QT Question about multiple fish

[Brando457]

I am planning on picking up a powder blue tang and hippo tang from OG II, but was wondering if I could QT them at the same time?

I have a 45 gallon tank I will be using and a simple HOB filter.

I plan on picking up some garlic flakes, maybe some copper treatment, and figuring out what else to use for QT.

I know I need to have it bare bottom, no LR, and some PVC for them to hide. Also I was thinking of running hypo salinity from the start or should I observe the fish for a week and see if Ich or anything is present.

This is my first time QT-ing fish and I'd like to do it right.

Thanks for any input!

 

[sfboarders]

I've QT multiple fish at the same time before adding to DT. I always eradicate for ich when purchasing new fish. First week I evaluate and make sure they eat well and than treat for ich.

It's best if you can cycle the QT or the medium before hand. You can always throw the filter medium in the sump to get some bacteria build up.

 

[RegalAngel]

yes, but you might need to partition the tank to separate them if they mix it up too much....

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16566626&postcount=23

 

[RBU1]

Most experts will tell you to only QT 1 fish at a time.

 

[krowleey]

Most experts will tell you to only QT 1 fish at a time.

ideally i agree, but for alot of people it is not practical. Also note, that you can QT several fish in the same QT, i have done it several times, but is much more difficult to do.

 

[RBU1]

ideally i agree, but for alot of people it is not practical. Also note, that you can QT several fish in the same QT, i have done it several times, but is much more difficult to do.

QTing 1 fish at a time might be a pain but it helps you keep your focus on one fish. You don't have to subject all the fish to a treatment they don't need.

 

[Chris27]

Pick one or the other, hypo or copper, not both. They are equally effective, copper is just quicker and uses less water overall, but hypo doesn't use chemicals, and indirectly gives the fish a little more energy, since it doesn't have to process as much salt.

As for the filter, two tangs will poop a lot, driving water quality into the ground. Give some thought about having a well established bio-filter in there before you throw the fish in. Without a well established bio-filter, you may find yourself doing large water changes daily, and dumping amquel or prime in there like it's going out of style.

 

[wooden_reefer]

Most experts will tell you to only QT 1 fish at a time.

Most experts are wrong or too rigid on this.

I always QT as much bioload as I can get for the design of the DT.

I often aim to stock all at once and QT all at once; however, often not all is available in one weekend and sometimes I design to introduce a fish later based on compatibility. Sometimes it is better for compatability if you stock all at once, sometimes not so.

Nitritrification is never a concern if you cycle very well. After a robust cycle, the medium in QT will handle any imaginable bioload. If you have added a few ppm ammonia several times in the later half or third of the cycle, and you see that a lot of ammonia is processed, this nitrification activity will handle far more ammonia than any bioload will excrete.

The con is placing all the eggs in one basket of contagious diseases. If you are well-versed with disease control, the con is small vs the pro, which is in the saving of effort.

The most experienced should consider placing all the eggs in one basket and doing a very good and thorough job of QT. This has worked for me for decades.

Those not well-versed with disease control can be walking into a calamity of a tank full of sick fish if he stocks all at once.

 

[Brando457]

Well I'll be QT-ing only a Hippo to start things off. So no worries there.