Your shortest period of fallowing

[jy808]

I understand 76 days is the benchmark to fallow your DT, to completely rid any parasites that remain.

Although I am sure there are some people out there that just took a bit of a gamble, got impatient and did not fallow the full 76 days.

What has been the shortest time you have gone fallow and what was your result?

I am in no way condoning this behaviour! but just wanted to see some experiences people have had with a shorter fallow.

 

[Vette67]

If you’re looking to shortcut it, you’re going in the wrong direction. I fought ick for 2 years. I tried 72 days. 3 days later, all fish were back In the hospital tank. I tried 80 days, all fish back in the hospital. I’ve gone as long as 90 days, and that still wasn’t enough. Over and over for 2 years. And lost several fish along the way. That leaves 2 possible conclusions. Either 90 days is not enough time for your tank to go fallow, or I had some super-ick that was tougher than most species to kill. 90 days fallow with 2 Lifegard 50 watt UV sterilizers finally did the trick. Expensive fix, but it worked.

Bottom line, every tank is different. What one person got away with is not something you should strive to emulate. Be safe. Stay fallow longer than necessary. Last thing you want is to get into a situation like me. Imagine no fish in your tank for 2 years.....

 

[AZMSGT]

0 days, all fish QTed prior to putting them in Main display.

 

[Marc2952]

If you’re looking to shortcut it, you’re going in the wrong direction. I fought ick for 2 years. I tried 72 days. 3 days later, all fish were back In the hospital tank. I tried 80 days, all fish back in the hospital. I’ve gone as long as 90 days, and that still wasn’t enough. Over and over for 2 years. And lost several fish along the way. That leaves 2 possible conclusions. Either 90 days is not enough time for your tank to go fallow, or I had some super-ick that was tougher than most species to kill. 90 days fallow with 2 Lifegard 50 watt UV sterilizers finally did the trick. Expensive fix, but it worked.

Bottom line, every tank is different. What one person got away with is not something you should strive to emulate. Be safe. Stay fallow longer than necessary. Last thing you want is to get into a situation like me. Imagine no fish in your tank for 2 years.....

Interesting never heard of that before, did you buy any corals or snails during fallow period?

 

[Vette67]

Interesting never heard of that before, did you buy any corals or snails during fallow period?

I will admit, at least one was my fault. I bought a tasseled filefish to eat aptasia from an LFS that claimed they had copper in their system, and I stupidly believed them. A few days later, all fish back in the hospital tank. But other times, there was nothing other than inverts in my tank while fallow. So I can’t explain how the ick could have survived. I thought the 76 day was a hard and fast rule, but in my experience, it was not.