Full Version: Opinion Needed On Sterilization
In a general sense, what diseases would warrant a total teardown cleaning of a tank before returning a fish from the hospital tank after recovery? For example, if the main tank had a case of a fish with a bacterial infection would you need to totally scrub everything or not? I guess what I'm asking is which diseases can linger in a tank that would put the fish at risk again upon return to the main tank if you were only dealing with one fish?
All diseases that wipe out a tank of fish 100% certainly warrant a complete sterilisation of the tank. And all tanks empty of fish should also be sterilised before using again, disease or not.
For bacteria, there are two main groups; the first is the kind that lives and grows in all inhabited water. These are the bacteria that are called opportunistic. In other words they will strike when and only when the fish is stressed or weak. These are almost impossible to eliminate and it isn't necessary to. Numbers should just be reduced frequentlly. The other group are the obligates. These are often more serious a threat to all fish and these require a host to survive but many can also survive off a host in the most miniscule drop of sediment (dirt) or water or even some of them on hard surfaces at the right temps (esp fluctuating spring and fall temps) for months. These are the bacteria you must get rid of in your tank. And they are soooo tiny and totally invisible.
Bacteria are measured in micrometers. Usually from 0.2 to 1.5 micrometers. The size of the head of a pin is about 1000 micrometers. Their survival needs are very small and because they are asexual, only one is needed to start a colony of millions.
Viruses too, can survive off a host for varying lengths of time. These are even smaller than bacteria and their requirements are even less being not alive but merely pieces of DNA (RNA to be exact).
Parasites too can stay alive in the smallest amount of the correct substance. Up to 6 months for some parasites like for example the encysted form of ich.
I strongly recommend that as well as sterilising the tank you dip the fish before adding him to his new home. In a disinfectant type medication like PP for a very short time (depending on his size). This should help reduce and eliminate many surface remaining pathogens and give him the best start in his new clean home
Then you'll have to start the nitrogen cycle from scratch.
For bacteria, there are two main groups; the first is the kind that lives and grows in all inhabited water. These are the bacteria that are called opportunistic. In other words they will strike when and only when the fish is stressed or weak. These are almost impossible to eliminate and it isn't necessary to. Numbers should just be reduced frequentlly. The other group are the obligates. These are often more serious a threat to all fish and these require a host to survive but many can also survive off a host in the most miniscule drop of sediment (dirt) or water or even some of them on hard surfaces at the right temps (esp fluctuating spring and fall temps) for months. These are the bacteria you must get rid of in your tank. And they are soooo tiny and totally invisible.
Bacteria are measured in micrometers. Usually from 0.2 to 1.5 micrometers. The size of the head of a pin is about 1000 micrometers. Their survival needs are very small and because they are asexual, only one is needed to start a colony of millions.
Viruses too, can survive off a host for varying lengths of time. These are even smaller than bacteria and their requirements are even less being not alive but merely pieces of DNA (RNA to be exact).
Parasites too can stay alive in the smallest amount of the correct substance. Up to 6 months for some parasites like for example the encysted form of ich.
I strongly recommend that as well as sterilising the tank you dip the fish before adding him to his new home. In a disinfectant type medication like PP for a very short time (depending on his size). This should help reduce and eliminate many surface remaining pathogens and give him the best start in his new clean home
Then you'll have to start the nitrogen cycle from scratch.
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