Hyposalinity/Fresh Dip

Since it's usually referred to as a "freshwater dip," I assume this is totally without salt? In the instance where a quick 3-5 minute dip for treatment of ich is concerned. I know in a quarantine tank, the salinity is reduced to approximately 1.010.

To do this I would:
1. Match PH
2. Match current Temp
3. Maintain fish in water for approximately 3-5 minutes

Does this sound correct?

 

What type of fish are you dipping? That is correct on the plan, however it is very very stressful on a fish and i try to not do it, and some fish you plain can not do it to!

I also just monitor the fish and see how it is versus the actual time. If the fish looks like he is stressed and having problems i will remove him instantly even if it is just a minute. (remember some fish like tangs and wrasse will act like you just killed them the minute you put them in the dip)

 

I have a small yellow tang (3 in.) in my breeder that I was considering dipping. Yes, I've tried it before and they just lay down on their side. I read that it is common for up to 60 seconds.

Would it be better to just toss him in a quarantine and proceed with 1.010 salinity for a week or so?

 

IMO yeah! Is he showing signs of disease or anything

 

Not sure, he's been hiding a bit these last few days. It seemed like I saw a bit of discoloration in his body (less yellow) when I did get a glance at him yesterday. I use Pimafix and Melafix on a regular basis.

Should I gradually lower the quarantine to 1.010 or mix it that way and toss him in?

 

You can mix it that way and toss them in. Quickly lowering salinity isn't too harsh. It's the raising of salinity that is stressful to fish. When you are done with the hypo-salinity treatment, you need to raise it SLOWLY. Like .001 or .002 a day. So to get it up to 1.024, from 1.010, would take a minimum of a week (max of 2 weeks).

Here's a good link that explains how to do it in more detail:
How To Treat an Aquarium with Hyposalinity

 

Excellent info, thanks bud.

 

I assume your fighting ich as this is common practice in attempt to fight it. Before doing the dip -- is your sick fish eating.. even a little? if he is eating I would hold off on the treatment, he could fight it off on his own as long as he is taking food. I'd say add garlic of some kind of fish vitamin to tempt the fish to eat more and also this will give it a bump in vitamins. GL

 

... worked for my hippo tang. he got a long time ago and i just added some "fish supplements" to the food he fought it off in a week or 2 and is doing fine and hasnt shown any signs since.

 

Be careful with the pimafix and melafix. They both lower the oxygen levels in the water and Tangs need lots of oxygen else it will also stress them out which could lead to more ich or worse like my Tang:-[.