New Ich Fallow Period

[Flame2hawk]

We dont think that long -- Like Two weeks! So you should be pretty good - The longest any study outside the crazy 72 day study showed 28 days I believe.

The study only kept tomonts dormant (in a hypoxic environment) for 1 month before "waking them up" in an oxic environment: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848617315892

However, later in the study it was postulated that ich tomonts could remain dormant for "months" if they were continuously exposed to a hypoxic environment without interruption.

I WAS feeling better….now I’m paranoid again. This hobby is taxing. I’m on day 87….what do I do from here?

 

[Flame2hawk]

Oh wow I will have to read through this one...

The study only kept tomonts dormant (in a hypoxic environment) for 1 month before "waking them up" in an oxic environment: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848617315892

However, later in the study it was postulated that ich tomonts could remain dormant for "months" if they were continuously exposed to a hypoxic environment without interruption.

Well I WAS feeling better. I’m on day 87 and have done what I mentioned above. I wouldn't call it allot of sifting and blowing as some advocate every 2 days which I came no where near doing). Somehow I thought, foolishly it appears, that 90 days would kill anything and everything no matter what. Now it appears if you dont actively sift sand and blow out rocks, time essentially doesn't matter. UGH! So what to do now?? Might suggest black mollies, but I know of a hobbyist that claims Mollies gave their tank a really bad bacteria when they used for same purpose. WOuld appreciate suggestions from here as I was going to start slowly adding fish tomorrow but certainly cant use expensive fish to test. Exhausting…..thx,

 

[Dierks]

Somehow I thought, foolishly it appears, that 90 days would kill anything and everything no matter what.

Me as well... How deep are your sand beds? In instances that its less than 4" I cant imagine this being an issue.

 

[Dierks]

Ould appreciate suggestions from here as I was going to start slowly adding fish tomorrow but certainly cant use expensive fish to test

I would still do this

 

[biggjoe8]

Me as well... How deep are your sand beds? In instances that its less than 4" I cant imagine this being an issue.

My sand bed is 2 and half inches. I have only stirred it once in 2 weeks. Seems like i should be doing it more often. I was gonna do it once more this weekend. Don't plan on adding any fish back till the 27th so I have time to stir it up a couple of more times.

 

[Flame2hawk]

Yes mine is probably 1 1/2-2 inches. I went out and bought 2 black mollies and am acclimating over 3-4 hours and adding them. Its worth the peace of mind . Thx

 

[Flame2hawk]

NOw that I decided to go the black mollie route, how long do I need to observe them to ensure there no ich? I was told at LFS that I’ll know in a couple of days max. Hmmmmm

 

[Humblefish]

NOw that I decided to go the black mollie route, how long do I need to observe them to ensure there no ich? I was told at LFS that I’ll know in a couple of days max. Hmmmmm

I'd wait at least a month

 

[Flame2hawk]

I'd wait at least a month

Wow, didn’t expect that. For my learning, as well as others, when you get a chance can you please explain. Thank you so much as I’ve learned so much form you.

 

[Jessican]

Wow, didn’t expect that. For my learning, as well as others, when you get a chance can you please explain. Thank you so much as I’ve learned so much form you.

From the black molly QT thread:

QT usage: "Because you are having to wait for any parasites to drop off, encyst and then release free swimmers to infect the mollies observation time should be 4-6 weeks."

Testing a fallow DT: "I advise a 2 week test period before giving the all-clear."

 

[Flame2hawk]

From the black molly QT thread:

QT usage: "Because you are having to wait for any parasites to drop off, encyst and then release free swimmers to infect the mollies observation time should be 4-6 weeks."

Testing a fallow DT: "I advise a 2 week test period before giving the all-clear."

I definitely need to navigate the site better. I was going through all the forums but like a dummy didn’t think about using the search function to find anything on Black mollies. Will know better next time. After 90 days of FALLOW, I was hoping to be clear and free sooner than another 4-6 weeks. Oh well my wife wont be happy with all these QT tanks with fish waiting to go into new home but such is life!! Thx.

 

[Jessican]

I definitely need to navigate the site better. I was going through all the forums but like a dummy didn’t think about using the search function to find anything on Black mollies. Will know better next time. After 90 days of FALLOW, I was hoping to be clear and free sooner than another 4-6 weeks. Oh well my wife wont be happy with all these QT tanks with fish waiting to go into new home but such is life!! Thx.

Also take a look at this, it's a good spot to start when hunting for information: Useful Links

 

[Poochaku]

I dropped to 80.3F. Considering the margin of error for temperatur probes, how long should I extend QT once I get back up to 80.6F?

 

[Humblefish]

I dropped to 80.3F. Considering the margin of error for temperatur probes, how long should I extend QT once I get back up to 80.6F?

I'd give it a couple more weeks

 

[Jposch]

I dropped to 80.3F. Considering the margin of error for temperatur probes, how long should I extend QT once I get back up to 80.6F?

Be sure you vacuum the sand and all that as well. I've seen quite a few case where the only logical cause for fallow fail was cysts surviving in anoxic areas in the sand or under rock.

 

[phatduckk]

Be sure you vacuum the sand and all that as well. I've seen quite a few case where the only logical cause for fallow fail was cysts surviving in anoxic areas in the sand or under rock.

I've been blowing my sand around with a really long turkey baster through my whole fallow period. Filter roller goes nuts!

 

[Dierks]

I've been blowing my sand around with a really long turkey baster through my whole fallow period. Filter roller goes nuts!

You have to be getting really close!

 

[Flame2hawk]

I religiously followed all the rules for 90 days (yes 3 months, not 6/8 wks) 81 degrees FALLOW. Stirred up everything, blew out rocks and fish in copper for 40 days. Returned them back into DT/reef. 3 weeks later with no new additions, ich was back. Now they are going through peroxide treatment which is going well. I know too many who have tried and failed using the fallow method. I wish you better luck then I.

 

[Poochaku]

I'd give it a couple more weeks

probably just going to go back to 76 days to play it safe.

 

[phatduckk]

You have to be getting really close!

I have Oct 17 set on my calendar as "end fallow". I forget how I picked that date but its 76 days after something lol

I'll probably round it off to Nov 1 tho. I'm on the edge of "should I buy a bunch of fish" and "eh, maybe go slow just in case".