Question about quarantine and dip for corals.

[namsupak]

I am just curious what you all are doing regarding coral or even general invert introduction into your tank. I have never quarantined or dipped my corals in that special dip solution they sell in the stores. I usually just turn all the lights off in the tank then hook up IV tubing with a small plastic valve and drip acclimate for about 2-3 hours, flipping off the room lights when I leave. I check the setup every so often to make sure nothing has leaked or stopped, then I introduce. Everything has been doing well with this method so far. Lately I have been listening to some podcasts and heard about coral solution dips and people who quarantine the corals like fish. It got me wondering if anyone local had a different method and maybe the reasoning if they do something else.

 

[brettnleslie]

I use CoralRX on all of my new corals. I love this product. It is all natural. I will kill just about any paricite and most algae as well. Look it up online and read what all it kills. I know it does flat worms, bristle worms, acro fleas, etc. I also like the fact it will kill algea on any rock or plugs the coral is on.

Brett

 

[namsupak]

Do you also quarantine them in a separate system for a certain period of time or do u just put them in the display?

 

[brettnleslie]

I do not currently quarantine my corals which is why I dip. I am working on a quarantine system for my corals. I have had quarantine tanks for my fish in the past but I find that after a while I just don't keep that tank up to par and then I tear it down. I am going to make more of an effort this time and set up a decent quarantine system.

Brett

 

[cloakerpoked]

I don't really QT anything that I get. I temperature acclimate, and as long as it came from a source I recognize, I usually don't worry about the rest, and seldom have any problems with this method. I am careful to not introduce water from pet stores into my system as I'm afraid of copper or other medication/nutrients I'm not aware of. I am careful to light acclimate if the coral has been under low light for a while, I won't throw it right up under the MH's in my tank.

This has caused problems for me once with red bugs, but since I don't really keep inverts in the tank anyway, it wasn't a problem for me to use interceptor, and after one treatment I've never observed them in my tank again.

 

[mikesin]

Hello, I don't QT either, however I nuke/treat all corals before introducing them to the DT since I do have inverts. So far this is working for me. acclimate to our DT's water/temp. Use water from our DT for dipping - interceptor over night. rinse - Flatworm exit & Furan2 together, rinse. Seachem's Reef dip, Rinse and Introduce to the DT before the lights come on. There are so many different protocols. My thoughts are I never want to be put into the position of having to treat my entire system for an outbreak of something that could of been treated before introduction. So far we have not lost a coral to this regiment however, we are prepared to, its better in our eyes to lose a few new corals than the entire DT.