Ich Cycle.....Fish From QT Back to DT?

[firefighterj80]

So I am sure this has been discussed in great detail but I'm looking for a fairly direct answer. I had a blue eye kole tang that I bought from a LFS and against my better judgement, placed directly into the DT without quarantining. Inevitably, ich became prevalent and several fish got ich, including the tang that was the catalyst for the outbreak. I added a UV once I noticed the outbreak(for future, and to help eradicate this cycle) and have had it running since(correct turnover for parasites, not algae). I was able to remove all fish from my reef and place them into a HT for treatment with copper. Tank has been fallow for 45 days and I'm wondering if there is any reason fish can't be returned to DT with the tank being fallow this long and also being hit with UV for the entirety? Obviously all fish moving forward will be going through the QT process prior to DT addition. Thanks for the input!!!

 

[davidcalgary29]

You should be fine as long as you maintained therapeutic levels of copper in the hospital tank for the prescribed period of time.

 

[firefighterj80]

You should be fine as long as you maintained therapeutic levels of copper in the hospital tank for the prescribed period of time.

Copper has been spot on the entire time for appropriate treatment. Thank you for the response!

 

[nereefpat]

What's the temperature of the display tank?

The new paradigm is that 45 days is long enough for fallow, as long as the temperature is above 80 degrees. So if that's the case, and fish are still in copper at the appropriate concentration and have been in copper for that long, I would be comfortable adding them right back to the display.

 

[Jekyl]

I thought it was 76 days? (I don't quarantine, just asking)

 

[Tamberav]

So I am sure this has been discussed in great detail but I'm looking for a fairly direct answer. I had a blue eye kole tang that I bought from a LFS and against my better judgement, placed directly into the DT without quarantining. Inevitably, ich became prevalent and several fish got ich, including the tang that was the catalyst for the outbreak. I added a UV once I noticed the outbreak(for future, and to help eradicate this cycle) and have had it running since(correct turnover for parasites, not algae). I was able to remove all fish from my reef and place them into a HT for treatment with copper. Tank has been fallow for 45 days and I'm wondering if there is any reason fish can't be returned to DT with the tank being fallow this long and also being hit with UV for the entirety? Obviously all fish moving forward will be going through the QT process prior to DT addition. Thanks for the input!!!

depends, what TEMP did you fallow at?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I thought it was 76 days? (I don't quarantine, just asking)

It's been updated.

76 days south of 80°

45 at 80° Maintained temp +

So @firefighterj80 Direct answer as requested, it depends on the above ; )

 

[firefighterj80]

What's the temperature of the display tank?

The new paradigm is that 45 days is long enough for fallow, as long as the temperature is above 80 degrees. So if that's the case, and fish are still in copper at the appropriate concentration and have been in copper for that long, I would be comfortable adding them right back to the display.

DT is at 78 but also has a UV running nonstop. Copper treatment has been steady and appropriate level.

 

[nereefpat]

I would give it a little more time on the fallow. But it's a risk tolerance and bell curve thing.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I would give it a little more time on the fallow. But it's a risk tolerance and bell curve thing.

Agreed.

At this point it would be a crap shoot to repopulate the tank.

You've already done the hard work. Getting everything out and healthy.

Give it time. You REALLY REALLY don't want to dump and pray, and be Wrong .

 

[firefighterj80]

I would give it a little more time on the fallow. But it's a risk tolerance and bell curve thing.

Agreed.

At this point it would be a crap shoot to repopulate the tank.

You've already done the hard work. Getting everything out and healthy.

Give it time. You REALLY REALLY don't want to dump and pray, and be Wrong .

You guys thinking I should go the full 76 days?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

You guys thinking I should go the full 76 days?

Yes.

For no other reason than the insurance policy of Not having to do this again in two weeks, and you know you would go the full 76 that time. May as well do it now.

 

[nereefpat]

You guys thinking I should go the full 76 days?

That's a tough one. It's probably not needed, but who knows.

I would not drop the copper concentration while you are waiting.

 

[firefighterj80]

That's a tough one. It's probably not needed, but who knows.

I would not drop the copper concentration while you are waiting.

Even though the fish have been in copper for 40+days?

 

[nereefpat]

Even though the fish have been in copper for 40+days?

I can't prove it, but I suspect many 'fallow failures' are due to leaving fish in the same tank and dropping copper levels, allowing for tomonts (cysts) to hatch and reinfect fish in the quarantine tank.

 

[firefighterj80]

I can't prove it, but I suspect many 'fallow failures' are due to leaving fish in the same tank and dropping copper levels, allowing for tomonts (cysts) to hatch and reinfect fish in the quarantine tank.

My copper has been maintained and is spot on. Guessing I'll just wait to reintroduce them to the display. 76 days is a nightmare

 

[elchopo]

DT is at 78 but also has a UV running nonstop. Copper treatment has been steady and appropriate level.

What did you use for UV?

 

[firefighterj80]

What did you use for UV?

I'm running Aqua UV 25w.

 

[Jdzzl03]

As others stated, it's all about your risk tolerance. Since you have already done the hard part of getting everything out, I would personally go the full 76 days. You would hate to return the fish early only to have to restart the fallow cycle of few weeks or months later.

 

[elchopo]

As others stated, it's all about your risk tolerance. Since you have already done the hard part of getting everything out, I would personally go the full 76 days. You would hate to return the fish early only to have to restart the fallow cycle of few weeks or months later.

I agree, most of the labor is in getting the little jerks out of the water lol. Then it's all about a routine and being good about water changes and constantly checking levels. I would probably burn it all to the ground if I returned mine too early only to have to try and take them back out.