QT or Fresh water/methylene blue dip?

[Congaken]

Read an article in Coral Magazine by Robert Fenner...for butterfly fish he recommends a pH adjusted fresh water dip with methylene blue instead of QT followed by putting them directly into the display tank...I have a black sailfin blenny in QT...no meds, no disease so far (1 week)...would this be a way to go for my blenny...he is eating and seems fine, but if I don't have to keep him in the QT for another 2 or 3 week...well that would be better...of course, if it is effective...also, if the method is good, how does one balance the pH, when salt water is very different from the plain RO...Thanks...

 

[melypr1985]

I wouldn't do that with any fish-too big of a risk. Your blenny needs to be observed for several weeks before being able to semi-confidently say he's safe. Blennies have a thick slime coat and can hide symptoms of something like ick easily and for a long time. My suggestion would be to run him through TTM and prazi and a minimum before putting him in the display. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Humblefish]

A FW dip + methylene blue will remove some surface parasites/worms, but it is far from a proper QT. Deeply embedded parasites, such as ich, would be unaffected.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

how does one balance the pH, when salt water is very different from the plain RO.

Air stone in the water for 24hrs or premade ro that has been sitting and then baking soda. An effective first stage coral dip before coral qt as well.

I'd reread Bobs advice, that doesnt sound quite right. I actually know him. You can ask him on wetwebmedia too
Although his general qt method is somewhat less about prophylactic medication, it does usually involve QT. Or there's a specific to the butterfly for this method.
I do know his qt and conditioning for mandarins are different than other fish for example, and he usually has species specifics involved in his Qt and hospital protocols.