Question about Ick and Hypo

[adamc1303]

I was reading the FAQ sticky on hyposlanity. It says that it can only be done in a fish only tank, not even a FOWLR tank. Is the reason you can't do it in a FOWLR tank because it wouldn't work, or because the hypo would kill the life on the rock but still work on the fish and ick? I am in the middle of hypo salinity right now. I have just completed the first week with a full 7 days of the salinity being at 1009. I noticed this morning that the ick has returned to some fish. Is this normal, or should I not be seeing any signs of it while the slainity is this low?
Thanks,
Adam

 

[beth]

Hopefully, you are not hypo-ing a tank with live rock. It will kill the micro organisms on the live rock, and, subsequently, add a lot of dead organic material to your tank's bioload. Obviously with the price of live rock, you do not want kill it off.

 

[tizzo]

Originally Posted by Adamc1303
http:///forum/post/2620720
I I have just completed the first week with a full 7 days of the salinity being at 1009. I noticed this morning that the ick has returned to some fish. Is this normal, or should I not be seeing any signs of it while the slainity is this low?
Thanks,
Adam
Your 3 week time frame is supposed to START after you have no longer seen any signs of ick. The fact that you have seen them this morning, your 3 weeks begins again.
I think it is normal to see them into the hypo treatment. I am treating my fish also, 1 week tomorrow, but I am planning on treating for 4 weeks anyway, which is 2 life cycles of the animal...
I asked the time frame question to another person. I was hoping he'd say I only have to QT for 2 weeks since the life cycle is that long, but I was wrong... Here's what he wrote...

Tizzo--
You'll have to use hypo for at least 1 complete life cycle if not 2 life cycles of the parasite. Most folks recommend 30 days and during this time. If your fish are doing well in the hypo QT, then all is well
Frank

 

[sepulatian]

Adam, what are you using to measure the SG?

 

[adamc1303]

I am using a refractometer. Beth I am doing the hypo in a tank with rock. However I picked up very cheap dead rock for this tank and seeded it with a few pieces of LR from another tank. I wish I had an alternative, but I have no room for another tank or a tub to keep the rock in.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Adamc1303
http:///forum/post/2621384
I am using a refractometer. Beth I am doing the hypo in a tank with rock. However I picked up very cheap dead rock for this tank and seeded it with a few pieces of LR from another tank. I wish I had an alternative, but I have no room for another tank or a tub to keep the rock in.
We have had posts like this before. It did not end well, I am sad to say. If you see the ammonia spiking then pull the rock out into a tub. It will either be a tub for the rock or many buckets of water mixing to keep up with the ammonia and fish that may not survive. I hope that it does well, but the chances are against it. There is more to die on LR than you see. Watch your ammonia VERY carefully.

 

[adamc1303]

Wow thanks for the heads up I had no idea. I am going to perform allot of water changes ant take out as much rock as I can. I can't cure the fish of ICK if I stress them out with an ammonia spike. So far it's been a week. knock on wood! I will do a water change tomorrow.