Guide to setup a Quarantine Tank (QT).
- Thread starter Dr. Reef
- Start date
hogfanreefer
Active member
One more copper related question. How often do you recheck your copper level? If you have an ATO is there any reason the level would change? Just finishing week two and my levels have been the same every time so far.
deeAnnMG
New member
Oh hell! I just read this:
"Quarantine everything! Fish, corals, clams, anemones, live rock, live sand, mobile invertebrates, and everything else that is wet. When in doubt, quarantine!"
on this site: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php
... and am freaking out. I seeded my 40lbs of dry rock with 5lbs of LR (from my LFS) and 60lbs of Caribsea Arag Alive LS. Of course, those weren't QTed! Am I totally screwed?
"Quarantine everything! Fish, corals, clams, anemones, live rock, live sand, mobile invertebrates, and everything else that is wet. When in doubt, quarantine!"
on this site: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php
... and am freaking out. I seeded my 40lbs of dry rock with 5lbs of LR (from my LFS) and 60lbs of Caribsea Arag Alive LS. Of course, those weren't QTed! Am I totally screwed?
hogfanreefer
Active member
Sorry for all the dumb questions and I'm sure this has been mentioned somewhere in the curing Ich thread but I can't find it.
Once you've completed treatment, removed the copper and observed for a few weeks, how do you make your QT tank ready for the next batch of fish? Do you discard your ceramic media, start over and re-cycle your QT? How do you clean your tank? Vinegar, bleach?
Once you've completed treatment, removed the copper and observed for a few weeks, how do you make your QT tank ready for the next batch of fish? Do you discard your ceramic media, start over and re-cycle your QT? How do you clean your tank? Vinegar, bleach?
I dont think ur screwed. I have never qt sand or live rock. Now there is a risk of importing some hitchhikers but that can happen to anyone. Cycle the tank and u should be good to go.
Good luck.
No need to dump anything.
This is what I usually do. After completing treatment generally copper will be almost gone due to water changes or cuprasorb or carbon. So I take the HOB and media rinse it in qt water to clean off debris the discard all water and start with 100% new water. Remember to keep the media submerged at all times. This will not cause a cycle if done properly. If not at worse a mini spike that will pass in a day or 2.
deeAnnMG
New member
Thank goodness! I just want to do what's right for my (soon to be) new pets.
hogfanreefer
Active member
Do you do anything to disinfect the tank/equipment or rely on your treatment?
adamwheel
New member
I currently have my fully cycled QT set up in my basement. It rarely gets a dose of fresh air down there especially with AC running. Should I be concerned about low ph? I have an air stone, hob filter and power heads for surface tension and Oxygen exchange. It's a typical basement however and air can get stagnant.
Thank you for the continued advice,
Adam
Thank you for the continued advice,
Adam
michfish5
New member
Well I have my first 2 fish in my 20 gallon QT- 1 PJ Cardinal (permanent resident) and 1 Royal Gramma. The PJ has been in there for a week, the RG five days now. I started Prazipro yesterday so I am on Day 2 of the treatment. Both fish have been eating very well and are very active. But today I noticed the Royal Gramma scratching on the PVC pipe. I see no white spots anywhere and it is breathing fine. Water chemistry is all good - 0 NH4, NO2, and NO3. Temp is 78.3, pH 8.0, SG is 1.019 (my LFS keeps their fish at 1.018 SG). I was allowing it to raise slowly through evaporation.
So question is do I continue with the Prazipro treatment for two weeks and then treat with copper or hypo? Or do I stop Prazipro, do WCs and carbon to remove it, and just go right to copper or hypo? Should I be concerned with a scratch now and then? I may have never noticed it if I had not looked at the tank at that moment. Most of the time the RG is swimming all over the tank or checking out his PVC home. The PJ shows no signs of anything and the RG is the most active one I have ever seen. Would hate to lose the little guy. Thanks in advance!
So question is do I continue with the Prazipro treatment for two weeks and then treat with copper or hypo? Or do I stop Prazipro, do WCs and carbon to remove it, and just go right to copper or hypo? Should I be concerned with a scratch now and then? I may have never noticed it if I had not looked at the tank at that moment. Most of the time the RG is swimming all over the tank or checking out his PVC home. The PJ shows no signs of anything and the RG is the most active one I have ever seen. Would hate to lose the little guy. Thanks in advance!
michfish5
New member
Spent the last several hours rereading all the posts in this thread as well as the hypo and copper treatment threads. I am going to guess that any scratch indicates parasites so I need to treat. Plus the RG has been scratching more since this morning. Since my SG is already at 1.019 I figure I have a headstart on hypo so I am going to try that. I also could find nothing saying that Prazipro along with hypo is a bad thing. If I am wrong please let me know. Wish me luck!
if scratching is getting worse then i would ditch the prazi treatment and move forward with either hypo or copper. its some parasite which we dont know yet, As ur already close to hypo than copper than i would suggest dropping salinity down to 1.009 in next 48 hrs and then leave it steady there. There is a thread about hypo if you goto my blog by clicking blue number under my name it will take you to my blog and there you can find hypo treatment thread.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Here is the thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2300497
also 3 weeks is not a set time i would do at least 4 weeks and then observe over next few more weeks to make sure.
I have successfully used Formalin and Prazipro with hypo treatment with no ill effects.
In fact i did report that study here on earlier pages.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2300497
also 3 weeks is not a set time i would do at least 4 weeks and then observe over next few more weeks to make sure.
I have successfully used Formalin and Prazipro with hypo treatment with no ill effects.
In fact i did report that study here on earlier pages.
michfish5
New member
Thanks bnumair! I started dropping the salinity this evening. I know you said I could do it within 48 hours. I am at 1.018 now, having dropped by 1 about an hour ago. So I guess I should attempt maybe another point this evening? And then tomorrow try to get down another 4 or so spread out throughout the day? and the rest the next day? Does that sound ok?
