QT fish from Live Aquaria?

[CNGH]

sorry if this is a dumb question, but i did a quick search and didn't see this.

i'm thinking of ordering some fish from LA since i have a gc and promo code to use before the end of this month.

I read that LA has their fish in 1.018-1.020 sg water when shipped.

i'm thinking of ordering, but i don't have a qt set up or medication (unless i can just use HD buckets...see below).

i know i can't just float and dump b/c of the difference in sg. so i was thinking i can use a 5 gal bucket full of 1.018sg water to slowly acclimate the fish (5 small fish - blenny, dartfish, 3x cardinals) to 1.026 through evap over the course of a week or so. i have filter/bio media to seed the bucket, heaters, airstones, powerheads, pvc for hiding...and i'll plan to do smallish water changes and test for ammonia during acclimation.

but if i use a bucket or 2, i can't really observe the fish to see if they need medication.

so, how good is the LA livestock and do i need to qt for disease and medicate? or can i just get them acclimated to 1.026sg over a week or so and add to my display?

thanks!

 

[spiritwalker]

I personally treat for ich. I use the tank transfer method. During this time I also treat twice for flukes using prazipro. This is a 12 day process and you can keep them in qt for observation longer if desired.

Regardless of how your fish look during qt you still run the risk if introducing ich into your display tank if you dont specifically take action to eradicate it.

I use a couple 10 gal storage bins for tank transfer method.

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[murphreef]

Just depends on your comfort level.

What do you currently have in your display? The fish you are wanting to add IMO aren't high risk fish and should be pretty hardy. If it were me I would just float them for temp and add some of your tank water to the bag over an hour or two and then dump them in.

Some people swear by QT and others like myself just do a quick salinity acclimation and dump them in. IMO I have seen so many people kill good fish putting them through QT especially when its only in a small set up.

 

[murphreef]

I personally treat for ich. I use the tank transfer method. During this time I also treat twice for flukes using prazipro. This is a 12 day process and you can keep them in qt for observation longer if desired.

Regardless of how your fish look during qt you still run the risk if introducing ich into your display tank if you dont specifically take action to eradicate it.

I use a couple 10 gal storage bins for tank transfer method.

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Cool set up for QT. Do you mind me asking whats your success rate of fish that actually survive and make it to your display vs how many actually die during QT?

I think if you have a healthy tank and get a visually healthy fish their should be no issue putting it in the display tank..... (Tangs might be a different story tho)

I have never had issues as long as my tank was healthy and water good all of my fish have survived and no diseases over all the years I have kept tanks.

 

[spiritwalker]

I think you are on the right track with any salinity adjustments that need to occur. Match the source and adjust as you move through QT. Topping off evaporation with salt water works well for increasing salinity.

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[spiritwalker]

I dont process a lot of fish but the ones I have all survived TTM without issue. It's a very simple process and you dont need to treat with copper.

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[spiritwalker]

IMO QT is all about risk mitigation. I roll the dice and dont QT coral or inverts. I do QT fish. I may regret that someday.

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[murphreef]

I dont process a lot of fish but the ones I have all survived TTM without issue. It's a very simple process and you dont need to treat with copper.

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Gotcha, I am more of a risk taker haha. I like your set up tho good info for the OP.

 

[spiritwalker]

Gotcha, I am more of a risk taker haha. I like your set up tho good info for the OP.

Thanks.

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[CNGH]

Just depends on your comfort level.

What do you currently have in your display? The fish you are wanting to add IMO aren't high risk fish and should be pretty hardy. If it were me I would just float them for temp and add some of your tank water to the bag over an hour or two and then dump them in.

Some people swear by QT and others like myself just do a quick salinity acclimation and dump them in. IMO I have seen so many people kill good fish putting them through QT especially when its only in a small set up.

thanks guys. appreciate the input.

right now i have a clown, a chromis, and a melanurus wrasse in my display. they've been the only occupants for about 4-5 months now. all appear healthy, no signs of anything. i started the tank from scratch, dead rock, dead sand, full cycle.

the other issue is i'm a bit space (and spouse, haha) limited. i could do qt/ttm, but i'd be getting side-eye for the time it's set up because it'd be in the way and an eyesore.

 

[Jamie1210]

thanks guys. appreciate the input.



right now i have a clown, a chromis, and a melanurus wrasse in my display. they've been the only occupants for about 4-5 months now. all appear healthy, no signs of anything. i started the tank from scratch, dead rock, dead sand, full cycle.



the other issue is i'm a bit space (and spouse, haha) limited. i could do qt/ttm, but i'd be getting side-eye for the time it's set up because it'd be in the way and an eyesore.

Yup, the qt tanks ARE an eyesore...thats why i insist that we use the laundry room for them!

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[stefdvm]

I always thought I was being pretty careful - only buying from Divers Den on Live Aquaria. Bought from them for years without a single issue. I just got ich from their fish. Killed 2/3 of my tank inhabitants including some of my oldest fish - I had an 8-9 yr old clown. I had to set up an emergency hospital tank and tear apart my 210 gallon to catch the rest and then watch half of those die too. I'm down to 9 fish and I'm heartbroken at what I've done. My few remaining fish have to stay in a tiny tank for 3 months while my huge tank is fallow to recover from this. I've lost all my favorites. I will never be this careless again.

 

[Smite]

I could be wrong but I thought fish from LA are shipped directly from the wholesaler? Fish from DD are actually at the facility.

It doesn't sound like you QT the first batch of fish so unless you see visible signs to QT I'd probably temp and salinity acclimate them and throw them in.

I don't think it needs to be done over a week and through evap. I'd temp and salinity match water in your HD bucket to the bag. Remove fish from bag with as little water as possible to avoid ammonia becoming toxic when exposed to air.
Once ammonia is out of the equation you can drip acclimate or add cups of water to the HD bicket from your display until temp and salinity are matched. Probably take an hour or so.

 

[CNGH]

I could be wrong but I thought fish from LA are shipped directly from the wholesaler? Fish from DD are actually at the facility.

It doesn't sound like you QT the first batch of fish so unless you see visible signs to QT I'd probably temp and salinity acclimate them and throw them in.

I don't think it needs to be done over a week and through evap. I'd temp and salinity match water in your HD bucket to the bag. Remove fish from bag with as little water as possible to avoid ammonia becoming toxic when exposed to air.
Once ammonia is out of the equation you can drip acclimate or add cups of water to the HD bicket from your display until temp and salinity are matched. Probably take an hour or so.

that's true, i didn't qt the first batch of fish. i got them from another reefer who was shutting down his tank, but had them for more than 6mos, to a couple years.

 

[laverda]

LA ships directly from a wholesaler. If they are still using the same one it is one of the better wholesalers. However you still run the risk of killing the fish you already have established like Stefdvm mentioned above. I have several fish that I have had for are over 20 years. They did not get that way by me being reckless without QTing. I have lost fish in QT but it is much better to lose them there then in my display and then loose half of the fish I have in my display. Is it worth possibly loosing the 3 healthy fish you have and then having to wait months before adding more fish to your display?
It is just no worth the risk to me! The only fish I don’t QT might be fish I got from another hobbiest, or captive breed ones from a trusted source that have never been in the tanks of a LFS.

 

[ScubaGal04]

I have ordered from LA in the past and have never had a problem. As for acclimation I use a clean 5 gallon bucket and do a slow drip using an air tube for 2 hours. The fish and coral have always done great. Once, I ordered from a Black Friday sale and thanks to UPS losing the package everything but 2 fish arrived DOA. LA customer service was great and held my replacements back at my request and shipped after the holidays to avoid any delays.