Quick question about TTM Timing

[leahfiish]

I purchased 2 fish yesterday and put them together in a 10g qt intending to use the TTM. I put them in the Qt at about 9pm. So by my calculations I should do the first transfer before 9pm on Tuesday the 13th. Let's say I do the transfer at 8:30pm. The next transfer would be on the 16th at 8. Then the 19th at 7:30. Then the 22nd at 7. And at that point my fish are ich free? So the transfer on the 22nd could be right into the display? Would that be the case if I did the transfer earlier on the 22nd, say at noon?

I'm just trying to figure it out and make sure it's correct, since I'll be travelling for probably more than 72 hours around Christmas and I'd prefer to have the fish on the display by then, since I won't be home to dose prime to the Qt.

 

[melypr1985]

I purchased 2 fish yesterday and put them together in a 10g qt intending to use the TTM. I put them in the Qt at about 9pm. So by my calculations I should do the first transfer before 9pm on Tuesday the 13th. Let's say I do the transfer at 8:30pm. The next transfer would be on the 16th at 8. Then the 19th at 7:30. Then the 22nd at 7. And at that point my fish are ich free? So the transfer on the 22nd could be right into the display? Would that be the case if I did the transfer earlier on the 22nd, say at noon?

I'm just trying to figure it out and make sure it's correct, since I'll be travelling for probably more than 72 hours around Christmas and I'd prefer to have the fish on the display by then, since I won't be home to dose prime to the Qt.

If the transfers and sterilization of the tanks and equipment are done correctly then the fish should be ick free... though there is still the chance for velvet, flukes (if you don't run prazi during TTM), and infections. It's advisable to put the fish into a QT for observation for two weeks following TTM to be sure these other problems don't crop up. Up to you in the end of course.

 

[leahfiish]

Thank you. I understand that I would be taking a risk with other infections and parasites but since they will be the first fish going into the display I am considering just doing the TTM and prazi.

 

[melypr1985]

Thank you. I understand that I would be taking a risk with other infections and parasites but since they will be the first fish going into the display I am considering just doing the TTM and prazi.

OK. You'll know if you ended up with velvet or anything else that TTM doesn't treat for if when you get home the fish are sick/dying OR if when you add new fish after QT, they get sick. Just a heads up, so that you'll know what to look for with the next batch of fish

 

[Humblefish]

Doing the transfers a little early is never a problem; you just never want to exceed 72 hours.

Observing for at least 2 weeks post TTM is a wise course of action before placing the fish in your DT.

 

[leahfiish]

I'm might still just transfer to a bigger, more permanent qt on the 22nd just to be on the safe side. But does the time of day for the last transfer matter? Does it have to be after 12 days (288 hours) have elapsed to be successful?

I am mostly just uncomfortable with leaving 2 fish in a 10g unattended for 3 to 4 days with no top off, food, or ammonia neutralizer. I have a 29g that could be used as a better observation tank that will be less prone to salinity swings and territorial disputes.

 

[melypr1985]

But does the time of day for the last transfer matter? Does it have to be after 12 days (84 hours) have elapsed to be successful?

The last transfer should still adhere to the 72 hour rule. So 72 hours, or less, from the transfer before that.

 

[leahfiish]

The last transfer should still adhere to the 72 hour rule. So 72 hours, or less, from the transfer before that.

This is where I'm getting confused. How long do I have to wait for the last transfer? Like could I do the 3rd transfer, and then 24 hours later do the last transfer and be done with it?

 

[melypr1985]

This is where I'm getting confused. How long do I have to wait for the last transfer? Like could I do the 3rd transfer, and then 24 hours later do the last transfer and be done with it?

You can do it before the 72 hours, but you would do a 6th transfer 48 hours after that. The total time frame doesn't change, even if you do the transfers every 24 hours, you would still take up a total of 12 days.... ending on the 13th day where they are in the larger QT for observation.

 

[leahfiish]

You can do it before the 72 hours, but you would do a 6th transfer 48 hours after that. The total time frame doesn't change, even if you do the transfers every 24 hours, you would still take up a total of 12 days.... ending on the 13th day where they are in the larger QT for observation.

Got it. Thanks for your patience.

 

[Humblefish]

This is how I do TTM:

• Day 1 - Fish is placed in initial QT.
• Day 4 - Roughly 72 hours later transfer the fish to new tank. The time of day you do the transfer is unimportant, but never exceed 72 hours from the last transfer. The temperature and SG of the new tank should match the old one perfectly, so you can just catch & release (no acclimation). Transfer as little water as possible with the fish.
• Day 7 - Repeat.
• Day 10 - Repeat.
• Day 13 - Repeat and done (fish should now be ich free).

However, following this guideline works just as well:

1. Transfers need to occur every 72 hours OR less, NOT more
2. The total number of days to pass should be 12 OR more, NOT less
3. A minimum of four transfers is required, with more required if doing transfers more frequent than every 72 hours
4. Time of day of transfers does not matter, provided no more than 72 hours elapse between transfers (ignore what you think you know or have heard about mornings being required)

So, let's say a scheduling conflict prevents you from getting a transfer done before the 72 hr deadline. No problem! Just do the transfer 24 hrs early (for example); but know you may need to do an extra transfer at the tail end to get you over the 12 day mark.

 

[leahfiish]

Thanks Humblefish, that last paragraph was exactly what I needed to hear.

 

[leahfiish]

I came up with another question. On the threads on TTM, it says that Prazipro can be used on the tail end of transfers 2 and 4 (or 1 and 3), but not to use Prime with it. But on the directions it says treatment should last 5-7 days, and to use "a combination of Liquid Buffered ClorAm-X and Stress-X to remove ammonia, chlorine and chloramines". This seems contradictory to me, does PraziPro really only need 2 24-hour doses to be effective? :s

 

[Humblefish]

I came up with another question. On the threads on TTM, it says that Prazipro can be used on the tail end of transfers 2 and 4 (or 1 and 3), but not to use Prime with it. But on the directions it says treatment should last 5-7 days, and to use "a combination of Liquid Buffered ClorAm-X and Stress-X to remove ammonia, chlorine and chloramines". This seems contradictory to me, does PraziPro really only need 2 24-hour doses to be effective? :s

It actually forces all the flukes to dislodge from the fish within 6-8 hrs, so 24 hrs is overkill.