what do I do now?

[stumpy]

My last of 4 fish died today.The 2 clowns and dottyback from ick and my firefish today. He hasn't had the spots for 2 weeks so I thought he was ok. I only have 1 shrimp,a few snails,and a few urchins in the tank now. Am I correct in saying I don't add anything else for 6 weeks and if it was ick then this will kill it? I think I will start 10 gal qt tank now. Does it have to cycle? Do I do regular water changes in the qt tank? I read where people set up and take down qt tanks but how does that stay cycled?

 

[Guest]

They usually take water from their established tank to help with cycling a QT. IMO I would shoot for at least 8 weeks. . It should kill off the ick since it won't have a host to feed on.

 

[stresco]

Definately leave that tank fallow for at least 6 weeks. I would raise the tank temp to 83-84F for that time. The higher water temp will speed up the ick's life cycle.

 

[afilter]

Stumpy,

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Waiting at least 6 weeks is highly recommended. QT is definitely the way to go. I had to learn the hard way early on as well. Here is an article from this site to help:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=17

Good luck,

 

[Gauge]

You might also want to bring your salinity down to 1.019 or so.

 

[quarryshark]

sorry about the double post

 

[quarryshark]

You might also want to bring your salinity down to 1.019 or so.

Not if they have inverts in this tank.

 

[stresco]

You might also want to bring your salinity down to 1.019 or so.

Not if they have inverts in this tank.

Definately not. The inverts will perish for sure.

 

[steve-s]

You might also want to bring your salinity down to 1.019 or so.

Not if they have inverts in this tank.

Definately not. The inverts will perish for sure.

And still have no affect on the parasite

Cheers
Steve

 

[stumpy]

Since I only have one thing that eats fish food (the skunk shrimp), should I still put in a little fish food once a day or will he forage the tank for other types of food?

 

[ImLookinForNemo]

What other diseases besides ich cause you to keep the tank empty for 8+ weeks?

 

[steve-s]

Since I only have one thing that eats fish food (the skunk shrimp), should I still put in a little fish food once a day or will he forage the tank for other types of food?

Once or twice a week would even be fine. If just the shrimp, I would use sinking pellets. Much better chance of feeding and less chance of waste.

Cheers
Steve

 

[steve-s]

What other diseases besides ich cause you to keep the tank empty for 8+ weeks?

Parasites are what you need to be concerned about primarily when leaving the tank fallow. Velvet, flukes, brooklynella, turbellarian worms and such that need a fish host in order to complete their life cycle to name a few.

Cheers
Steve