Fallow periods

Damon Jensen · Dec 19, 2019

Hey folks, looks like the next step is a fallow period. What if anything can stay in my tank during the 76 days?

Eels, snails, hermits, feather dusters, sea hare, red stripe shrimp, tube worms, starfish?

Thanks

Samina · Dec 19, 2019

I was under the impression that eels were highly resistant to velvet and ich but can still be carriers of the parasite. So your fallow period might not kill off the parasite while the tank is still housing an eel.

As far as what’s safe to keep in, inverts and corals is my understanding.

pecan2phat · Dec 19, 2019

When I performed a fallow session on my tank, I took all the fish out and left all the inverts and corals in. In the past, I have done this 1x before and found that it did not really eradicate the parasite. I chalk this up to not performing copper treatment of the fish properly and possibly reintroducing the parasite back into the display or possibly not waiting the full suggested 76 days. (think I did 70 or 72 days)
This time (recently) I waited the full 76 days (possibly 80 days) and treated all the fish in Chloroquine Phosphate and multiple rounds of API General Cure with a tank transfer and long observation period since I had an additional period of time before they could go back into the display. Fast forward, everything looks good and fine for the initial 4 weeks or so and then I see flashing/scratching with one of the Tangs. 3 months later and I see other fish doing the same and no physical signs on the exterior body of any fish but we all know that the obvious.
So in both my experiences with fallow periods, they kind of work and kind of not, at least not in the terms of 100%. My theory is not the procedure but rather that possibly the tank should be devoid of even all snails and crabs, just my 2 cents.

LAReefer4Life · Dec 19, 2019

All fish and eels must be out of tank during fallow period. All coral and inverts can remain in the display.

Big G · Dec 19, 2019

The eel is the problem critter. It will need to be treated in a QT with CP (aka chloroquine-phosphate). They do not do well at all with any form of copper.

Chloroquine phosphate

Chloroquine Phosphate *** The information contained here is subject to changes as I experiment and learn more about Chloroquine Phosphate *** What It Treats – Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans), Marine Velvet Disease (Amyloodinium ocellatum), Brooklynella hostilis and Uronema marinum. How To...

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