Bringing in Parasites and Such.

[michael_cb_125]

I know a decent amount about fish disease, and have some pretty good experience with Diagnosing and QT fish. But when it comes to corals I am clueless.
Soo, the big question. Do most people QT their corals to be certain they are not bringing in parasites and pathogens? In particular I am concerned with fish parasites. I know that fish parasites can ride in on new corals, what do most people do about this when adding to and ICK and FLUKE free tank?

Just put the new corals in a coral QT tank for several months to allow all possible fish parasites to die off?
Dip new corals? Do they make a dip that targets ICK and FLUKES as well as being safe for corals?
Freshwater Dip?

I really dont want to add anything harmful to my tank.

Thanks for any help!!

~Michael

 

[wooden_reefer]

Just put the new corals in a coral QT tank for several months to allow all possible fish parasites to die off?

~Michael

All water has to be fallow from fish for at least 8 weeks.

Basically a small tank cycled with light will be needed. You can do WC to reduce nitrate, not ammonia, which should always be zero.

This is why I always introduce most non-fish first. Additional non-fish after fish should be kept to a min.

Or if the fish are very few in number, you can separate them and support them in a separate small tank.


You cannot eliminate all parasites, just those like ich that has a definite obligatory release-then-die phase.

 

[b0bab0ey]

According to snorvich, 3 days isolation (away from fish) is sufficient QT for corals/inverts. As far as fish parasites are concerned anyway. However, there is a slew of other nasties (flatworms, nudibranchs, aiptasia, etc.) that can hitchhike on a coral or rock. Using a coral dip (I use CoralRx) eliminates some of them, but just like Prazi it doesn't kill any eggs. You might kill off, say, flatworms by using a coral dip... but not the eggs they leave behind. So, the second generation gets ya.

If you wanted to get close to 100%, then I guess you would place the coral/rock in a pest-free, fish-free environment for at least 30 days. If nasties show themselves or start spreading, you have a problem you don't want in your DT. I have a coral/invert QT setup for just this purpose. My corals get dipped before they enter QT, and again before they enter my DT. I usually hold them in QT for 5-7 days. I don't have any nasties in my DT.

 

[wooden_reefer]

According to snorvich, 3 days isolation (away from fish) is sufficient QT for corals/inverts. I usually hold them in QT for 5-7 days. I don't have any nasties in my DT.

I think the risk depends on whether they were placed into a tank with fish before.

Free open sea water will likely be free of ich in a matter of several days.