I was about 6-7 months into a 20g IM Nuvo AIO, and was putting in my 6th, and last fish (after cycle, did 1-2 fish a month), and the last fish I put in, a Flame Angel, stressed and velvet started showing up. Over the next 1-1.5 weeks or so, lost everything but my inverts.
Now I have a 10g QT. HOB with floss, pump, sponge filter, and heater. Some PVC elbows, and that's about it - a light for examination, don't plan to leave it on all the time.
My question is, which I'm having a hell of a time finding a decent answer to after many days of searching, is how to *really* make sure my DT is rid of anything. I've read so much conflicting information that my head is spinning, and I think a hard-nosed approach will get me what I need.
I basically want to make sure my DT is completely clear of any pests before I start doing QT from here on out, making sure to keep the DT clear of parasites. My initial idea was to just leave the tank fallow for 72 days (have a reminder on my phone for the end of September), but after thinking about it some more, and reading quite a bit, I'm wondering if just going fallow is really fool proof. Then I started to research bleach, and figured that it would just be best to remove the inverts, bleach the tank, and recycle. I even considered replacing all the sand, as at this point, it's a minimal investment, and gives me some decent reassurance. Not to mention it'll be nice, clean, new sand.
Currently in my DT, I have a nassarius snail, cleaner shrimp, 5 or 6 small (blue or red legged) hermits, 5 astrea snails.
So I have a few questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1. Move inverts to QT, then in the DT, I'd remove all my media, and as much of my sand as I can, and trash it. I'd leave the live rock in. Add some qty of bleach into the tank and run it for a few days to kill anything. Replace all the water, put in new sand, start a cycle. Move inverts back in after cycle, meanwhile QT'ing a fish or two while the cycle progresses, adding them in after a 8 week QT.
2. If I move my inverts to my QT, do I need to put anything in there for them to dig around in, play on? They'd be in there for whatever period of time it takes for my DT to recycle after a possible bleach cleaning. This actually has been the hardest bit of information to find. No one seems to QT inverts, or if they do, it's for short periods of time as mostly a rinse, but I haven't seen where folks address the environment they'll need in QT. Do I just do a tupperware tub of sand? What happens when they invariably bail out of the tupperware and can't get back in? Just feed them algae tabs or seaweed?
3. I've read that leaving a tank fallow isn't fool proof as some of the encrusted cysts can live for a long, long time (think many, many years).
I basically want to make my DT as spick-and-span as possible. I'm not afraid to do anything to make this happen (as far as a rebuild) - just want to make sure I'm taking care of my inverts properly.
Now I have a 10g QT. HOB with floss, pump, sponge filter, and heater. Some PVC elbows, and that's about it - a light for examination, don't plan to leave it on all the time.
My question is, which I'm having a hell of a time finding a decent answer to after many days of searching, is how to *really* make sure my DT is rid of anything. I've read so much conflicting information that my head is spinning, and I think a hard-nosed approach will get me what I need.
I basically want to make sure my DT is completely clear of any pests before I start doing QT from here on out, making sure to keep the DT clear of parasites. My initial idea was to just leave the tank fallow for 72 days (have a reminder on my phone for the end of September), but after thinking about it some more, and reading quite a bit, I'm wondering if just going fallow is really fool proof. Then I started to research bleach, and figured that it would just be best to remove the inverts, bleach the tank, and recycle. I even considered replacing all the sand, as at this point, it's a minimal investment, and gives me some decent reassurance. Not to mention it'll be nice, clean, new sand.
Currently in my DT, I have a nassarius snail, cleaner shrimp, 5 or 6 small (blue or red legged) hermits, 5 astrea snails.
So I have a few questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1. Move inverts to QT, then in the DT, I'd remove all my media, and as much of my sand as I can, and trash it. I'd leave the live rock in. Add some qty of bleach into the tank and run it for a few days to kill anything. Replace all the water, put in new sand, start a cycle. Move inverts back in after cycle, meanwhile QT'ing a fish or two while the cycle progresses, adding them in after a 8 week QT.
2. If I move my inverts to my QT, do I need to put anything in there for them to dig around in, play on? They'd be in there for whatever period of time it takes for my DT to recycle after a possible bleach cleaning. This actually has been the hardest bit of information to find. No one seems to QT inverts, or if they do, it's for short periods of time as mostly a rinse, but I haven't seen where folks address the environment they'll need in QT. Do I just do a tupperware tub of sand? What happens when they invariably bail out of the tupperware and can't get back in? Just feed them algae tabs or seaweed?
3. I've read that leaving a tank fallow isn't fool proof as some of the encrusted cysts can live for a long, long time (think many, many years).
I basically want to make my DT as spick-and-span as possible. I'm not afraid to do anything to make this happen (as far as a rebuild) - just want to make sure I'm taking care of my inverts properly.
