Cross contaminated. Could use some support :(

[Mariette]

I posted about this in my build thread but I’m just so so so so down about it I decided to reach out in a separate thread.

Long story short, 3 weeks to go in my fallow period, and I cross contaminated my brand new 110g. 76 long fallow days ahead.

I can’t even begin to wrap my head around how I could be so careless. I almost didn’t tell my husband and just pretended nothing happened. Ugh. UUUUGGGGHHHH

 

[HotRocks]

I posted about this in my build thread but I’m just so so so so down about it I decided to reach out in a separate thread.

Long story short, 3 weeks to go in my fallow period, and I cross contaminated my brand new 110g. 76 long fallow days ahead.

I can’t even begin to wrap my head around how I could be so careless. I almost didn’t tell my husband and just pretended nothing happened. Ugh. UUUUGGGGHHHH

Sorry to hear this.

What exactly happened? Because this may not be as bad as you think.

Unless you added something new to the "fallow" tank, you might only need to wait a short time.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Agree with hotrocks and came here to ask the same

 

[Salty Lemon]

Oh no! What happened?

 

[MTBake]

I'm with hotrocks and crabs. What happened? Perhaps its not so bad.

 

[Katrina71]

You are human. It's ok to make mistakes.

 

[Mariette]

I bought a 20g tank w 2 fish (a clown and an engineer goby), inverts, and corals. The previous owner seemed very unknowledgeable and had recently added the corals w no dip, no qt. The plan was to prophylactically treat the fish, have the rest go fallow for 76 days, add them all to my new 110g tank, and convert the 20g to a Display Refugium. Fish show no signs of illness and I’ve had them since Jun 1.

I was feeding the corals in the 20g some reef roids (mixed w their tank eater of course) and I had some leftovers. I dumped the leftover into the 110g

No confirmed illness in the 20g

 

[HotRocks]

I bought a 20g tank w 2 fish (a clown and an engineer goby), inverts, and corals. The previous owner seemed very unknowledgeable and had recently added the corals w no dip, no qt. The plan was to prophylactically treat the fish, have the rest go fallow for 76 days, add them all to my new 110g tank, and convert the 20g to a Display Refugium. Fish show no signs of illness and I’ve had them since Jun 1.

I was feeding the corals in the 20g some reef roids (mixed w their tank eater of course) and I had some leftovers. I dumped the leftover into the 110g

No confirmed illness in the 20g

See this isn't that bad.

In theory you can only transfer free swimmers by water. So ich free swimmers live for up to 48 hours and velvet is up to 14 days since they can survive without a fish host directly from light.

So about 16 days you should be safe.

 

[MTBake]

I'm not sure I would reset the clock based on that. But I'm not a fish disease expert either. Curious to hear what others have to say about this.

 

[HotRocks]

See this isn't that bad.

In theory you can only transfer free swimmers by water. So ich free swimmers live for up to 48 hours and velvet is up to 14 days since they can survive without a fish host directly from light.

So about 16 days you should be safe.

If Brook or flukes were present in the 20g it would be more of an issue.

 

[Mariette]

See this isn't that bad.

In theory you can only transfer free swimmers by water. So ich free swimmers live for up to 48 hours and velvet is up to 14 days since they can survive without a fish host directly from light.

So about 16 days you should be safe.

Really?!? REALLY REALLY?!? That’s amazing!!! Oh wow. Boy am I glad I asked.

What about Flukes or Brook? Anything to worry about there?

On another note, what about live rock? I bought live rock from someone and am qt’ing it for 76 days. Is that necessary?

 

[Mariette]

If Brook or flukes were present in the 20g it would be more of an issue.

I suppose it’s a possibility but both fish appear healthy. Do they have free floater stages too?

I should add the previous owner claims he’s had the tank running for a yr and had never had any disease

 

[HotRocks]

Really?!? REALLY REALLY?!? That’s amazing!!! Oh wow. Boy am I glad I asked.

What about Flukes or Brook? Anything to worry about there?

On another note, what about live rock? I bought live rock from someone and am qt’ing it for 76 days. Is that necessary?

Flukes can be treated in a DT, since the tank houses clowns if there was Brook present you'd probably know.

The LR still needs to be held fallow for 76 days.

LR can have encysted tomonts attached that can be releasing free swimmers.

 

[Mariette]

Flukes can be treated in a DT, since the tank houses clowns if there was Brook present you'd probably know.

The LR still needs to be held fallow for 76 days.

LR can have encysted tomonts attached that can be releasing free swimmers.

Flukes - did not know that. awesome thx
Brook - excellent point
LR - no problemo

You, Mr. Rocks, are a legend!! Thank you sir. Here, have a penguin ;Penguin

 

[HotRocks]

Flukes - did not know that. awesome thx
Brook - excellent point
LR - no problemo

You, Mr. Rocks, are a legend!! Thank you sir. Here, have a penguin ;Penguin

I take SPS corals for tips LOL! I kid. Glad to help. Best of luck.

 

[Mariette]

I take SPS corals for tips LOL! I kid. Glad to help. Best of luck.

I have no such corals. Perhaps the penguin was not enough. Perhaps 2 penguins would be more appropriate ;Penguin ;Penguin

 

[HotRocks]

I have no such corals. Perhaps the penguin was not enough. Perhaps 2 penguins would be more appropriate ;Penguin ;Penguin

 

[Mariette]

See this isn't that bad.

In theory you can only transfer free swimmers by water. So ich free swimmers live for up to 48 hours and velvet is up to 14 days since they can survive without a fish host directly from light.

So about 16 days you should be safe.

On a semi-unrelated topic, I have a mushroom in qt that detached from it’s frag. The qt has not been through the fallow period. Can parasites attach to a mushroom? I’m thinking I can transfer just the mushroom into the new tank and it should be good in 16 days?