Hypersalinity

[Reef Pilot]

I have my QT running all the time. I change water in it from my display tank, so doesn't cost me any extra salt to maintain. Then newly purchased fish start off with standard salinity (1.025). But immediatley I start changing the water in my QT with new RO/DI to lower the salanity to about 1.009 over a period of about a week. I keep it that way for at least 6 weeks. If any ich does happen at the beginning (and I have seen it), it is quickly eradicated once the salinity reaches 1.009.

If I don't see any ich for 6 weeks in the QT, I start raising the salinity to 1.025 by successive water changes, again from my display tank. The added advantage is that the new fish are then also acclimated to my DT water. That takes another week or so, and I leave them that way for another 2 weeks to ensure no more ich, and then transfer them to the DT.

The whole process usually takes about 3 months. Yes, it is a long time, but I also use that time to get the fish feeding well, and they are then healthy and strong before they meet their new tank mates in the DT (which are not always so friendly at first).

The trick is to have a fully cycled and mature QT running all the time. The mistake people make is setting up a new QT, and throwing in the new fish. Then they have to battle ammonia and other problems associated with any new tank, and it often does not turn out well for the fish.