Hi Steven,
I read your article a long time ago and based alot of my QT proceedures on it but now I've had a chance to witness many different QT cycles I'm starting to question the wisdom of hyposalimity.
Basically,I think 6 weeks is too long for hypo. I think the affect on a fish's kidneys is very much underplayed and that 6 weeks is enough to give many fish kidney failure (tangs for sure). I used to do 6 weeks but my last cycle was such a disaster that I've rethought the whole process. I now have a UV Steriliser on my 50g QT and doing 4 weeks hypo. My theory is that if the tomont stage of crypto isn't killed within 4 weeks then it's not going to happen. Also from what I've seen it takes 14 days for hypo to kill invert lifeforms and Ich stays in the tomont stage from anywhere from a few days to a months. If the tomonts release the tomites (or free-swimming theronts) within 2 weeks then I'm starting to question whether hypo can be effective. The parasitic stage (or trophant stage) is said to be the most resistant and usually lasts a week before they drop off into tomonts once more.
So if the tomont stage doesn't last long enough, is hypo effective? Or will hypo also kill the trophant stage parasite? Even so, the trophant phase is too short. This parasite is going through a constant metamrophosis and if hyposalinity can't kill all stages then it's a bit of a gamble? Hypo causes the cell membranes to breakdown and if this molecular destruction is not carried over to the next stage of the parasite's life cycle and the counter is continually "reset" then I doubt hypo can be effective in 100% of cases.
Thoughts?
I read your article a long time ago and based alot of my QT proceedures on it but now I've had a chance to witness many different QT cycles I'm starting to question the wisdom of hyposalimity.
Basically,I think 6 weeks is too long for hypo. I think the affect on a fish's kidneys is very much underplayed and that 6 weeks is enough to give many fish kidney failure (tangs for sure). I used to do 6 weeks but my last cycle was such a disaster that I've rethought the whole process. I now have a UV Steriliser on my 50g QT and doing 4 weeks hypo. My theory is that if the tomont stage of crypto isn't killed within 4 weeks then it's not going to happen. Also from what I've seen it takes 14 days for hypo to kill invert lifeforms and Ich stays in the tomont stage from anywhere from a few days to a months. If the tomonts release the tomites (or free-swimming theronts) within 2 weeks then I'm starting to question whether hypo can be effective. The parasitic stage (or trophant stage) is said to be the most resistant and usually lasts a week before they drop off into tomonts once more.
So if the tomont stage doesn't last long enough, is hypo effective? Or will hypo also kill the trophant stage parasite? Even so, the trophant phase is too short. This parasite is going through a constant metamrophosis and if hyposalinity can't kill all stages then it's a bit of a gamble? Hypo causes the cell membranes to breakdown and if this molecular destruction is not carried over to the next stage of the parasite's life cycle and the counter is continually "reset" then I doubt hypo can be effective in 100% of cases.
Thoughts?