Doing more harm than good?

[cjrudy]

Quick story.......I set up a QT to quarantine a new tiny Caribbean Tang,within two weeks he developed ich and I treated for five weeks. It has been almost three weeks since the last spot disappeared.

The question now is am I doing more harm than good by keeping him in the QT and this is why I ask.

He has grown from about 3/4 inch to almost 2 1/2 inches and in a 29 gallon biocube, he has no where to go.

The second major issue is tank stability, despite the water changes and using Amquel Plus and a PH Buffer I cannot stop the drastic ammonia spikes and PH swings.

I obviously don't want to infect my DT and would love to keep him in quarantine for another 3-5 weeks but am I doing more harm than good?

 

[TooTime]

Just to clarify your tang has grown 1 3/4 inches in 8 weeks?

 

[cjrudy]

Just to clarify your tang has grown 1 3/4 inches in 8 weeks?

Actually 10 weeks (2 before the ick, 5 teatment, 3 since)

 

[firefightered]

How long has your tank been set up and what are you using for filtration?

 

[cjrudy]

How long has your tank been set up and what are you using for filtration?

I set up the QT and cycled it for 6 weeks originally, however after I put the fish in, it started losing stability and now its really bad.

 

[aquabull]

Increase biological filtration.

 

[IPisces]

Do you have a sponge filter in the sump of your display tank. I keep one in my sump so I can take it out to seed my qt when I need it. It holds all the good bacteria for filtration. I would do a good water change to get the ammonia and/or nitrite levels down and then put the sponge filter in, if you have one.

 

[firefightered]

I have had the same problems in the past. What I did was just do regular 10 to 15 percent water changes every 2 wks. This I found to be the best remody for fixing the amonia and ph problem. A small tank can be a real pain at times and you just need to make changes slow or you'll have even more problems. Your tank could be going through another cycle like mine did. Take your time and add things slowly. you should be ok. Just my 2 cents.
Also.. Are you running a skimmer or any type of filtration? You my want to think about that. You can also use a rock or 2 from your display for filtration.

 

[cjrudy]

Considering I am only looking to hodl out another 3 weeks or so its probably not enough time to build up any type of biological filtration. Especially since is hasn't already happened in the past 16 weeks I have had this QT set up. Water changes, Amquel Plus and a PH buffer are the only things keeping this tank from crashing completely, thats why I am worried. The fish is doing so well now despite the tank parameters and size.

A 2 1/2 inch tang in a 29 gallon BioCube that's only 20 inches across isnt good, my 90 gallon at 48" would be much better.

 

[AcroholicReefer]

Should be good to go at this point. If it is eating well, it will have likely fought off any parasite or infection that the tang could have gotten from the "industry". I would put it in the display if it was my choice.

 

[cjrudy]

Update:...........I moved the tang room the QT to the DT yesterday afternoon. Within minutes he was swimming around like he owned the place, with only a pair of clowns, flame angel, chromis and YWG he is the biggest fish in there so no one will mess with him. Without a doubt he looks stress free compared to being in the QT. Definitely think it was the right move.