Starting a new 20 Gallon Nano.

[andrewjardin]

Ok, thanks for everyones help!! I'm going to treat with copper and I will let you all know how it goes, and continue to update with anything new. Another question about the ich parasite moving around. . . Can it completely detach itself from the fish because this morning neither of the clowns have any spots on them anywhere, they look perfect, can this happen? Thanks again! - Andrew

 

[1snapple]

i hate to think about putting copper into a system, i would try hypo first then if that doesn't work do copper.
and a refractometer is a great investment.

 

[andrewjardin]

I'll be doing copper treatment in a QT, not the main system. Gemmy suggested the method? And yeah, I can see i'm going to need to get a refractometer soon, they seem to be a popular topic of discussion in comparison to hydrometers soo, I guess thats what i'll ask for on my birthday lol

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewjardin http:///forum/thread/382349/starting-a-new-20-gallon-nano/60#post_3341995
Ok, thanks for everyones help!! I'm going to treat with copper and I will let you all know how it goes, and continue to update with anything new. Another question about the ich parasite moving around. . . Can it completely detach itself from the fish because this morning neither of the clowns have any spots on them anywhere, they look perfect, can this happen? Thanks again! - Andrew
Yup, they can detach themselves. The ich is a parasite and it has a lifecycle. Look at these guys like you would fleas (sort of). I copied the 4 stages of ich below to help you understand it. This also explains why it is important to let the tank the fish were in to fallow.
The Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease (Cryptocaryon) parasite has 4 distinct phases in its life. (See Graphic below.)
1. Tomont Stage
: relative; z-index: 0; ">[*]Trophonts which have burrowed into the gills & formed cysts, protected by gill mucus.[*]Trophonts can live in the cyst embedded in the gills almost indefinitely.
[*]
No effective treatment at this stage.
[*]
2.
Trophont Stage

• 
  Tomont

• cysts have been discharged from the gills.
  Can survive for 6 to 10 days

• in the cyst.
  Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) and some chemical treatments are effective in exploding the cyst and Tomites

• .

ng-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; list-style-type: disc; ">3. Tomite Stage

• [*]Parasites (Tomites) discharged from the Tomont cyst and become free swimming.
  [*]
  Tomites can survive for 1-2 days before they must find another host.
  [*]
  Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) treatment effective in exploding the Tomites.
  Many chemical treatments effective at this stage.

4. Trophont Stage
Tomites which attached to the fish's gills feed from the host, grow, form a cyst and become dormant.
Tomites which attach to the fish's surface feed from the host, grow, detach from the fish and go to the Trophont Stage 2.
[*]
Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) treatment effective in exploding the surface cysts.
[*]
Some chemicals effective in treatment of surface cysts at this stage.

 

[andrewjardin]

Yikes! Okay well i'll just be keeping an eye on it and hopefully all goes well Thanks for every bodys help on here! Will update in a while or sooner!