Quarentine question

[Caden]

I guess just like herps fish should be quarentined before being put in a display too. From pictures, I see that QT tanks are usually just pvc pipes for hiding.

My question is, do QT tanks need to be Completely isolated from the DT, or can they be part of the ... er... water system? (Like refugiums are).

If not, what all equipment do you need on one? I usually see QT tanks with what looks to be nothing in it.

 

[JGHA]

The reasons why QT tanks are isolated from the DT are many. Some of them are me for example I have a 250g DT and to treat the whole tank for a disease it would be much more expensive rather than treating 10 or 20 gallons. Another reason why we need the QT to be isolated is because many of the treatments for fish would kill our coral and inverts, like copper medicines and hyposalinity. QT you can have with very little equipment as you can usually maintain it wit water from your DT. Hopefully this is helpful.

 

[tcmfish]

Another reason, it you want to leave no chance for contamination, otherwise there is no point in quarantining, along with the above stated reasons.

 

[Caden]

So what equipment would be needed for a lets say 20 gallon QT tank?

 

[cas]

Heater.

Power head for water circulation.

Some people use a sponge filter.

 

[tcmfish]

I would use a hang on the tank filter instead of a sponge filter just because of salt creep and then you have an easy area to put carbon if you need to remove a med.

So yeah:

Heater.
Filter.
Maybe an air pump and and air stone, because some meds like formalin need to have the water oxygenated.
Some PVC big enough to hide the fish you are QTing.
Thermometer.
Dim light.
Lid.
Meds, and a test kit for those that it is required for, like copper.

Some people also run a small tank with macro algae and live rock, that harbors little invertebrates, that new fish that a finicky eaters can prey upon and fatten up, and also an area where you can make sure they are eating aggressively before being put through the rigors of QT.

 

[wooden_reefer]

So what equipment would be needed for a lets say 20 gallon QT tank?

A power filter of some kind and a medium of filtration that has been cycled very well in advance.

I always have UV in QT against bacteria infection when I eradicate ich, when I am not using a drug that UV degrades.

I also sometimes use a powerhead, a hose, and make a DYI wet-dry setup with water dripping over a medium that has been well-cycled in advance in QT.

 

[HighHopesReefer]

So would you all recommend putting lr in the qt or not?

 

[hybridazn]

So would you all recommend putting lr in the qt or not?

no i wouldnt recommend it, lr and ls are known to soak up just about any meds you throw in, reducing the effects of it on the fish being treated.

 

[HighHopesReefer]

OK, I just reread the post - the lr tank was BEFORE qt. Got it.