Live rock transfer

[ibleedblue65]

I just got a 5-6 lb piece of live rock from my roomate. He gave up on his tank after an ick outbreak and cyano problems. He sold it to me for cheap and one of the reasons I purchased it was because it is covered in coraline and I started my tank w/ all dead rock so I have none. My question is what should I do to prevent an ick outbreak in my tank? Should I not use it at all? I thought about putting it in a bucket w/ a powerhead and heater for several weeks to make sure the disease cycles but then I lose all of the coralline I got the rock for. The ick has been mia in his tank for a couple of weeks. All of the fish infected died because he did nothing to deal with it. Someone told me freshwater dip? Your help is appreciated. I have some fish in my tank that I really like and would rather not lose, including a regal that has been ick free.

 

[courterbobby]

How long has it been since his last fish died or was taken out? I would be weary of putting it in my tank without quarantine first. You should look some stuff up on google about the ick life cycle. It needs a fish to be able to complete the life cycle. If his system has gone without fish for 8 weeks (imo) then there is no chance that ick will be transfered into your system. Ick cannot infect invertebrates, but the water they are shipped in can carry the free swimming stage of the parasite.
I would think that a FW dip would not be enough if the parasite is still in his tank. The reason being is that LR is porous and has holes all in and out of it, so the chances of washing out every single hole and killing every free swimming parasite is very little.

 

[courterbobby]

In the event that there is still fish in his tank and nothing was done to control the ich, trust me it is not MIA. The life cycle of ick has three stages. First you see it on the fish, this is the last stage in the life cycle. Once you no longer see it on the fish, the "white spot" or cyst has fallen off, this is where the life cycle begins. The cyst is an "egg sack" so to speak and it will take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks for it to hatch. After it hatches this is the second life cycle, the free swimming life cycle. The free swimming parasites must find a fish within 24hr (I think) or it will die, but the ones who make it to a fish plant themselves on it and develope into another cyst or "white spot" which is the only stage we can view with our eyes...
So with that in mind, if the tank was not treated properly it is not MIA.

 

[texhorns98]

If you're not in a hurry, let the rock sit in a tank with the powerhead for a month. That should do it. As for the coraline, I think it would make it. Heck, I have coraline growing in my sump in areas that get little to no light! Maybe someone else will chime in on the necessities of light for the purple stuff...

 

[ibleedblue65]

not in a hurry. Rather save the fish. Thanks for the help. Should I just put it in my quarantine with a regular t12 fluorescent? Or maybe put a light on the bucket? How long should I wait before I introduce it into my tank? Thanks again guys

 

[courterbobby]

Yeah it shouldn't need that much light...