Hospital Tank Chems

[stevetcg]

I have always read that you shouldnt use additives in the tank and in my DTs I do not. However, I had a massive ich outbreak in my clown tank and had to pull the fish and get them under copper treatment.

The problem is my hospital isnt cycled. Is this an appropriate time to use something like AmQuel+ or should I just let the filter sponge do its stuff?

NH3/NH4+ is 0.50
NO2- is 0.25

Thanks!

[IslandCrow]

I'd only use something like Amquel if in an emergency. . .and you may just be there with .5ppm ammonia. Personally, though, I'd try a large water change first. Afterwards, you'll just have to do very regular water changes. I'd always do at least two 10% water changes per week (usually three) when I had fish in a hospital tank or QT. If that filter sponge is new, it's going to take awhile before it's colonized any bacteria. In the future, you may want to just keep it in your sump so it's always ready to go.

Now, as a note, some people actually advise against doing water changes for high ammonia levels. The thinking is that since ammonia is less toxic at lower PH levels, a potential rise in PH during a water change could be detrimental. Personally, I've never seen significant rises in my PH levels during a water change, so I don't subscribe to that theory.

[bertoni]

I'd use Amquel rather than leave a fish in untreated 0.5 ppm ammonia, but I agree that waiting a bit might be preferable. If the fish is very sick, I'd definitely do some water changes, dose some Amquel, and start treating.

[wooden_reefer]

Originally Posted by stevetcg

I have always read that you shouldnt use additives in the tank and in my DTs I do not. However, I had a massive ich outbreak in my clown tank and had to pull the fish and get them under copper treatment.

The problem is my hospital isnt cycled. Is this an appropriate time to use something like AmQuel+ or should I just let the filter sponge do its stuff?

NH3/NH4+ is 0.50
NO2- is 0.25

Thanks!

Ammonia is very toxic to fish and sub-lethal level now can cause problem much later. Internal parasites may win out a few months from now.

If a fish is not dying soon of ich; take care of ammonia first. Do not insist on eradication of ich at this stage.

have you tried scrouning around in DT for nitrification bacteria to be used in QT? If you have a large DT, you may try running a sponge in a power filter in the DT. When a light color sponge turns dark, it shows that some particles in the DT are collected and sometimes there can be enough bacteria for a couple of clown fish.

You should start a cycle now in a separate container. If you drip water over a medium, the cycle should take no more than three weeks. Any fish that make it past the third week will have a better future; you will do less to remove ammonia in QT.

[bertoni]

I should be careful when I say "start treating". I would try hyposalinity, but Amquel and similar chemicals can make copper treatment very toxic.