Outrigger Reef
New member
Can I keep a damsel in my qt tank so it doesn't loose it's cycle until I figure out my next fish?
Guide to setup a Quarantine Tank (QT).
- Thread starter Dr. Reef
- Start date
Outrigger Reef
New member
Thanks, cardinal it is!
6 weeks qt for all fish minimum. i do 2 weeks of prazipro on all fish then 4 weeks observation and treat accordingly if any parasites or disease is noticed. But for tangs i always recommend 2 weeks of prazipro followed by 3 weeks of cupramine followed by 2 weeks of observation.
Quarintine
Quarintine
Most people don't have a quarantine tank because of the extra expense and maintenance that the tank will require. However a quarantine tank doesn't need to be large or expensive, and in the end it will pay for itself many times over. In fact, once someone gets into the habit of using a quarantine tank, they are so impressed with the benefits and uses that they would never be without one.
Quarintine
Most people don't have a quarantine tank because of the extra expense and maintenance that the tank will require. However a quarantine tank doesn't need to be large or expensive, and in the end it will pay for itself many times over. In fact, once someone gets into the habit of using a quarantine tank, they are so impressed with the benefits and uses that they would never be without one.
Tank
Tank
In addition to preventing the spread of infectious disease, quarantine tanks allow the new fish to get adjusted to a new type of water and food. When they are not being used for quarantine, these tanks can also double as treatment tanks. Treating the entire display tank for a problem that only infects a few fish is not a good practice. Quarantine tanks allow the infected fish to be safely treated without damaging fragile species or water quality in the display tank. Another use of quarantine tanks is to provide a breeding area for fish, a recovery area for harassed fish and a place to allow newly hatched fish to safely grow.
Tank
In addition to preventing the spread of infectious disease, quarantine tanks allow the new fish to get adjusted to a new type of water and food. When they are not being used for quarantine, these tanks can also double as treatment tanks. Treating the entire display tank for a problem that only infects a few fish is not a good practice. Quarantine tanks allow the infected fish to be safely treated without damaging fragile species or water quality in the display tank. Another use of quarantine tanks is to provide a breeding area for fish, a recovery area for harassed fish and a place to allow newly hatched fish to safely grow.
nicely put Dj22192.. No QT is like playing Russian Roulette. For instance lets take this situation the most i hear over my 15+ yrs.
"i have never quarantined any fish i buy from reputable source or my lfs qt's them for me i have never had ich" guess what after putting several hundred dollars of fish that last fish brings ich or parasite to ur tank wiping it out clean.
Mark my words it will happen one day (without qt).
"i have never quarantined any fish i buy from reputable source or my lfs qt's them for me i have never had ich" guess what after putting several hundred dollars of fish that last fish brings ich or parasite to ur tank wiping it out clean.
Mark my words it will happen one day (without qt).
nickbuol
New member
I was told during a breakout session during a regional marine expo that all fish have parasites and diseases from the ocean, or exposure to fish from the ocean. Some never show signs of anything at all, so then you shorten their time in the QT because everything "looks" ok. Into the DT they go, and bam... The other fish have an Ich breakout.
So be sure (regardless of if you are in the medicate always, only if you see something, or never camps) to do a full quarantine each and every time.
So be sure (regardless of if you are in the medicate always, only if you see something, or never camps) to do a full quarantine each and every time.
chances for that is low but there. dipping corals in coral dips will NOT rid ich.
So yes there is a low risk here.
Qt'ing corals is totally your call. i personally dont. like nickbuol said in earlier post every fish carries parasites and disease from the oceans and to me chances of such fish bringing something to ur tank is much higher than corals.
But if u do decide to qt corals (some reefers do) then u have to make sure that QT setup never saw and or never sees copper plus u will need to make sure that water chemistry is perfect and water changes ato dosing etc are on top of ur priority along with appropriate lighting.
So yes there is a low risk here.
Qt'ing corals is totally your call. i personally dont. like nickbuol said in earlier post every fish carries parasites and disease from the oceans and to me chances of such fish bringing something to ur tank is much higher than corals.
But if u do decide to qt corals (some reefers do) then u have to make sure that QT setup never saw and or never sees copper plus u will need to make sure that water chemistry is perfect and water changes ato dosing etc are on top of ur priority along with appropriate lighting.
i personally have never tried it but i know few reefers that have successfully run hypo and prazipro at same time.
Recommendation is to stop using the skimmer.
here is a link for you.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16695128
Recommendation is to stop using the skimmer.
here is a link for you.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16695128
Email Question:
Regarding a QT tank
Hi there, i understand you are an expert in this hobby and i would love some input from you regarding my tank, So far i have all the equipment for my Display tank and by next weekend I should have it setup Im now in the process of starting a quarantine tank for any fish i buy to sit in until ready to go in the DT. My question is, after i have the tank with fresh saltwater made in it with a heater, hang on filter and a tunze for waves, is it then ready to go? i can bring fish to sit in it while my new DP tank gets cycled for several weeks? Also is it only one fish at a time?
