hooxeii

So... I only own one gravel siphon. However, I need to do a siphoning in my healthy betta's tank, and am concerned that the one I've been using daily might transfer the ICH parasites to the clean tank... is this an issue?

beachcomber

I don't know for sure, but I would assume so. If you don't want to buy a second siphon, maybe some kind of hot water to sterilze it. If you boil the kettle and pour boiling water through it and let it dry completly, it would be a safe bet that it would be close at least to sterile.

hooxeii

I've got a friend who owns a clean one No worries.

Lucy

I'd definatly sterilize the siphon, even between water changes on your tank with ich.
Soak and syphon 19 part water to 1 part bleach. Rinse really well, until you no longer smell bleach. Then soak it in water OD'd with dechlorinator. Be sure to run the dechlorinated water through it.

aquarist48

Hello Hooxeii. I agree with Lucy. No need to risk more infection.
Ken

namehater

isnt ICK always present? i thought that ICK was always in the water and fish just get infected with it if they are weak.

ray_sj

Ich can be carried by fish that show no obvious symptoms. Since they have no dormant stage, ich always has to find a new host or they die. At least that's my understanding.

Jaysee

That's what I thought - about that and many other pathogens. It's not like the ich just drops into your tank one day and wham, your fish are sick.

I use one python for all of my tanks.

Beth1965

Lucy, this is good to know. i've notice a smudgen of mold on an area of the inside of my syphon. now i know what to do with it.
thanks