Quarantine Tank

[Bigjohnwoody]

I just got done reading this!
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php

Is it really necesary to qt live rock? All I have is a 30 gallon tank that I am using for my qt and I would have to buy a bigger tank to be able to do this. I am setting up a 120. The 30 gallon was a freshwater tank that was given to me also and I dont know that was put into the tank so I thought I would just clean it very well with ro/di water and vinegar and then use it as a fish only qt tank. So this also brings me to coral qt. Is this also necesary or can I just dip them in coral rx or things like that and not qt. I am trying to do everything as perfect as I can the first time and dont want to make big mistakes that I will regreat in the future. So any advice on qt tanks and what you qt and how you get away with not qt'ing corals, live rock etc. would be very helpfull. Also if I qt corals I need better lighting over the qt as well dont I. All it has now is some fish only flourescent light!

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Is it really necesary to qt live rock?

What if it comes in with aiptasia and you don't notice it right away? Or other hitchhikers?

It's not really "necessary" to quarantine anything, we do it because it adds some security against introducing unwanted organisms to our tanks. If that security isn't worth the risk, then you shouldn't quarantine anything. While the risks may be slightly less with live rock, there are still risks. Each reefer has to assess those risks and decide if they're worth mitigating in some way, such as a quarantine tank. It's your personal acceptance of risk that will decide the answer for you.

Jeff

 

[theROYSKIE]

^^+1

 

[Bigjohnwoody]

So will it hurt my live rock if I use a tank that may have been treated with copper and God know what else to cure it in? Do both of you guys have qt tank and hospital tank?