Tank Transfer/Ick/QT feedback

[bigpapa]

Hello all. Ok, I am in need of some direction on this one.
My first mistake was when I originally set up my tank I did not have a QT. That is going to change. But, here is my situation: I will be moving in about 2 months and I guess have an opportunity to rectify my prior mistake when I change over tanks. Right now I have my DT as a 60gal open top tank and have a 70gal bowfront glass top tank in waiting for when I move(after having a fish jump out I wanted to go this route).
I would like to do this change over at the same time as ridding my DT of ick. Right now there is one clown in the tank that always has the dam parasite on it but does not bother him. The obvious issue is that it is in my tank and will be present for any fish I introduce and that doesnt bode well for more delicate fish. I have 60lbs LR and LS, 1 small mushroom, various snails and hermits, 2 sallys, a yellow tang, 3 cleaner gobies, 3 clowns, a lawnmower, 1 mandarine goby and a spotted goby, 1 blue damsel.
I plan on moving about 40 gallons of the present water to the new tank but I need to know how I can manage to rid the tanks of ick. I am assuming that hypo will be involved but a good step list would help knowing the time frame I am working with. BTW, they are already being treated with ick attack and loads of garlic.
I know this is alot but with a couple of months to spare I figured this would be the best time to start asking.
Oh, and I am guessing one of the first questions is do I have the QT set up yet and that is no. I wasnt planning on that till the new place so I have one less tank to move.
Thanks to any and all help, I know I will probably here it about the QT but I am trying to make ammends--the tank has been up since september.

 

[al mc]

I preface this by saying that ideally you would set up QT now, hypo the fish and let the DT stay fallow for 6 weeks. However, in a situation wher you would like to not have to set up a full QT since you are moving....my two
suggestions:
1. Wait till you move. Set up both tanks. The new tank stays fallow..just sand/inverts and the old DT is transformed into your new QT.
2. My choice in your situation. Start soon (before the move) Move all the rock and inverts into a rubbermade tub with powerhead, heater and light.
Then hypo the fish in the existing DT. This should take 4-5 weeks total to take them to hypo and back out. When you move in 8 weeks all the fish (now free of Ich from hypo), their water and the rock/inverts (Ich gone here as no fish present with them for 6 weeks) go into the new
DT you set up in your new home.

 

[bigpapa]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/2540576
I preface this by saying that ideally you would set up QT now, hypo the fish and let the DT stay fallow for 6 weeks. However, in a situation wher you would like to not have to set up a full QT since you are moving....my two
suggestions:
1. Wait till you move. Set up both tanks. The new tank stays fallow..just sand/inverts and the old DT is transformed into your new QT.
2. My choice in your situation. Start soon (before the move) Move all the rock and inverts into a rubbermade tub with powerhead, heater and light.
Then hypo the fish in the existing DT. This should take 4-5 weeks total to take them to hypo and back out. When you move in 8 weeks all the fish (now free of Ich from hypo), their water and the rock/inverts (Ich gone here as no fish present with them for 6 weeks) go into the new
DT you set up in your new home.
yeah I agree with you and will be going with choice 2. But, what about the LS? should I try and move as much as I can into the rubbermaid as well or just let it be. I read that the Hypo is not good for that either.

 

[al mc]

The live sand microoragnism will die with hyposalinity, but the beneficial bacteria will not. So, I would leave it intact and do hypo with it in there OR just 'toss it out'. Once you start to move it you will be releasing lots of nitrates and organic debris....that is why I would just leave it.
Either way, I would probably start with new sand when I moved. Some live and some regular sand mixed in the new tank at the beginning should give yopu a good start nitrogen cycle wise.
If you decide to use the old sand either in the rubbermade tub or in the new tank after the move. Rinse it in salt water to remove the junk. You will preserve a good bit of the beneficial bacteria this way without starting a nityrogen cycle because you brought along all the unwanted organic debris.

 

[bigpapa]

Thanks again, I figured that would be the case and I was thinking about using new sand in the new tank anyway.
Thanks,
rob