Too high of salininty for hypo?

[Herefishyfishy]

I have had my hippo in hypo for 6-7 weeks. It had shown some early Ich signs: a few trophonts. Turns out my refractometer was out of adjustment and the tank has been kept stable at 1.012 to 1.013.

How many more weeks at 1.009 should the tang be kept in hypo or since it has shown zero trophonts since day one of QT and beginning hypo, should it be considered treated?

 

[steve-s]

C. irritans is unaffected by salinities near or above 16 ppt. This is basically the level you've had it at since keeping it in the QT. You cannot consider the fish treated under those circumstances.

Since you have never seen symptoms there are two possibilities here. Either the fish never had C. irritans or the lowered salinity kept low level sub clinical infestation from populating that remained unseen by you.

Obviously you have two choices. Treat or don't treat. If you don't treat, once you raise the salinity give the fish a minimum of 2 (preferably 3) weeks in the QT to be sure you don't see any problems. If you do treat, be sure the refractometer remains properly calibrated.

If it where me, I would treat anyway. The time frame for getting it in the display tank would be about the same anyway. 7-10 days raising the salinity and another 14-21 days observing.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

. Either the fish never had C. irritans or the lowered salinity kept low level sub clinical infestation from populating that remained unseen by you.

If it where me, I would treat anyway.

I feared this was the only answer. Yep, it had trophonts, and they must have fallen off as hypo was just starting. Though the lowered salinity must have kept them from populating to a level high enough to visually observe, this doesn't mean they don't exist.

Will lower the salinity to 1.009 for another 3 weeks to be sure. Too hard to get any fish out of the display, and not enough room to QT all the fish for "fallowing" the tank.

Thank you for the advise.

 

[steve-s]

It's best to keep the salinity at 12-14 ppt for 4 weeks past the last spot seen on the fish. 3 could most likely be enough since you haven't seen any spots except in the beginning but it's better to be safe.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Thanks Steve, the QT is at 1.009 and will stay that way for a bare minimum of 3 weeks. The tang is bright and fat, having gotten quite spoiled in it's big home alone. A 72 gallon Bow Front with a bunch of clean base rock, flower pots, tubing, and the works. After he is done,will be getting a nice 35 or 40 for QT only set up per the book.

Appreciate the help. One can get sane answers here for questions that one would't even be safe asking elsewhere...