Are my clowns ready to go back in main tank?

[jap1]

Well, my ich ridden clowns have officially been in QT for one month now. The ich is all gone and my female looks fantastic. The boys fins still look a bit chewed up though. I've been feeding them well and they seem really happy. They are also hanging out together just like they used to. Should I start to slowly bring the salinity in the QT up to normal (maybe over the course of a week) or would it be best to just drip acclimate them and throw 'em back in the main tank? Should I wait until the male's fins have completely regenerated? I'm really not sure what to do at this stage. :huh

[demodiki]

I would wait 6 weeks before reintroducing to the main.

[Reef69]

I would wait 6 weeks before reintroducing to the main.

WHAT?! 6 weeks!?..Who told you that? :blink

..Just SLOWLY drip acclimate them to the display tank and they will be fine..Remember clowns are actually damsels..they will be fine.

[Richard]

I would wait 6 weeks before reintroducing to the main.


Me too.

[Reef69]

Did anybody see the "...clowns have officially been in QT for one month now..."??

[Richard]

Yes, 4 weeks is the generally recommended time for a tank to remain fallow but 6 weeks is an even safer bet. I would guess 4 weeks 95% that cryptocaryon has played out it's life cycle in the main tank, 6 weeks maybe 99%. I have read that some studies showed that in rare cases cryptocaryon can remain dormant for up to 3 months in a tank with no fish. It's just a matter of playing the odds which is always what your doing when it comes to qt'ing or not qt'ing.

[Richard]

Sounds like they are doing well but I guess the main thing to consider now is if the male is getting picked on too much by the female. In which case I would move them to the main tank.

[jap1]

I guess I'll wait a couple more weeks. I really don't want that cryptocaryon to get these guys again. The month has gone by so fast, a couple more weeks won't bother me. BTW, the QT is almost just as big as the main tank. Thanks for the help.