Putting my sailfin into main tank

[seamonkee]

My sailfin tang is already one month into treatment... and I think it is high time it should go back into the main tank...

Question is.. should I or should I not put him back in the main tank for fear of possible ich minions left in the tank... Why am I asking? Simply because in a normal fallow treatment, it will take 8 weeks if the tank parameters are left unaltered. I started leaving my tank fallow on 12 Apr...

In my situation, I used a combination of the following methods and was wondering if it would lessen the fallow period.... should I take the risk I wonder... or just patiently wait another month... patience... patience... sigh...

1) After all my fishes died in the main tank (except the sailfin), I did an 80% total change of the water in my tank (this is done by siphoning the sandbed)

2) I replace the tank with water and kept it at a hypostate of 1.008. It was a risk I have to take with the liverocks inside... many bristleworms, aptasia and stuff died off during this time. Tank was left at this state for first week.

3) Did a rescaping and change another 80% water (through siphoning the bottom too) with hyposalinity raised back to 1.023. Over the next three weeks, I dose calcium, reef plus, trace to boost coralline growth (which the rocks are fast turning red). I have also dose some bacteria booster to aid the Nitrogen cycle. Tank now measures safe parameters of 0 (ammonia), 0 (nitrite) and 3.0 (nitrate).

4) Today just change rowaphos and UV bulb....

On top of this, I left the chiller off during this whole 4 weeks.... essentially, this is a half fallow, half hypo technique...

Tempted to put the sailfin back leh..... What do you guys think?

[hotlemond]

I think you should replace the Q tank water without medication and observe for a week, since its been there along and doing well.

Good chance to see if the ich REALLY gone. I felt the best way is to use the main tank water.

[weileong]

You should leave your main tank fishless for at least 8 weeks. Because the ich is at the dormant stage and will not be affect by all those "extra" stuffs you're doing.

Patience Patience and your effort will pay off well

[seamonkee]

You should leave your main tank fishless for at least 8 weeks. Because the ich is at the dormant stage and will not be affect by all those "extra" stuffs you're doing.

Patience Patience and your effort will pay off well

ARRGGGHHHH... Wait ah wait ah wait...

I must be patient.. I must be patient...

My hands itchy leh... but otherwise my efforts will be wasted... thanks bro weileong for waking me up... I will wait for four more weeks... hehehe... at least with the UV bulb replaced, it should maximise the killing effect for free floating iches...

I will release the fishes into the tank as "symbolic event" one week before I start work at my new place on 27 June... So timely

Bro hotlemond, anyway, I think I will not use the water from the main tank or otherwise I risk infecting my sailfin again... but I agree that I should take the next four weeks to reduce the copper in the tank for the sailfin... doing a 30% water change every week using newly mixed salt water...

[weileong]

Or you can put in carbon to absorb the copper too.

[seamonkee]

Or you can put in carbon to absorb the copper too.

Good idea....

Decision will lies on whether salt or carbon more expensive.. ahahaa

I have two tubs of rowacarbon and one half-tub of 200 gallon Oceanic salt... both like expensive leh... hahahah...

maybe I will just get some seachem matrix carbon.. .otherwise I will suffer "heartache" and pocket burns...

[weileong]

Quarantine tank no need use rowacarbon, those cheap carbon will do the job

[seamonkee]

Quarantine tank no need use rowacarbon, those cheap carbon will do the job