Quarantine Question

[dhanck]

My LFS treats their display tanks with copper and I am wondering what quarantine procedure to follow after I make a purchase.

If the LFS has had the fish for 2 weeks in copper treated display(monitor how long fish has been in store or pay and not take home for 2 weeks), should I run additional medication in my QT or just observe for a few weeks? How long should I observe before transfer to DT (if no signs of disease are present)?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[sdbc]

I treat my QT tank with PrasiPro when the fish first goes in. Nothing else unless symptoms show up. I QT for 4 weeks before they go into DT. If they develop symptoms, that time may get extended to make sure they are healthy. Knock on wood, I've never had an epidemic in my DT following this procedure.

 

[Brieninsac]

Everyone has their own way of quarantining. Through experience and failure you'll eventually devise your own procedure.

I quarantine most fish for 1-month. Disease prone fish like Tangs will go 2-months. I don't medicate unless I see something. Once the signs of disease are eradicated it's another month. I only run lights in the morning for an hour for observation and a few hours at night. If all is good in they go.

 

[sdbc]

As an aside, I used to do freshwater dips or methylene blue dips before putting fish into QT and it killed more fish than it saved. I finally realized I was quarantining them anyway, so I didn't need to do it without a reason. I now just acclimate the fish for 1-1.5 hours and then dump the whole thing into QT. Much less stress on the fish.

 

[scooter31707]

They get a 50 minute Formalin bath out of the bag (upon arrival). After that into a observation tank for 1 week (making sure they look good and eating). After that week is up they go into the TTM. During the TTM, on the 2nd and 4th transfer I dose Prazi-Pro. After TTM, they into the QT where they get a round of CP. Run carbon afterwards, then they will be in there for 6-8 weeks depending if everything looks normal and eating normal.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Congrats on doing QT at all. Many folks don't.

My process is to match the first TTM tank with temp and salinity of LFS.
Then TTM with PraziPRo on transfers 2 and 4.
4 - 6 weeks in QT depending on any health or feeding issues.
I've lost fish in the process, but since starting this regimen, my DTs are disease free.

 

[MondoBongo]

Congrats on doing QT at all. Many folks don't.

My process is to match the first TTM tank with temp and salinity of LFS.
Then TTM with PraziPRo on transfers 2 and 4.
4 - 6 weeks in QT depending on any health or feeding issues.
I've lost fish in the process, but since starting this regimen, my DTs are disease free.

this is exactly what i do. it is a highly effective regimen.

 

[dhanck]

Congrats on doing QT at all. Many folks don't.

My process is to match the first TTM tank with temp and salinity of LFS.
Then TTM with PraziPRo on transfers 2 and 4.
4 - 6 weeks in QT depending on any health or feeding issues.
I've lost fish in the process, but since starting this regimen, my DTs are disease free.

Thank you for the feedback, currently I only have the DT and a 20 gal quarantine, so I am not sure how to effectively do the TTM.

I have read on the TTM and am trying to figure out a good (and also cost effective) way to pull of another tank, but I am wondering if my quarantine procedure will still be successful if I only have the one quarantine tank?

 

[scooter31707]

You can use buckets or you can find two 5 gallon tanks for cheap.

 

[dhanck]

You can use buckets or you can find two 5 gallon tanks for cheap.

Sorry, this may be a dumb question. In TTM if I used buckets, what would I have to do to keep the fish healthy? My understanding is that the fish should remain in each tank for a couple days before being transferred?

Also, I would assume I would go Bucket, my 20 gal QT, bucket , 20 gal QT? Is that correct?

 

[MondoBongo]

Sorry, this may be a dumb question. In TTM if I used buckets, what would I have to do to keep the fish healthy? My understanding is that the fish should remain in each tank for a couple days before being transferred?

Also, I would assume I would go Bucket, my 20 gal QT, bucket , 20 gal QT? Is that correct?

you can use buckets in place of other tanks.

so it would be like bucket. wait 2ish days. new bucket. wait 2ish days. new bucket. wash, rinse, and repeat, then at the end in to 20 gal QT for a few weeks for observation, then in to the main display.

