Mollies And suspected Ich?

[madlos123]

So I have a 40 gallon fishless reef tank aquarium.
So 2 days ago, I acclimated 5 black freshwater mollies to my saltwater tank using the drip method in 24 hours. No casualties.
Today some mollies is showing some spots that could be ich? I know with their black bodies everything will show including scrapes bumps and such. Or maybe its something different?
How long does freshwater ich spots last on the scales of the mollies when fully transfered to saltwater? I feel like freshwater ich spots will just die once in saltwater?
My question is how fast should I acclimate them back to freshwater. Should I wait like 7 days or longer or its ok sooner?
My goal is to fallow my 40 gallon and have free ich on the mollies?
What do you think?

 

[madlos123]

Video might be still be processing to higher quality

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

FW ich is a different species and won’t survive in SW. The mollies haven’t been in the tank to have picked up SW ich (they are sometimes used as canaries in a coal mine to test tanks for ich.
I think the white spots are incidental - dislodged scales, maybe coral stings.
See how they are swimming head down though? That is a symptom of incomplete acclimation over to SW, I usually take 3 to 5 days to take mollies from FW to full SW. They may adjust eventually, but it is stressful for them.
Jay

 

[clhardy5]

FW ich is a different species and won’t survive in SW. The mollies haven’t been in the tank to have picked up SW ich (they are sometimes used as canaries in a coal mine to test tanks for ich.
I think the white spots are incidental - dislodged scales, maybe coral stings.
See how they are swimming head down though? That is a symptom of incomplete acclimation over to SW, I usually take 3 to 5 days to take mollies from FW to full SW. They may adjust eventually, but it is stressful for them.
Jay

Jay...What is your process for acclimating them? I was told 4 hours of drip...so I started with 3 mollies...slowly dripped tank water (with heater), and two didn't make it. I'm going to try a couple more, but don't want to stress (or kill) any more fish. What is your secret?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay...What is your process for acclimating them? I was told 4 hours of drip...so I started with 3 mollies...slowly dripped tank water (with heater), and two didn't make it. I'm going to try a couple more, but don't want to stress (or kill) any more fish. What is your secret?

I put the mollies in an established FW tank and slowly bring the salt up over days: perhaps three days to 1.020 or five days to 1.025. Even then, some may not make it. Sailfin mollies are best.
Jay

 

[clhardy5]

I put the mollies in an established FW tank and slowly bring the salt up over days: perhaps three days to 1.020 or five days to 1.025. Even then, some may not make it. Sailfin mollies are best.
Jay

Rats...I don't have an established fresh water. Could I just acclimate (via drip from an established QT saltwater tank) for five days - into a 20 gallon?

If so...I'll look for some sailfin. My one surviving male black Molly seems to be doing well.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Rats...I don't have an established fresh water. Could I just acclimate (via drip from an established QT saltwater tank) for five days - into a 20 gallon?

If so...I'll look for some sailfin. My one surviving male black Molly seems to be doing well.

You can do that, but you’ll need to be able to control any ammonia, thus my suggestion of starting with FW tank with an established biofilter.
Jay