Looking for a basic QT procedure for fish/inverts/corals

[nsfishguy]

I did look for this in the forum but couldn't find it. If I missed it then please let me know where it is.

I am going to be setting up a large tank soon and wanted to make sure I have a good QT procedure to give my current and new fish/inverts/corals before they go in so I don't have any issues later. What I am looking for is a general QT procedure to apply to almost all animals to treat before the DT to pretty much eliminate any type of disease or parasite that is currently known.

For example I know to treat with copper or tank transfer for ich and prazipro for other infections. What else should I add to this and what else is required for other types of issues. Is it possible to get everything before hand or is it too hard on the fish/inverts/corals?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

My quarantine protocol is TT (eliminating ich) concurrently treating with Prazi followed by a month of observation in a cycled QT. The month long observation will give brook and velvet time to present. If a fish is showing signs of flukes I may do a FW dip depending on the overall strength of the fish.

 

[snorvich]

My quarantine protocol is TT (eliminating ich) concurrently treating with Prazi followed by a month of observation in a cycled QT. The month long observation will give brook and velvet time to present. If a fish is showing signs of flukes I may do a FW dip depending on the overall strength of the fish.

I agree.

 

[SoloGarth]

My quarantine protocol is TT (eliminating ich) concurrently treating with Prazi followed by a month of observation in a cycled QT. The month long observation will give brook and velvet time to present. If a fish is showing signs of flukes I may do a FW dip depending on the overall strength of the fish.

Same here. It took a long time for me to see the light on this issue but it is such a relief to know the fish are not embattled by parasites every night when they go to sleep. Velvet seems to kill too quickly to treat but maybe I am just not as adept at identifying it as others are.

 

[snorvich]

Same here. It took a long time for me to see the light on this issue but it is such a relief to know the fish are not embattled by parasites every night when they go to sleep. Velvet seems to kill too quickly to treat but maybe I am just not as adept at identifying it as others are.

Learn to read fish behavior; that is the most reliable way to diagnose. Parasite appearance on the fish happens later in the life cycle. Best treatment for velvet is CP.

 

[barrysalt]

I had marine velvet, and it wiped out my tank! Treated tank with Coppersafe, no problem with new fish, but was told once copper is introduced, it's almost impossible to eliminate. Any thoughts on this? Is this accurate?

 

[snorvich]

I had marine velvet, and it wiped out my tank! Treated tank with Coppersafe, no problem with new fish, but was told once copper is introduced, it's almost impossible to eliminate. Any thoughts on this? Is this accurate?

Did you use copper with sand and live rock in the tank?

 

[nsfishguy]

Thanks for the info. So only Prazipro and TT for ich. No other preventative measures besides observation! Is that correct?

 

[ThRoewer]

Thanks for the info. So only Prazipro and TT for ich. No other preventative measures besides observation! Is that correct?

I would do at least one formalin bath to largely clean the fish of skin parasites: Amyloodinium, Brooklynella, Uronema, Trichodina, skin & gill worms (flukes), parasitic crustacean and the like.
Since the fish need to go into a clean tank afterwards, TTM is the ideal time to do this too.
Ideally you repeat this between transfers and you can be relatively sure that none of the above make it into your display.

Praziquantel (PraziPro) during 2 of the tank periods will take care of (most) intestinal parasites and those flukes that may have survived the formalin dips.

CP, while effective against Amyloodinium, has some rather serious side effects and isn't tolerated by all fish (Syngnathidae and some Labridae). Some here who used it against Cryptocaryon in their displays reported heavy losses on fish.

 

[nsfishguy]

Does the copper meds do more than just get rid of ich or does it help with other problems too? So should I do a copper med or just a TT and that will be enough or do both?

 

[ThRoewer]

Copper may kill other parasites but some are not affected (Brooklynella) or can get used to it (if copper levels are too low).
I wouldn't do copper because it's too complicated to maintain the right therapeutic levels and pretty harsh on fish (if you maintain those levels properly).
If your copper levels get too low (which they go easily, especially if live rock or coral sand are present), you may clear the fish of symptoms but the parasite will still be present - just hidden for a while.
If your copper levels get too high you may damage your fish's kidneys (you may do that even at the correct levels).
So standard procedure with copper treatment needs to be to measure the copper levels at least twice a day (and read them correctly) - way too much hassle and risk for me.

TTM should be enough for Cryptocaryon.
If you want to add a layer of safety do TTM at hyposaline conditions. That way you make it near impossible for an ich stage to slip through.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Thanks for the info. So only Prazipro and TT for ich. No other preventative measures besides observation! Is that correct?

Prazi is for flukes not ich. The TT is enough to take care of ich. As far as other diseases you will get a variety of opinions. Some will treat the fish for every disease even if it's not showing symptoms. If you were to go that route you would need to do formalin dips for Brook and treat the fish with CP (most effective treatment) for velvet.
I personally prefer to observe after TT and treat if symptoms present. IME I've only had one fish present with velvet. Brook and ich were introduced by unquarantined inverts.

 

[Louis Z]

Qt everything for 2 months. All corals and inverts get the same 2 months. You should dip the corals also. I like to use low level of cp while doing the TT method on the fish. Low levels so that some fish do not do well at recommended high dose. Keeps velvet in check and also kills ich two ways. If it is velvet I have already started treatment. I do this regardless on all new fish right away. In between the transfers a Brief FW dip and also at the start ofQT. When I say brief I mean watch the fish and at the start of stress out they go to the tank. So fish get three dips. Velvet acts so quickly that once you notice it the fish are already in peril. Good that you realize QT is the way to prevent losses of your prized fish and collections. I have lost quite a lot of because I didnt qt. The small price of qt and a lot of patience is what is needed .

 

[Spar]

I like to use low level of cp while doing the TT method on the fish. Low levels so that some fish do not do well at recommended high dose. Keeps velvet in check and also kills ich two ways.

I would not recommend this. Low / non-therapeutic levels of copper will mask effects of parasites (won't see the effects of velvet, brook), and possibly slows down the life cycle of ich, making it miss the 12-day window of TTM. Snorvich can expand on this.

 

[Louis Z]

When I said cp I meant chloroquine phosphate not copper and I don't mean sub therapeutic level. I just don't use the max range because I have had some fish with issues at the highest level. The TT method doesn't do velvet so it becomes a delay in treatment , so when you are waiting to clear ick in those 3 day increments. Your fish can succumb to velvet. That has happened to me before. I have seen that at LFS since they dose with low copper the fish are looking fine the day I go in yet when I take them home they go to a tank without copper the one or few parasites that survived the lfs copper can now flourish and kill the fish. It doesn't take long for velvet and I don't want it to get a jump on the fish. Velvet is difficult to detect in early stage and only noticeable in 3 or 4th day which is way late. After tx with the chloroquine and TT method comes prazipro.

 

[Spar]

Oops yep i see that now, thanks for clarifying. Agreed velvet is nasty, I've had a fish with it once, didn't survive.