Starting over

[pmwoodward]

Hi,
I started a 75 gal marine tank about 18 months ago. Have done reasonably well except for not knowing the value of a QT tank when I started out. After adding a few new fish, I got an outbreak of cryptocarin. I treated with copper, but apparently, not correctly. For the past several months I have put all newly aquired fish into a 10 gal QT tank at 0.3 ppm copper for 21 days. I have recently got my third outbreak of it. Aparently I never got rid of it. A few days ago, I moved everything from my 75 gal to a 29 gal ( I do not have too many fish at this point). I completely emptied the 75, scrubbed it down and let it bone dry. I added virgin water and salt. I completely removed all filters, LR, substrate from the new setup. I even went so far as installing a brand new filter (paranoid I guess). I just added one small yellowtail to the new tank from the QY. I'll wait out the bio cycle and add one new fish a week (from my QT). I'll eventually add the protein skimmer (I removed the old airstone) and wet/dry back to the system. The plan is, make sure everything going into the new tank is 100% free from parasites. One concern I have is adding my inverts back to the tank. As the inverts cannot tolerate the copper, they never go to the QT. Should I be concerned about the minute amount of water on (and in) the inverts? I am just wondering if a few drops of water from the original tank on the creatures will re-intoduce the parasite. Also, my LR is sitting in the original water in a Tucker Tote. Is a simple dip in fresh water going to remove all possible parasites from them? One thing that I have thought about is to dip them in virgin seawater for a few minutes to rid the residual parasite laden water from them. Am I being overly concerned? I just don't want to go through all of this for nothing.

Sorry for the length, I just want to be clear of where I am at. I welcome and appreciate all comments.

Paul

[pmwoodward]

No comments? I thought some of those that have read post would have some thoughts on my situation.

Paul

[OrionGirl]

Leaving the tank without fish for about 6 weeks is usually the best treatment. Without a host, the parasite dies off. So, the liverock and such should be left in it's tub, with water circulation and lights, as should the inverts, for that length of time. Inverts can't contract the parasite, but the spores will sometimes get caught in the shells. Mafore introducing the fish, make sure they have gone 6 weeks without any sign of infection.

And, I would take that poor yellow tail out and cycle the tank with deli shrimp--cheaper, you'll be able to move all the fish over at once, and no fish are harmed.

[pmwoodward]

Thank you Oriongirl. I have never heard on Deli Shrimp, but I find a few to finish the cycling. I did have someone tell me that the parisite can lie dormant in the substrate for as long as five years. That is why I used new substrate.

thanks again, Paul

[OrionGirl]

Sorry, but the parasite can not lie dormant for years, or even months. Once in the spore stage, it will turn into free-swimming tomites within 15-25 days, less if the tank is warmed aboce 82. If there are no hosts, these tomites die.

By deli shrimp, I mean the shrimp you get at your grocery store. Add them to the tank, and they will rot, producing ammonia that feed the bacteria you want. Search on fishless cycling for the full rundown.

[pmwoodward]

So happy to have learned about fishless cycling. I have coctail shrimp rotting away as I type. The yellow tail has been spared the humiliation and agony of cycling my tank. I love my fish and try to do everything to make their home less stressful.

[pmwoodward]

I have read all I could on 'fishless cycling'... would I be advised to remove my LR during this cycle?

[OrionGirl]

I probably would not. The bacteria colonies that were resident there may still be hanging around, and will return to their former size pretty quickly. Since you treated with copper, I'm guessing there isn't much in the way of corals or inverts, the other organisms that would suffer from ammonia.