Time in QT

[Firefish76]

I have 2 True Perc clownfish in qt right now and this Sat it will be the 4 week mark for them being in there. They have shown no sign of illness, and have eatten well from the very beginning. So I was wanting some advice if this is long enough? Or do I really need to hold out for the 6th week before I put them in the DT. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[kraze3]

Its up to you really. I try to keep all fish in QT for 6 weeks. I will not lie some have made it to DT in 4 weeks, but none less than 4 weeks. It is good to practice getting into the good habits now because when there is 12 fish in your DT you dont want to take the chance. Are they going to be your first fish in the tank?

 

[Firefish76]

Yes, they are the first two to go in the DT. In the beginning I was thinking would just do the 4 weeks, then started doubting that decision. I would leave them there for another 2 weeks, but I was at a LFS over the weekend and had them put a Midas Blenny on hold for me until this weekend. (my bad I know)

 

[wab]

I know your itching for the dt to have fish, take it from me patienc, patience, patience, Thats what i learned after I got ick. Basically the same situation everything looks great, It will be ok, whats two weeks, they all must be overly cautious.I put them in and BAM ICK. Good luck

 

[kraze3]

If they are the first two fish then go ahead and add them at 4 weeks. Keep an eye on them in the DT while you QT the goby for 6 weeks. if you notice anything in DT it wont be to hard catching the two clowns. Like I said, get into the good habits now. If you introduce something with 20 fish its gonna be a PITA to catch them all.

 

[wab]

If you put them in the dt and they have ick and if you have live rock or inverts than you cant treat to kill the ick and you will never stop the ick cycle.

 

[Firefish76]

Okay thanks for the advice. I might see if I can talk my husband into getting another 10 gallon. Then I could put the blenny in the 10 gal and keep the clowns where they are for the other 2 weeks. I'm very afraid of my situation turning out like wab's. Then I would need another tank anyway.

 

[kraze3]

If you put them in the DT and they do show signs of ich, you can put them back in the QT with goby and treat with hypo. Leaving your DT fishless for 6-8 weeks will rid the tank of ich. Ich needs a host to survive, without fish it will die off. I dont recommend putting the fish in the DT and hoping they dont have ich. As I said earlier, since they are the first two fish, if anything was noticed after they could be easily caught. Hypo takes 6-8 weeks, which will rid the fish and tank of ich.
Adding the goby to the Qt with the clowns will require all the fish to be Qted for another 6 weeks. Again Im just explaining this because you need to pick up your goby this weekend. This isnt the "correct" way to Qt and add fish but it will work. Im just trying to offer an alternative to you getting and setting up another tank.

In the future QT all fish for 6 weeks and give your DT time to adjust to its new inhabitants before getting new fish.

 

[Firefish76]

Yeah no more going to the LFS for me until the 5th week is hit.

 

[1BADDROP]

I would wait out the full six. I just went thru this with a new powder blue tang at four weeks he looked great hit week 5 and the fin erosion started! Im happy I was patient and waited!