One last thing, what do I add to the tank to assure no parasites are brought to my tank, and where to buy it as well as how to use it?
I just want to make sure i do everything right the first time with no screw ups, i spent 3,500 in total and I would hate to mess anything up.
Thanks a lot for the help, its much appreciated.
Ryan
Hi Ryan
If u just put a tank together and put equipment in and run it its NOT ready.
you need some sort of bacteria to be introduced in it to be cycled and ready. either u can get a filter seeded from an established tank or get cured seeded live rock or cycle the tank by putting a frozen shrimp in it.
i strongly suggest to cycle both tanks (qt and dt).
once u have the qt cycled then u can add first fish or two. use prazipro for 2 weeks.
then observe for 4 more weeks after that.
treat accordingly if there are any parasites or diseases observed.
If ur fish happen to be tangs then process is a bit different. i do 2 weeks of prazipro then 3 weeks of cupramine. and then 2 weeks observation.
i understand this hobby is not cheap and a little fault at our end can cost you to get out of the hobby so yah, take ur time and ask as many questions u have.
i have a sticky thread on top of the new to saltwater forum you can post any questions there.
This way everyone can learn off ur question and my remarks.
Thanks and good luck and happy reefing.
Note: i will post this on the forum as well for other to benefit.
Mike
Regarding a QT tank
Hi there, i understand you are an expert in this hobby and i would love some input from you regarding my tank, So far i have all the equipment for my Display tank and by next weekend I should have it setup Im now in the process of starting a quarantine tank for any fish i buy to sit in until ready to go in the DT. My question is, after i have the tank with fresh saltwater made in it with a heater, hang on filter and a tunze for waves, is it then ready to go? i can bring fish to sit in it while my new DP tank gets cycled for several weeks? Also is it only one fish at a time?
One last thing, what do I add to the tank to assure no parasites are brought to my tank, and where to buy it as well as how to use it?
I just want to make sure i do everything right the first time with no screw ups, i spent 3,500 in total and I would hate to mess anything up.
Thanks a lot for the help, its much appreciated.
Ryan
Hi Ryan
If u just put a tank together and put equipment in and run it its NOT ready.
you need some sort of bacteria to be introduced in it to be cycled and ready. either u can get a filter seeded from an established tank or get cured seeded live rock or cycle the tank by putting a frozen shrimp in it.
i strongly suggest to cycle both tanks (qt and dt).
once u have the qt cycled then u can add first fish or two. use prazipro for 2 weeks.
then observe for 4 more weeks after that.
treat accordingly if there are any parasites or diseases observed.
If ur fish happen to be tangs then process is a bit different. i do 2 weeks of prazipro then 3 weeks of cupramine. and then 2 weeks observation.
i understand this hobby is not cheap and a little fault at our end can cost you to get out of the hobby so yah, take ur time and ask as many questions u have.
i have a sticky thread on top of the new to saltwater forum you can post any questions there.
This way everyone can learn off ur question and my remarks.
Thanks and good luck and happy reefing.
Note: i will post this on the forum as well for other to benefit.
Mike
Thx a lot! And trust me from what i understand and can see i believe you far better then a reef doctor lol.
I think i will go with the shrimp rout for the QT tank and I'm still debating on what to do with my DT, do i use all dry rock/sand and seed with shrimp to avoid any unwanted pets from live rock? Initially i was going that route so i wouldn't introduce anything bad to my tank but people on here started telling me that i will never get the tank to look the way i want it with all that coraline algae and purple if i don't use some live rock...what do you think?
I think i will go with the shrimp rout for the QT tank and I'm still debating on what to do with my DT, do i use all dry rock/sand and seed with shrimp to avoid any unwanted pets from live rock? Initially i was going that route so i wouldn't introduce anything bad to my tank but people on here started telling me that i will never get the tank to look the way i want it with all that coraline algae and purple if i don't use some live rock...what do you think?
As for purchasing cupramine, and Prazipro, would theses two products be the right thing to buy?
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=md-hpraz04
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=sc-cup0250
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=md-hpraz04
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=sc-cup0250
sounds good, ill order these two online with the copper test kit and ill look for the "ammonia badge" at pets mart....unless all can be purchased from petsmart?
One more question regarding meds and stuff, for my corals that i will be buying to introduce to my new DT after cycle, what is the best product to use when "dipping" then rinsing with tank water before adding to tank?
One more question regarding meds and stuff, for my corals that i will be buying to introduce to my new DT after cycle, what is the best product to use when "dipping" then rinsing with tank water before adding to tank?
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