Help With Ich

[warmitupchriss]

I am working on getting rid of ich in my tank. I've already removed my fish that survived and am treating them with copper in my hospital tank. In my DT I still have a lot of coral (mostly lps), snails, crabs, and my two cleaner shrimp. Leaving this thing baron for 72 days or whatever to get rid of ich.

So my question concerns stuff down in my sump: During this period where the tank is baron do I need to have things like my skimmer running? What about GFO reactor? Still change out filter socks on a regular basis? Run the lights in my refugium? (Have macro down there). Anyone with experience please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Tahoe61]

Run the sump as you normally would IMO.

 

[warmitupchriss]

What about feeding corals? I dose two part, but should I be feeding them something else and if so, how often? I also have an anemone.

 

[Maritimer]

Yes to all of your sump questions. Run your skimmer and change your socks, it'll keep your tank fresh and happy!

Without fish pooping on 'em, your corals may want a bit more feeding than they will need once the fish return, though they'll get by without in at least some cases. As far as what and how often to feed - that's going to depend a lot on what kinds of corals you're keeping. Some of them (LPS, I'm looking at you guys . . . ) are perfectly happy with a lot of the same foods your fish enjoy!

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

Agree with all advice above. Run your tank like normal, except for feeding the fish since they arn't there to feed of course.

 

[wkscott]

Agree with all advice above. Run your tank like normal, except for feeding the fish since they arn't there to feed of course.

I did this about 10 years ago but I continued to feed the tank almost as heavily as if the fish were still there (increased the coral food, decreased the fish food.)
Why did I do this? Well, during the fallow period, if you are not feeding the tank its normal amount, you could lose a considerable amount of your nitrifying bacteria. When you add a bunch of fish back into the DT, you can get ammonia spikes as the tank starts to cycle again. This ammonia could actually kill the very creatures you've worked so hard to save.

I'm not sure why I never see this mentioned in posts regarding leaving tanks fallow. Maybe I am just overly cautious.

 

[miyags]

I just let everything run as usual, and only hand feed some lps. That's it never had any type of spike when I added my fish back in 3 months later.

 

[melypr1985]

I did this about 10 years ago but I continued to feed the tank almost as heavily as if the fish were still there (increased the coral food, decreased the fish food.)
Why did I do this? Well, during the fallow period, if you are not feeding the tank its normal amount, you could lose a considerable amount of your nitrifying bacteria. When you add a bunch of fish back into the DT, you can get ammonia spikes as the tank starts to cycle again. This ammonia could actually kill the very creatures you've worked so hard to save.

I'm not sure why I never see this mentioned in posts regarding leaving tanks fallow. Maybe I am just overly cautious.

Actually we usually do mention it, but the die off of bacteria isn't as bad as you might think. It's not usually a problem if you continue to feed your corals.