Who uses quarantine tanks?

[EmilyB]

Skipping qt and dealing with ick is one thing but what would you have done if the fish had flukes or velvet?, neither of which have visible symptoms in the early stages.

I've always bought fish from reliable sources, so I can't say I've ever run into a problem like that, well at least for eight years now.

[Reefer Rob]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I've always bought fish from reliable sources, so I can't say I've ever run into a problem like that, well at least for eight years now.

No such luck on the west coast. Fish go through the shops so quick 3/4 of them have disease or they're too stressed from transport to put directly in my display with a bunch of crazed territorial maniacs.

[surgeonfish]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I've always bought fish from reliable sources, so I can't say I've ever run into a problem like that, well at least for eight years now.

I am only aware of one LFS that quarantines all their fish and won't let you buy them until "after" the 2 week quarantine period. Ideally, I like to observe fish over several weeks at the LFS before buying them. However, most of the fish I want are snatched up quickly. I also live out of town and only make it into Calgary every few months.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I've always bought fish from reliable sources, so I can't say I've ever run into a problem like that, well at least for eight years now.

same here, no problems. I also keep a neon goby in the tank in case of ick breakouts (nothing major so far, knock on wood)>

[Snappy]

I don't get a lot of new fish anymore and the corals get a bath before going into my system.

[fishoholic]

If I get a fish from a reliable source then no I don't QT it. However if I get a fish from a LFS and don't know how long it's been there or what the fish might of been exposed to I QT it.

[Salinity Now]

I voted for quarantine and dipping. All of my fish go into a 10gal quarantine tank, which allows me to observe anything out of the ordinary. If I notice ich, etc. they'll then get transferred into my hospital tank that is kept at a salinity between 12-14 for a minimum of 6weeks. I have not ever had ich in my display tank!

All corals get a lugols dip and a freshwater dip (as per Eric Boremans recommendations). They then go into the quarantine tank for a minimum of 6weeks for observation. I have never had any red bugs, aptasia, nudibranchs, etc.... in my display tank.

In my experience the hardest part is the waiting game, but it sure is worth it.

[whosinpower]

Hi all;

Newbie here just in the process of setting up a saltwater tank - reef with a few fish.
I'm filling the tank as we speak with RO water.
Liverock arrives late next week.
I'm going to cycle with liverock and had anticipated 4-6 weeks wait time, give or take.

I read all the posts about quarentine and it got me to thinking that perhaps I should have a small tank set up as well as a quarentine tank when the day comes that I can finally have livestock. I think I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Anyhow - my question is this - would it be wise for me to set up the quarentine tank at the same time, so that when my display tank is cycled, then the quarentine tank will also be cycled and ready to receive stock????

Or....would it be ok if I put some filter media in the sump of the display tank while it was cycling and when the cycle was complete....then drain some display tank water into the quarentine tank with the seeded filter media? Would that work, or would I still have a cycle to deal with in the quarentine tank????

[Reefer Rob]

I keep a filter sponge in my sump. When I go to the fish store I make sure I have a water change ready to go. If I find a fish (or coral) that I like, I do a water change while the animal is acclimatising and use the old water in the quarantine. The sponge goes into the filter, and by this time the animal is ready to go in the quarantine tank. I always keep an ammonia alert on the front of my quarantine just in case.