tank. What would happen over some length of time at that salinity level for the health of the fish. I know nothing else can live!
If anyone has the answer let me know!
Thanks
saltwatergal

 

[carrie1429]

I do not think it is good to always keep them in low saline water because they are not meant to, they will be ok for a while but they will not do well if you always have them in hypo.

 

[saltwatergal]

I was wondering if you know there is going to be stress in the tank if you raise the salinity back up. Then the ick probably will come back. Why should you raise it?
My problem is that I have combined two tanks of fish into one larger tank. In other words I presently have (4) tangs in the fish only tank. Hippo, Salifin, Purple and Yellow. They are all getting along now since I feed them well and have plenty of hiding places, along with water changes. Their color is good and they all seem to be getting along at the moment.
Since I had such a terrible bout with ick in two of my tanks. I moved all of the fish into one tank to do hypo. The reason I don't want to put some of them back in the 46 bow it is now a live rock and invert tank that is doing fine with soft coral.
In other words I will have too keep all of the fish in the tank together for now.
Has anyone ever kept the salinity at 1.009 for any length of time over the three weeks knowing that the ick probably will return from the stress.
P.S. I didn't plan on having 4 tangs in one tank when I purchased them. Everything is o'k at the moment with 1.009.
Please give me any feedback on this problem.
Thanks!!
Saltwatergal

 

[saltwatergal]

I appreciate all of the help I am receiving on this matter.
I will inform everyone I had two tangs per tank to begin with.
The sailfin and the yellow tang were in the 46 bow tank which is now a live rock and invert tank with some soft coral I have added. The other tangs the hippo and the purple were in the 55 gal tank. They are now all in the 55 gal tank. I know I would not recommend putting that many tangs together in one tank. That is what has to happen when two tanks have ick.
The question on the P.h. of the low salinity tank. What if you keep a watch on the salinity so it maintains a 8.2 - 8.4 with a buffer when you do a water change will that work?
I really don't want to put any more of the tangs back in the 46 bow tank unless they are not prone to bother my soft coral.
Please give feedback!
Thanks.

 

[jdl/dayton]

Another consideration to permanant Hypo would be parasite immunity. I would think that over time the small percentage of parasites in a population which can survive in Hypo conditions would fill the niche similar to how a bacteria can become immune to antibiotics if administered too much. Just something to ponder.
There is also the long term effects on fish skeletal deterioration. The reduced ion concentrations could lead to leaching of calcium from the skeletons and a form of fish osteoporosous..(sp) over time.