Running tank Fallow

[Redneckreef90]

i have a ick breakout in my tank and will be putting my fish in quarantine tomorrow. Besides no fish in my DT for 76+ days what else should I be in the look out for while going fallow. I will keep up with water changes and testing but should I ghost feed the tank a few times a week? And what else should I pay attention for? I will have inverts and corals in the tank while it is fallow. Also will moving corals from my DT to another tank possible transfer the ick to that tank? I have gotten a lot of help so far and really appreciate it.

 

[Duke4Life]

ghost feeding is ok. Don't move corals as ick may be transferred with. Nothing else 2 do but sit and wait.

 

[Redneckreef90]

ghost feeding is ok. Don't move corals as ick may be transferred with. Nothing else 2 do but sit and wait.

That's what I figured. Would it be okay to still add new corals and inverts to the tank during this time.

 

[alyee5]

Hmmmm....let me take a stab at answering this to see if I learned anything from reading a lot on this forum...
If you add inverts and/or corals to your DT without QT'ing them, then you would technically need to start the clock again for your fallow period.
I believe the rationale being that the new corals/inverts has the risk of hosting ick...
Again I speaking from what I've read vs actual experience...let's see what others say...

 

[Duke4Life]

That's what I figured. Would it be okay to still add new corals and inverts to the tank during this time.

I'd refrain from doing so.

 

[mcarroll]

Curious what the regime for adding corals and inverts is supposed to be under this "sterile tank" regime?

• Healthy fish can resist disease all day long, 365 days a year.
• At the same time, anything and everything can theoretically carry parasites into your tank and ruin your "sterility" - even air.

Those two things go together - it's not a coincidence. I can't help thinking of these two things every time I hear about a sterile tank.

It seems like trying to keep a sterile tank (which is a paradox - even the 76 days is a hopeful number) is a losing battle where you kneecap your star player (the fish's immune system) right out of the gate by applying QT conditions which are typically stressful...often combined with non-targeted and/or targeted medication, which also are stressful.

Speaking from my own experience, as long as the fish are eating quality food and aren't currently being subjected to stressful living conditions, they should be able to pull through and become healthy individuals in 90% or more of all cases. In most cases, I would do no more than daily (or as-needed) freshwater dips if that seemed called for.

$.02