What risk do I run by running the QT short?

[brubakron]

I have planned to QT fish for 8 weeks upon getting them, and treating twice with Prazipro. I have a flashing tilefish that is currently in QT along with a yellow tilefish. They both are eating, and have already done one treatment with prazi - both look healthy with no signs of any disease. I was thinking about treating again today with prazi, and then adding to the DT in a week. What risk do I run? I haven't read that tilefish are prone to certain diseases the way that other fish are. The reason that I want to get them into the display tank is that I am concerned about it jumping out of the QT tank (it actually already happened once - the guy was lucky that I came in right after it happened.). I do have a top on the QT tank but it still made its way out. The DT has better tops so I hopefully won't need to worry about it. Thanks for the input. Also the yellow Tilefish has been in QT for 3 weeks, and the Flashing tilefish for 1 week. Thanks for the input.

 

[HumbleFish]

IMO; you would be taking one helluva risk. Especially since the flashing tilefish has only been in QT for 1 week. He could have Ich or even worse, Velvet. Or any other number of diseases.

You can cut a piece of eggcrate to go over your QT, and then wrap fishing mesh (or wedding veil made of tulle) around it. If it's fine enough, no fish will be able to get thru that.

 

[xanthurum]

You would be risking everything. Its cheaper and easier to get a better lid than replacing fish.

 

[bellis31]

The whole idea of using a QT is to either proactively treat for disease or wait out the life cycle of a disease to be sure your fish are clean. Cutting the time period short is a bad idea.

 

[krzyphsygy]

QT , as bad waiting as it can be is the most important process in our hobby. This part takes patience! And a lot of it . Usually IME ich will show its face with in 2 weeks of qt. But it also may not show itself at all. Crazy huh! 4 weeks is a good starting point to be sure the fish are ok. Take your time and don't rush this step. When you can look at your display tank and feel good that there shouldn't be any problems. The hobby will be more fun. My qt tanks have egg crate on top with a thin sheet of acrylic over that the. The light. No one gets out. The acrylic can be bought at lowes for 10 bucks and they cut to fit.
Believe me. It's great you are using qt, but be sure to follow the whole process. It pays in the end!

 

[snorvich]

You would be risking everything. Its cheaper and easier to get a better lid than replacing fish.

This. Jury rigging a lid should be doable.

 

[hogfanreefer]

It is tough when you're looking at that fish and picturing it in your DT. It's even worse for me as my wife is constantly asking when the fish in the bed room (that's where my QT's are) get to move to the big tank.

Be strong, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Deinonych]

You would be risking everything. Its cheaper and easier to get a better lid than replacing fish.

+2

I have a foxface currently in QT. A little over two weeks in, he started showing the telltale spots of ich. He's now being treated with CP (part of my standard QT protocol), but if I had moved him to the DT early, he would have infected all of my DT fish. Better to prevent ich/velvet/brook/whatever from ever getting into your DT than trying to get rid of them after the fact.

 

[krzyphsygy]

+2

I have a foxface currently in QT. A little over two weeks in, he started showing the telltale spots of ich. He's now being treated with CP (part of my standard QT protocol), but if I had moved him to the DT early, he would have infected all of my DT fish. Better to prevent ich/velvet/brook/whatever from ever getting into your DT than trying to get rid of them after the fact.

Not to derail but what is CP?

 

[brubakron]

I have been patient so far with QTing fish - I have a few tangs that I took the full 8 weeks on just to make sure. I just need to work on the top for the QT tank, it currently has egg crate only which obviously isn't sufficient enough. So with the time in QT - one suggestion said 4 weeks with no signs of any infection, bacteria, etc.. Is that a general rule of thumb?

Thanks again for the input.

 

[Deinonych]

Not to derail but what is CP?

Apologies, CP = chloroquine phosphate.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2136214