water change during QT

[aravindk]

I started QT with three new fish and today is third day. Yesterday one of them died. I removed the dead fish within couple of hours and tested for ammonia and it showed 0.25. I went ahead and administered Prazipro as per the plan. Should I do a water change today? As per the QT guidelines, I don't need to do a WC until 7th day. But I also read somewhere that some do WC daily or every other day. What is the best next step?

TIA.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

What QT guidelines? And why do a change on the 7th day? I'm wondering if you are thinking tank transfer? If your ammonia is .25 do a water change and add something like Prime. Do you have anything from your main tank that may contain nitrifying bacteria to add to the QT? How big is your QT and what kind of fish are in there?

 

[aravindk]

I used the sticky: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1846124

and also this:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/quarantining-marine-fish-made-simple

as general guidelines to start QT. I used the DT tank water. I left the HOB filter insert in my sump for couple of days to seed. The QT is a 30g and I currently have a chromis, large yellow tang and a foxface. The one died was a Naso tang.

If I do a water change now, should I re-administer Prazipro?

 

[Deinonych]

A couple of days to seed the filter floss is not going to be sufficient to support the bioload of three fish. I would recommend picking up a bottle of Biospira and some filter media (like SeaChem Matrix) for the bacteria to populate. Ammonia at 0.25 is way too high and cause cause fish mortalities, as you have experienced.

 

[aravindk]

Is it a good idea to do a water change and bring ammonia under control and continue to keep the two remaining fish in QT or is it better to release them to DT?

 

[aravindk]

I will go get Biospira but do I have enough time for the bacteria take root?

 

[Deinonych]

Do a water change immediately to get your ammonia under control. After the water change, add the Biospira. It will begin working immediately. I have had great success with Biospira for emergency QTs. I just use the whole bottle to make sure I have a large bacteria population to start with.

As a rule of thumb, I never release fish from QT early, especially when it has only been days.

 

[MrTuskfish]

^^^^^I agree^^^^^ I would never shorten QT time, under any circumstances.

As long as you're not using meds; you can change water in the QT as often as needed. Ammonia is a big problem in a QT: unless you are prepared with filter media that has seeded in your QT for several weeks, minimum. The presence of any ammonia is far more important than any WC schedule----unless you are using tank-transfer. I like to use DT water in my QT, but I am positive that water is parasite free. Unless your positive that your DT water is disease/parasite free; I wouldn't use it beyond the initial QT set up; and then, only if you plan on prophylactic treating with Cu, CP, or tank transfer for ich. Any water with measurable ammonia needs immediate attention.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Agree with Chris and Steve on everything. Never shorten quarantine time...I've done it and introduced flukes from an asymptomatic Blenny. I use main tank water to do small water changes in my QT. That way I've done the water change for my main and the quarantined fish are acclimated to the main tank water and it keeps their ammonia at 0...win win!

 

[aravindk]

thanks guys. Biospira brought the ammonia to 0. Regarding the WC, can the water from display tank be used in QT? From what I have read, it is ok to do it first time when you set it up but later it is usually recommended that salt water is freshly mixed. What do you all do? Also how often do you do WC in QT?

 

[Deinonych]

DT water tends to have more nutrients in it, so you will need to monitor your levels in QT more. For this reason, I typically use fresh saltwater in QT. I always let it aerate for 24 hours in the tank to ensure there is good dissolved oxygen before adding fish. I typically do a 30-50% WC once a week depending on how messy the fish is.