Hyposalinity question - QT tank - how fast can you lower SG?

[PuffLuv]

I went from 1.025 to about 1.008 in about 3.5 days and it didn't seem to bother the fish at all. I've read people have dropped it faster without any problems as well. From what I've read, increasing the salinity at a slower rate (ie. 7 days) is more important. Here's a link I found helpful:
http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/hyposalinity.html
Best of luck!

[bulletsworld]

Originally Posted by PuffLuv

http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/hyposalinity.html

I was looking for this website too! This is an excellent link and a must all bookmark.

[howdy20012002]

i have dropped salinity over a very short period of time without any problems..(over a 1 hour period.)
i have been told that going down in salinity isn't a problem.
going back up is should be down much slower. (i myself have done it over a few hours without a problem)
just what I have heard and praticed.
for medications, I swear that I have lost more fish trying to treat ich with meds that the ich itself would have killed.
from the reading that I have done, Hyposalinity is the recommended way for quarantining fish and is proven to reduce death and stress on the fish

hope this helps
Neal

[Bob]

I pesonally have taken mine down in two days...in a 70 gallon tank
I did the medications first....for over two months...nothing worked for me
lowering the salinity did.....just to let you know...one of the lfs here actually kept there tanks at a very low salinity.....very low...

[Delphinus]

Ok thanks all. The water is now down to 1.020. I guess I'll take the rock when I get home. Although it's there mainly just for aesthetics and to give the fish some caves and whatnot to hang out in. Just thought it would be nicer than plant pots and PVC, or empty, the usual look of a QT tank. It's also rock out of a cooking tank anyhow so it's all white to begin with. I don't mind to reseed it down the road. BUt yeah if it's gonna be a problem then I guess it has to come out.

The QT tank is a 30g and the only other filtration on there is an aquaclear 110 which I don't think is enough on its own so I guess I have to find something bigger and get it going before going much further.

Lee, the fish are 2 small tangs and a butterfly.

[bulletsworld]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Lee, the fish are 2 small tangs and a butterfly.

They will be fine in Hyposalintiy. Just checking they are not scale less fish.

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I guess I'll take the rock when I get home. Although it's there mainly just for aesthetics and to give the fish some caves and whatnot to hang out in. Just thought it would be nicer than plant pots and PVC, or empty, the usual look of a QT tank. It's also rock out of a cooking tank anyhow so it's all white to begin with. I don't mind to reseed it down the road. BUt yeah if it's gonna be a problem then I guess it has to come out.

You know… I assumed you wanted to use live rock. Then it would spike for sure once it dropped to low. However, I’ve never tried using completely cooked rock, if its white, with no algae or anything on it. It might be o.k. Hmm…. I wonder myself actually. Has anyone ever tried it? If in doubt, take it out, use PVC for tunnels and caves.

Just to note… Hyposalinity doesn’t always work. I have read cases of ick being able to live in low salinity. But it still hands down beats using chemicals to treat. If it doesn’t work I will give you my recipe for Transfer & Darkness Method. I warn you though, it’s a lot of work, but it’s completely natural and has worked for me every time with treating marine velvet and ich.

[Delphinus]

Doing QT is new ground for me. You'd think after 12 years of SW maybe a guy would know better. I've always just rolled the dice and yeah, fish (and tangs in particular) always got spots in the first few weeks, but they always got over it. One bout, that was it, never to return. I figure sooner or later that gig will be up. Now that I have an Acanthurus in my care I thought I should step it up and yeah, for sure, he's looking pretty spotty. He eats with great gusto though, so I'm really hoping I'm doing the right thing here.

[midgetwaiter]

What you are worried about when dropping the salinity in a QT is the bio filter, the fish don't mind. You can move fish into hypo without acclimation provided the pH is steady.

Watch for bacterial blooms and ammonia levels, have some prime handy, etc. 72 hours would be a good time frame although 48 is possible.

Going back up plan to take at least a week.