Yipee- I think I get to hypo my fish....but I need help

[rtlimpus]

OK. So one of my little clowns shows up with little white sand flakes on him one night. I immediately suspect ich. Then the next morning it was gone so I thought he was just rolling in the sand. That night they are back. During the day he looks fine and at night for the last 3 nights they are back. I recently got a diamond goby so I am thinking he brought this to my tank. Does ich do that?
I have to set up a QT today, but I have a few questions about that too. Don't I need to cycle the tank and alll that before I can even treat? Can I just grab some LR from my tank and water from LFS with a heater to start treatment? Oh wait. I will kill my LR with the Hyposalinity.

I am at a loss.
I just bought a refractometer online and will have it in a few days, but I am worried things will get worse.
HELP?!?!

 

[florida joe]

yes you need to make sure you have adequate bio filtration in your QT . do you always buy your water from your LFS
IMO it does not sound like ick. For your own benefit research the life cycle of ick and then tell me why i don't think its ick

 

[rtlimpus]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3255151
yes you need to make sure you have adequate bio filtration in your QT . do you always buy your water from your LFS
IMO it does not sound like ick. For your own benefit research the life cycle of ick and then tell me why i don't think its ick
I did research it and the the dudes hang on to the fish for a week (I think) before they drop off and find a home to multiply. Thats why I am confused. Could it be something else you can think of, Joe? Or just the sand that it looks like.
Hey- I just had a thought. I have read that clowns have a slimey coat to protect them from the anemone stings. Could sand be sticking to his slime?
Even so, I want to set up a QT. So do I run the QT all the time like a regular tank, just with nothing in it? I got rid of my 39 gal for a Biocube due to the lighting, but perhaps i could keep that running empty? I don't get how it will stay alive with no critters in it.
Thanks tho Joe. And if I am wrong about the ICK, pleeezzz be gentle with me.

 

[rtlimpus]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3255151
yes you need to make sure you have adequate bio filtration in your QT . do you always buy your water from your LFS
IMO it does not sound like ick. For your own benefit research the life cycle of ick and then tell me why i don't think its ick
Oh- and for now I buy my water from LFS. I have been researching the RO/DI units but there are SOOOOO many to choose from.

 

[flower]

A word of caution, if you do have ich… removing one fish while others stay in the tank will do you no good and is a waste of effort. The entire tank must remain empty of fish for 6 to 8 weeks to clear it of ich. A QT is great if you use it before you add the new fish. It is impossible to keep all your fish in a smaller QT for that long.
So always use a QT on new arrivals. In a reef you have some real troubles to get rid of ich. In a fish only tank it isn’t so bad. Those over the counter meds for a reef don’t work.

 

[rtlimpus]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3255196

A word of caution, if you do have ich… removing one fish while others stay in the tank will do you no good and is a waste of effort. The entire tank must remain empty of fish for 6 to 8 weeks to clear it of ich. A QT is great if you use it before you add the new fish. It is impossible to keep all your fish in a smaller QT for that long.
So always use a QT on new arrivals. In a reef you have some real troubles to get rid of ich. In a fish only tank it isn’t so bad. Those over the counter meds for a reef don’t work.
Live and learn I only have 3 fish, so not too worried about putting them in a QT, but I don't even know if it is ICH. I definately will always use a QT from know on tho.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by rtlimpus
http:///forum/post/3255240
Live and learn I only have 3 fish, so not too worried about putting them in a QT, but I don't even know if it is ICH. I definately will always use a QT from know on tho.

LOL... I hope its not ich. I got it in my reef once, what a nightmare. QTs are a life saver for sure...

 

[florida joe]

OK. So one of my little clowns shows up with little white sand flakes on him one night. I immediately suspect ich. Then the next morning it was gone so I thought he was just rolling in the sand. That night they are back. During the day he looks fine and at night for the last 3 nights they are back
this time frame IMO makes it very unlikly its ick