 

[dhanck]

you can use buckets in place of other tanks.

so it would be like bucket. wait 2ish days. new bucket. wait 2ish days. new bucket. wash, rinse, and repeat, then at the end in to 20 gal QT for a few weeks for observation, then in to the main display.

How would you set up the bucket to keep good water conditions and the fish at least somewhat happy for the 2ish weeks transferring between buckets?

Airstones, PVC and heater? Or small powerhead?

Sorry, it just seems odd to me to keep them in buckets and have that help the overall health. I am still learning so not saying it wouldn't work, just trying to wrap my head around it.

 

[MondoBongo]

it is a bit odd, and works better with smaller fish.

but basically you would treat the buckets just like a tank. air stone, heater, water changes, amquel, pvc elbows for hiding space. sterilizing and drying between uses.

really you can TTM in anything that holds water.

 

[BigBlueTang]

it is a bit odd, and works better with smaller fish.

but basically you would treat the buckets just like a tank. air stone, heater, water changes, amquel, pvc elbows for hiding space. sterilizing and drying between uses.

really you can TTM in anything that holds water.

*You can do TTM in anything that holds water and is reef safe

Be very sure that if you use plastic containers, that you know they are food safe and won't leach stuff into the water.
I personally like to watch the fish during TTM to see stress levels etc. So getting another 10 gallon tank wasn't a big deal, but I do understand that buckets are a lot easier.

 

[scooter31707]

You have two buckets, 2 heaters, one air pump, and 4 airstones. At the start of the TTM, you will use the first bucket and heater. The fish will stay in there for no longer than 72 hours. Then you will make new saltwater in the other bucket (setting it up just like the one that is being used). Once salinity and temp match the current bucket, transfer fish. Once fish is transferred take the first bucket and equipment, discard water and rinse/soak all with some vinegar. Rinse well and let air dry for at least 24-48 hours. Repeat the process 3 more times for a total of 4 xfers.

 

[dhanck]

Thank you!

How big of a fish would using buckets be a bad choice? I am looking at some tangs (purple, kole), puffers and a couple other decent. Would being in a 5 gallon bucket be too stressful for them if they are over a certain size?

Would a 5 gallon tank be any different than a bucket for the bigger fish?

I may end up looking at small tanks or the larger clear storage totes.

 

[scooter31707]

Tangs, Butterflies, and Large Angels would probably need a 10 gallon. You can get them when Petco have their $1/per gallon sale. I have done 2 clowns, 3" kole tang, and a 2.5" Yellow tang in buckets (not at the same time). All my other fish had to be done in something bigger due to their size.

 

[MondoBongo]

*You can do TTM in anything that holds water and is reef safe

an excellent distinction to call out! :thumbsup:

Thank you!

How big of a fish would using buckets be a bad choice? I am looking at some tangs (purple, kole), puffers and a couple other decent. Would being in a 5 gallon bucket be too stressful for them if they are over a certain size?

Would a 5 gallon tank be any different than a bucket for the bigger fish?

I may end up looking at small tanks or the larger clear storage totes.

if you're doing tangs, butterflies, angels, things that are larger or like to swim, then i would opt for either 10 or 20 long tanks, depending on their respective sizes.

 

[monkeysee1]

I just put the fish / coral / invert in my QT tank and let it chill and I DON'T put any medicine in it unless I absolutely HAVE TO. 4 weeks. I figure that by then whatever issues the animal has will manifest themselves. I'm pretty much maxed out on fish for my tank, and they're all doing great for several months (most of them I've had for a few YEARS even) so I haven't had to QT any fish for quite awhile. But I have been using my QT for all other live stuff!

TTM and medicines (especially copper) STRESS OUT fish even more, IMHO - especially butterflies, puffers, and other shy fish!!

I have had decent luck with this method so far - I haven't had ANY parasite / bacterial / fungal outbreaks in almost four years now!