FOWLR for quarantine?? Help needed

reefboarder · 02/25/2010, 04:02 PM

In the process of setting up a FOWLR 55 galllons with the intent of using it as a hypo salinity quarantine.

I am wondering if the live rock will be able to continue being live or will it become devoid of life such as copepods and other beneficial life being that it will have a specific gravity of 1.020-1.021?

I have a sick powder brown (ICH) that I intend on hopusing along with two black O's two blue/green chromis one coral beauty two lawnmower blennies and one target mandarin for the suggested 8 week period to ensure the display is no longer infected with ICH.

My biggest concern is a food source for the mandarin, take into consideration that I am aware of the fact that 55 gallons is too small for that stock list but I have no extra cash to buy another tank.

mille239 · 02/25/2010, 04:23 PM

Well, if you want to bring the salinity down to be considered "hypo"salinity, the magic number is 1.009. 1.020-1.021 will do NOTHING to help the ICH. Bring it down over a day or so, and leave it at that level for 6 weeks to be absolutly sure. Make sure you test your pH and keep the water well oxygenated.

With that said, your live-rock will die off (some of the beneficial bacteria will survive and come back, but most if not all macro-life will be gone) I did the hypo with some live rock, and my coralline died off some, but came back thriving after 2 months of hypo.. worms and everything else had to be reseeded once the salinity was reraised.

Hope this helps!

reefboarder · 02/25/2010, 04:28 PM

I know you can buy copepods live from my LFS. will they last for my mandarin to eat or should I consider an alternative for it?
Mille thank you, I had read else where that the salinity I posted would do the trick looks like I need to keep reading

reefboarder · 02/25/2010, 05:32 PM

bump

RRaider · 02/26/2010, 01:22 AM

Leave the mandarin in the display imo. I've never seen one get ich.

02/25/2010, 04:02 PM	#1
reefboarder Intelligent Donkey Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Farmington Posts: 1,257	FOWLR for quarantine?? Help needed In the process of setting up a FOWLR 55 galllons with the intent of using it as a hypo salinity quarantine. I am wondering if the live rock will be able to continue being live or will it become devoid of life such as copepods and other beneficial life being that it will have a specific gravity of 1.020-1.021? I have a sick powder brown (ICH) that I intend on hopusing along with two black O's two blue/green chromis one coral beauty two lawnmower blennies and one target mandarin for the suggested 8 week period to ensure the display is no longer infected with ICH. My biggest concern is a food source for the mandarin, take into consideration that I am aware of the fact that 55 gallons is too small for that stock list but I have no extra cash to buy another tank.

02/25/2010, 04:23 PM	#2
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Well, if you want to bring the salinity down to be considered "hypo"salinity, the magic number is 1.009. 1.020-1.021 will do NOTHING to help the ICH. Bring it down over a day or so, and leave it at that level for 6 weeks to be absolutly sure. Make sure you test your pH and keep the water well oxygenated. With that said, your live-rock will die off (some of the beneficial bacteria will survive and come back, but most if not all macro-life will be gone) I did the hypo with some live rock, and my coralline died off some, but came back thriving after 2 months of hypo.. worms and everything else had to be reseeded once the salinity was reraised. Hope this helps! __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

02/25/2010, 04:28 PM	#3
reefboarder Intelligent Donkey Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Farmington Posts: 1,257	I know you can buy copepods live from my LFS. will they last for my mandarin to eat or should I consider an alternative for it? Mille thank you, I had read else where that the salinity I posted would do the trick looks like I need to keep reading

02/25/2010, 05:32 PM	#4
reefboarder Intelligent Donkey Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Farmington Posts: 1,257	bump

02/26/2010, 01:22 AM	#5
RRaider Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 703	Leave the mandarin in the display imo. I've never seen one get ich.