TTM Sanity Check...

[Jeff210]

I currently have a 20 gal QT tank with a heater, a small powerhead and some misc. PVC pipe. I keep the QT water the same as my DT (as much as humanly possible - same rodi, mix, temp etc.) and float new arrivals and add a cup of tank water every 10 minutes for about an hour then net them out and into the QT they go. Since I began the QT process when my 210 was cycled and ready to go, I have purchased 2 fish from LA - a Goldflake and an Emperor - both juvenile. I put them in QT and observed for 2 weeks - no problems that could be seen and into the DT they went and, so far, no problems (fingers crossed)...

I want to add some Tangs and I want to TTM due to their susceptibility to ich (which wiped out my first attempt at a SW aquarium [among other things that I did completely wrong])...


Here is how I understand the TTM process:

1) As above for acclimation then in tank 1 for 3 days
2) Transfer to tank 2 for 3 days (same water/set-up as tank 1)
3) Drain and clean tank 1 (vinegar then RO/DI rinse) then let sit empty/dry for3 days
4) refill tank 1 with new water - same params, etc.
5) Transfer from Tank 2 to Tank 1
6) Repeat 1 - 5 (except acclimation)
7) Transfer from Tank 1 to Tank 2
8) Repeat 1 - 5 (except acclimation)

At the end of this process, I have transferred 3 times, at 3 day intervals into dry then filled tanks..

Then...

Treat with a med (what med? - for how long?) or just observe for another week?


Many thank in advance for your replies...

 

[formsix]

Don't do such a long acclimation -- float the bag for 10-15 minutes, match the salinity of the tank to the water in the bag and drop the fish straight in. If you keep your DT at 1.025 or so it's really easy to add RODI water to get your salinity down to what the fish come in at. As soon as you open the bag ammonia starts building up and you want fish out of there ASAP.

When it comes to cleaning the tank, I don't use vinegar but you can. I use hot water and occasionally dawn soap (original only) if things are icky, but generally just hot water, scrub it down, and leave it dry for a minimum of 24 hours before setting back up. I don't worry about rinsing in RODI for fish -- the only thing in my water I would be concerned about are traces of copper, but that's only an issue for inverts. Unless you have really odd tap water I wouldn't bother with an RODI rinse.

Everything else looks good. You could treat with praziro if you suspect intestinal parasites, and many people treat all fish with this. I don't if everything looks good during observation, but there are good arguments for doing so.

Ideally after tank transfer you would observe for at least another few weeks -- I think 4 week total QT is the minimum that's generally recommended, and 8 is ideal.

Good luck with the new additions and make sure to post pics!

 

[m0nkie]

I currently have a 20 gal QT tank with a heater, a small powerhead and some misc. PVC pipe. I keep the QT water the same as my DT (as much as humanly possible - same rodi, mix, temp etc.) and float new arrivals and add a cup of tank water every 10 minutes for about an hour then net them out and into the QT they go. Since I began the QT process when my 210 was cycled and ready to go, I have purchased 2 fish from LA - a Goldflake and an Emperor - both juvenile. I put them in QT and observed for 2 weeks - no problems that could be seen and into the DT they went and, so far, no problems (fingers crossed)...

I want to add some Tangs and I want to TTM due to their susceptibility to ich (which wiped out my first attempt at a SW aquarium [among other things that I did completely wrong])...


Here is how I understand the TTM process:

1) As above for acclimation then in tank 1 for 3 days
2) Transfer to tank 2 for 3 days (same water/set-up as tank 1)
3) Drain and clean tank 1 (vinegar then RO/DI rinse) then let sit empty/dry for3 days
4) refill tank 1 with new water - same params, etc.
5) Transfer from Tank 2 to Tank 1
6) Repeat 1 - 5 (except acclimation)
7) Transfer from Tank 1 to Tank 2
8) Repeat 1 - 5 (except acclimation)

At the end of this process, I have transferred 3 times, at 3 day intervals into dry then filled tanks..

Then...

Treat with a med (what med? - for how long?) or just observe for another week?


Many thank in advance for your replies...

you need to transfer 4 times. not 3!!! There needs to be 12 days for TTM. Make sure you do the transfer in early morning. After the last transfer, it is a good idea to do 2 treatments of praziro and observe.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996525

 

[Jeff210]

Many thanks formsix...I will adjust the salinity in the QT to the salinity in the bag...and get thm out ASAP...you're right...very easy to do...

Many thanks m0nkey...4 it is...I will treat prophylacticley...tangs are ich magnets and I abhor the white spots...

 

[m0nkie]

ya.. my last fish, a tang, had ich. caught it 2 hours into my QT. bullet dodged

they also have lot of white stress marks, which sometimes look like ich, but comes and goes. so look carefully. specially at night when light's out.

 

[fifthtoe]

you need to transfer 4 times. not 3!!! There needs to be 12 days for TTM. Make sure you do the transfer in early morning. After the last transfer, it is a good idea to do 2 treatments of praziro and observe.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996525

I'm curious because I want to make sure I do TTM correctly. Isn't 3 transfers 12 days?

1) fish added to first tank and kept in for 3 days
2) fish transferred for first time to another tank and kept in for 3 days
3) transferred for a second time for 3 days
4) transferred for a third time for 3 days
5) transferred to another tank for observation

So isn't that 12 days, or does there need to be another transfer which would actually make it 15 days since the fish was added to the first tank? Or is adding the fish into the first tank considered the first transfer? I'm just trying to understand correctly.

 

[tmz]

The first tank counts as transfer if you say four. Most describe it as 3 transfers.

I do not use tank water; new salt water mixed and aerated overnight is cleaner. ov Tank water has organic material in it . Without the bacterial biofilter to process them; the organics in the water can contribute to the potential for ammonia .

This thread of mine ,may be of help:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2185929&highlight=fish+acclimation+and+quarantine

 

[formsix]

One other quick tip. I have an excel sheet that tells me which days to transfer my fish... nothing fancy, just a day per row with a note every third day to transfer, and then I copy that file and fill in the exact days for every new fish. This also allows me to record the exact date I got the fish, check off that I did each transfer appropriately, and make any additional notes about the fish. I highly recommend making something up that fits with the way you handle scheduling -- either a file like mine, notes on a calendar, or even just a post-it with the dates to transfer written out. Much easier than trying to recalculate every few days where you're at with the transfer!!

 

[Jeff210]

This thread of mine ,may be of help:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2185929&highlight=fish+acclimation+and+quarantine

Exceptional! Have it bookmarked - many thanks Tom!

 

[m0nkie]

I'm curious because I want to make sure I do TTM correctly. Isn't 3 transfers 12 days?

1) fish added to first tank and kept in for 3 days
2) fish transferred for first time to another tank and kept in for 3 days
3) transferred for a second time for 3 days
4) transferred for a third time for 3 days
5) transferred to another tank for observation

So isn't that 12 days, or does there need to be another transfer which would actually make it 15 days since the fish was added to the first tank? Or is adding the fish into the first tank considered the first transfer? I'm just trying to understand correctly.

isn't your step #5 the 4th transfer?

Day 1 - fish in QT.
Day 4 - transfer
Day 7 - transfer
Day 10 - transfer
Day 13 - transfer and done.