Hyposalanity ich treatment

kingtoad · 03/07/2006, 05:13 PM

I started up my QT tank two, maybe three weeks ago, I can't remember. I spent the first 5 days lowering the salanity to 1.009. It's been at 1.009 since then. I no longer see any white spots on my fish, although if there was it would be difficult to see since I have no light for my QT--but as far as observing my fish very closely, I can no longer see any signs of Ich and my fish are now healed up, with the exception of my true percula. He had a very dark spot on him which is from Ich I'm assuming, but now it is very faint and the size of the spot has reduced and looks almost closed now.

They seem to be doing fine... kind of lost their apetite while I was lowering the salanity, but I got them to eat Mysis shrimp, and they love it. Even my Black Cap Basslet comes out to eat it, which was pretty rare.

I'm not going to add the fish to my main tank probably for another four weeks or so to kill off the remaining Ich in my main tank.

My question is... how soon can I start raising the salanity of my QT back to 1.023 - 1.025?

Amphiprion · 03/07/2006, 05:21 PM

Most people give it at least 3-4 weeks to eradicate the parasites for sure, but no longer for risk of problems.

TippyToeX · 03/07/2006, 05:29 PM

I've always kept hypo in QT for a full 6 weeks. Or at the very least 4 weeks after any spots go away.

A good read:

Hyposalinity Treatment

kingtoad · 03/07/2006, 06:56 PM

How would I go about doing water changes? See, I buy my water premixed. If I do a waterchange and add saltwater, I would raise the salanity, but if I add R/O water, I would decrease it anymore. I wonder if I would harm the fish to do 1 - 2 gallon water changes of R/O. Then in a couple days, do another water change with Salt Water. What do you guys think?

TippyToeX · 03/07/2006, 07:30 PM

Why not just go ahead and dilute the bought seawater down to the salinity you need. You would have more water for future changes, that's not a bad thing at all. Just put any extra seawater in a storage container with a powerhead and you are all set.

A key to good QTing is consistency. Having a steady 1.009 for hypo is a must.

bertoni · 03/07/2006, 07:31 PM

You should be able to mix RO and DI to get some water of the right SG. That's what I'd do. It's a linear function, so if the saltwater is at at 1.024, you'll want about 1/3 saltwater and 2/3 RO water. A little more saltwater than that would be 1.009.

03/07/2006, 05:13 PM	#1
kingtoad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 399	Hyposalanity ich treatment I started up my QT tank two, maybe three weeks ago, I can't remember. I spent the first 5 days lowering the salanity to 1.009. It's been at 1.009 since then. I no longer see any white spots on my fish, although if there was it would be difficult to see since I have no light for my QT--but as far as observing my fish very closely, I can no longer see any signs of Ich and my fish are now healed up, with the exception of my true percula. He had a very dark spot on him which is from Ich I'm assuming, but now it is very faint and the size of the spot has reduced and looks almost closed now. They seem to be doing fine... kind of lost their apetite while I was lowering the salanity, but I got them to eat Mysis shrimp, and they love it. Even my Black Cap Basslet comes out to eat it, which was pretty rare. I'm not going to add the fish to my main tank probably for another four weeks or so to kill off the remaining Ich in my main tank. My question is... how soon can I start raising the salanity of my QT back to 1.023 - 1.025?

03/07/2006, 05:21 PM	#2
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Most people give it at least 3-4 weeks to eradicate the parasites for sure, but no longer for risk of problems. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/07/2006, 05:29 PM	#3
TippyToeX Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 10,711	I've always kept hypo in QT for a full 6 weeks. Or at the very least 4 weeks after any spots go away. A good read: Hyposalinity Treatment __________________ -Amy-

03/07/2006, 07:30 PM	#5
TippyToeX Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 10,711	Why not just go ahead and dilute the bought seawater down to the salinity you need. You would have more water for future changes, that's not a bad thing at all. Just put any extra seawater in a storage container with a powerhead and you are all set. A key to good QTing is consistency. Having a steady 1.009 for hypo is a must. __________________ -Amy-

03/07/2006, 07:31 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You should be able to mix RO and DI to get some water of the right SG. That's what I'd do. It's a linear function, so if the saltwater is at at 1.024, you'll want about 1/3 saltwater and 2/3 RO water. A little more saltwater than that would be 1.009. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/07/2006, 06:56 PM	#4
kingtoad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 399	How would I go about doing water changes? See, I buy my water premixed. If I do a waterchange and add saltwater, I would raise the salanity, but if I add R/O water, I would decrease it anymore. I wonder if I would harm the fish to do 1 - 2 gallon water changes of R/O. Then in a couple days, do another water change with Salt Water. What do you guys think?