FOWLR at 1.020?

[salty joe]

A lot (all?) of vendors keep their fish water at about 1.020.
Is that effective for tamping down parasites over the long haul?
If so, why not run FOWLR tank at 1.020 and forget the risky QT treatment?

 

[Scotty Buttons]

I think the main reason they do it is because it's cheaper on their salt budget.

 

[Indymann99]

+1 that vendors run low SG due to $$ savings on salt.. when you go through thousands of gallons of water each month a small drop in SG adds up to savings.
HOWEVER this does NOT replace good QT practice.

 

[Jesterrace]

It can also be to disguise or hide parasites for the time it takes you to buy the fish. Fortunately my LFS runs theirs at 1.025 as they are a coral specialty store.

 

[4FordFamily]

Honestly 1.020 isn’t going to marginally impact parasites, but I keep my FOWLR 1.021-1.022.

 

[salty joe]

Saving money on salt makes sense.

Honestly 1.020 isn’t going to marginally impact parasites, but I keep my FOWLR 1.021-1.022.

I realize 1.020 won't eliminate parasites but I thought 1.020 was low enough to slow down/mask parasites long enough to make a sale. I can't see how vendors wouldn't have major outbreaks otherwise since as far as I know, they are not treating with copper, etc.-IDK. Am I wrong here?
BTW, why do you keep your FOWLR at less than full strength seawater?

 

[4FordFamily]

Saving money on salt makes sense.



I realize 1.020 won't eliminate parasites but I thought 1.020 was low enough to slow down/mask parasites long enough to make a sale. I can't see how vendors wouldn't have major outbreaks otherwise since as far as I know, they are not treating with copper, etc.-IDK. Am I wrong here?
BTW, why do you keep your FOWLR at less than full strength seawater?

Almost all vendors keep the fish in low level copper and I suspect low level metroplex or another antibiotic. The antibiotic hunch is purely unsubstantiated and the copper is pretty widely accepted/known— to keep them alive long enough to sell.

I keep the FOWLR a bit lower for the cost savings as well, and because it’s just what I’ve always done in a FOWLR. It’s a 500 gallon system so every dollar saved is a good dollar!

I also have a 180 and a 34 (Red Sea reefer 170) so I use a lot of salt.

 

[jda]

I always found that NSW level tank parameters made for healthier fish and in the end, I spent less. Some species, especially those that live on the reefs, can really suffer in hypo for long... which is different than a quick stay in a QT tank. Also, it was easy to change water from my reef into my FOWLR so that I did not waste much.