questions before I start using a hospital Tank...

[bret61081]

Ok...I have a 55G that has been set up since Jan of this year. I got a 12G eclipse tank that I had been planning on using as a hospital tank. about a month ago, I purchased a yellow tang who within the first few days showed signs of Ich. I read that it was normal and it will usually go away once he got used to his new enviroment. the white spots all went away so this past weekend I added a small(2") blue throat trigger(yes I know he will get too big for the 55G and yes I do plan on getting a bigger tanks within the next year!!). now the yellow tang is showing signs of ich agian and so is the trigger! aren't they both too small to put in a 12G tank even if it is for only a few weeks. I feel bad putting them through the stress of being in such a small space and then being sick on top of that. there are 3 other fish in the 55G as well but none are showing or have ever shown any signs of ich. What should I do? put the Tigger and Tang in the 12G eclipse or do I need something bigger?? Please help! I don't want to lose either of them!!

 

[beth]

I'm afraid that all fish that have been exposed to ich [all the fish in your tank] will now likely get ich. You must treat all fish.
Please read the FAQ Thread and the posts on ich and hyposalinity.
What type of tank do you have? Do you have a refactrometer?

 

[red79]

yup that's true. If u don't treat them all now they will all dte one at a time eventually. Trust me I have spent 100's on meds.

 

[dskidmore]

If you can't afford a large enough hospital tank, rubbermaid containers may be the way to go. It's harder to observe well in there, but you've already dianosed the problem, and can begin the proper treatment and quarrentine period without a glass box.

 

[beth]

I agree, when I broke down my tank recently, I keep all my fish and corals in a 30 gal rubbermaid for a week! No causalities!

 

[bret61081]

ok...its mostly a FOWLR but I do have a green star polyp and a torch coral...plus a bubble tip and condy anenome. I have a 29G freshwater I can put those in the 12, but I will have to cycle the tank first, correct?? I buy water premixed from my LFS so that shouldnt be a problem, with some frytzyme to help cycle it faster. I also bought a UV setiliser that will be here thursday or Friday. Should I put that on the main tank or the tank with the fish that I am treating? also I read on here that eels can't get ich...is that true? or will be need to go in the treated tank as well?

 

[bret61081]

Originally Posted by Beth
I agree, when I broke down my tank recently, I keep all my fish and corals in a 30 gal rubbermaid for a week! No causalities!

so if I take down my 29G freshwater..clean it and buy new saltwater....how soon can I put the fish in it?? what water/filter were you using?? any help please! before they get worse and its too late! If I buy the salt water and use frytzme...will I be ok to add them asap or let it run a day or so still??

 

[dskidmore]

If you have an emergency medical situation, fill the new tank with old tank water, and dump the fishies in right away to begin teatment. Make up as much saltwater as you can store, test the QT tank twice a day for ammonia, and change out the water as necessary until it stabilizes. It would be better to have a pre-cycled tank handy, but when you have a medical emergency you just have to pay for the extra salt and test fluids. Otherwise you'd have to wait a week or two for it to cycle, and it could be too late by then.