hyposalinity question

sugarridgeranch · 02/08/2008, 11:33 AM

Hello All..Hope someone can help!...I have a royal gramma basslet in my QT tank with a very mild case of ich (ie. 1-3 visible spots). Currently has been undergoing hyposalinity tx for 3 weeks. sp grav at 1.009.(using refractometer) Also have a UV ster. running 24/7, feeding garlic soaked food and using "ich attack."...Here's where the problem comes in- one day the gramma will have no visible spots, the next day 1-3 spots, a few days none again. I am guessing this is due to the ich life cycle. The entire time the fish has been eating well and does not seem to be bothered by the ich. I am confused why I can't seem to break the life cycle of the ich! It's as if it's a stand off- fish vs. ich and no one is winning. Which is great to an extent, but at some point I would like to get this fish out of QT. Is it possible that I have ich that are not affected by the hypo tx?? How long can I keep the fish in Hypo, and will the ich eventually "burn out?" Any ideas besides copper? Hate to introduce it to my QT, as I QT inverts in there from time to time as well. Don't really want to have 2 QT tanks running...Thanks a bunch!!

Shooter7 · 02/08/2008, 11:40 AM

To Reef Central

I guess I would first ask if you are absolutely sure that your refractometer is calibrated correctly. However, the resiliency of some of these pests is why you QT for so long. You know that your time period only begins at the point where you don't see any spots anymore, right?

xenon · 02/08/2008, 11:41 AM

Make sure you're refractometer is properly calibrated.

If it goes above 1.010 you have to start the clock over again. The clock starts when 1.009 salinity is reached. Keep the fish in qt for 8weeks.

sugarridgeranch · 02/08/2008, 11:46 AM

Calibrated the refractometer with distilled H2O and is supposed to automatically adjust reading acording to temp. I feel that it is accurate, although recalibrating could not hurt, just to be safe. I am aware that the period starts when all spots are gone, that is one of my concerns. Already has been in hypo for 3 weeks, and if another 4 weeks or more are necessary will this harm the fish? I have read that fish in hypo for too long can have kidney failure..but haven't been able to find out exactly what is "too long". Any thoughts?

hwynboy · 02/08/2008, 11:59 AM

The total time needed in hypo AT 1.009 or below is at LEAST 4-6 weeks. Different studies have found them to be able to survive up to 6 weeks because of the cycle. I have always qtd for 6-8 weeks. Good luck...it's still too soon. And the period of hypo starts when the salinity reaches 1.009 not when the spots are gone.

sugarridgeranch · 02/08/2008, 12:07 PM

...OK just recalibrated and was off by +.001, also refractometer has accuracy to +/- .001, so my salinity could have been up to 1.011, which I suppose could account for the ich "straglers" that just don't die. Plan to drop down to 1.009 and start the "clock" over. Thanks so much.. wish me luck!!

hwynboy · 02/08/2008, 12:15 PM

good luck, at least 6 weeks imo....

sugarridgeranch · 02/08/2008, 12:17 PM

Thanks!

02/08/2008, 11:33 AM	#1
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	hyposalinity question Hello All..Hope someone can help!...I have a royal gramma basslet in my QT tank with a very mild case of ich (ie. 1-3 visible spots). Currently has been undergoing hyposalinity tx for 3 weeks. sp grav at 1.009.(using refractometer) Also have a UV ster. running 24/7, feeding garlic soaked food and using "ich attack."...Here's where the problem comes in- one day the gramma will have no visible spots, the next day 1-3 spots, a few days none again. I am guessing this is due to the ich life cycle. The entire time the fish has been eating well and does not seem to be bothered by the ich. I am confused why I can't seem to break the life cycle of the ich! It's as if it's a stand off- fish vs. ich and no one is winning. Which is great to an extent, but at some point I would like to get this fish out of QT. Is it possible that I have ich that are not affected by the hypo tx?? How long can I keep the fish in Hypo, and will the ich eventually "burn out?" Any ideas besides copper? Hate to introduce it to my QT, as I QT inverts in there from time to time as well. Don't really want to have 2 QT tanks running...Thanks a bunch!! __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

02/08/2008, 11:40 AM	#2
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	*To Reef Central* I guess I would first ask if you are absolutely sure that your refractometer is calibrated correctly. However, the resiliency of some of these pests is why you QT for so long. You know that your time period only begins at the point where you don't see any spots anymore, right? __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/08/2008, 11:46 AM	#4
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	Calibrated the refractometer with distilled H2O and is supposed to automatically adjust reading acording to temp. I feel that it is accurate, although recalibrating could not hurt, just to be safe. I am aware that the period starts when all spots are gone, that is one of my concerns. Already has been in hypo for 3 weeks, and if another 4 weeks or more are necessary will this harm the fish? I have read that fish in hypo for too long can have kidney failure..but haven't been able to find out exactly what is "too long". Any thoughts? __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

02/08/2008, 11:59 AM	#5
hwynboy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 2,458	The total time needed in hypo AT 1.009 or below is at LEAST 4-6 weeks. Different studies have found them to be able to survive up to 6 weeks because of the cycle. I have always qtd for 6-8 weeks. Good luck...it's still too soon. And the period of hypo starts when the salinity reaches 1.009 not when the spots are gone. __________________ Malama Pono Ua mau ke'ea o'ka aina i ka pono "He who has large reef tank has small wallet" Current Tank Info: 300gal starphire tank, Deltec Kalkreactor, MRC2 skimmer, MRC dual Calcium reactor, 2 Tunze Stream 6100's w/multi-cntrlr, 5 MH 400x20000K , 2-110w VHOs..30 gal clown tank, 120 FOWLR, 35 gal sump, Euroreef CS8-3 skimmer, 4-96watt actinics

02/08/2008, 12:07 PM	#6
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	...OK just recalibrated and was off by +.001, also refractometer has accuracy to +/- .001, so my salinity could have been up to 1.011, which I suppose could account for the ich "straglers" that just don't die. Plan to drop down to 1.009 and start the "clock" over. Thanks so much.. wish me luck!! __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

02/08/2008, 11:41 AM	#3
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Make sure you're refractometer is properly calibrated. If it goes above 1.010 you have to start the clock over again. The clock starts when 1.009 salinity is reached. Keep the fish in qt for 8weeks.

02/08/2008, 12:15 PM	#7
hwynboy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 2,458	good luck, at least 6 weeks imo.... __________________ Malama Pono Ua mau ke'ea o'ka aina i ka pono "He who has large reef tank has small wallet" Current Tank Info: 300gal starphire tank, Deltec Kalkreactor, MRC2 skimmer, MRC dual Calcium reactor, 2 Tunze Stream 6100's w/multi-cntrlr, 5 MH 400x20000K , 2-110w VHOs..30 gal clown tank, 120 FOWLR, 35 gal sump, Euroreef CS8-3 skimmer, 4-96watt actinics

02/08/2008, 12:17 PM	#8
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	Thanks! __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks