Adding fish to new tank.

[WvAquatics]

I'm definitely not close to adding fish to my 120gaquarium yet. But I read so much about qt new fish and medicating with Cooper away from the DT. So my question is if you are about to add first fish to a new aquarium do you qt first? Do you add Cooper with no signs of illness? How long do you qt? Do CUC need qt?
I just ask because I am slowly getting closer to plumbing and cycling the DT. And I want to take the best approach to successfully adding fish. If I need to qt every fish. Do I just plan to medicate? I have plenty of tanks for qt. 2 10g and 3 5.5g. just want to plan for best start.

 

[Jerry Ebner]

I will QT without meds . I only medicate when I feel like I need to but that means I take my time during QT. I also look at the fish good before purchase . Have not had issues within 3 years of reefing. But that's my take . I feel that if you take meds for something you don't have you will build a tolerance up to it and next time it may not work so well but that's just my reasoning behind my choice. Have not had ick in my tank ( knock on wood) I did have Marine Velvet but that was before I did qt just starting off 3 years ago. Do what you feel is right and don't do it just because I do it this way.

 

[WvAquatics]

I will QT without meds . I only medicate when I feel like I need to but that means I take my time during QT. I also look at the fish good before purchase . Have not had issues within 3 years of reefing. But that's my take . I feel that if you take meds for something you don't have you will build a tolerance up to it and next time it may not work so well but that's just my reasoning behind my choice. Have not had ick in my tank ( knock on wood) I did have Marine Velvet but that was before I did qt just starting off 3 years ago. Do what you feel is right and don't do it just because I do it this way.

Well this is why I'm asking. I want to get practice of as many people as possible. I would like to cycle the tank and add fish shortly after. So I wondered if I should start qt all over the house for first group of fish same time as the DT.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

If I was starting a 120 and investing in a large number of expensive fish, I would certainly QT and medicate everything that went into that tank. It would suck to lose every single fish to velvet from something preventable.

I am going to caveat this as I felt it was very very one sided by saying that on my 40B I QT everything and isolate equipment but plan to refallow my nano as I know I had a few places where a disease might have snuck through... No losses in my nano in a year but its the sinking feeling of knowing it could come out at any time and that I can never just move coral/fish/inverts or equipment from my nano to my 40B.

 

[Jerry Ebner]

Well this is why I'm asking. I want to get practice of as many people as possible. I would like to cycle the tank and add fish shortly after. So I wondered if I should start qt all over the house for first group of fish same time as the DT.

Now the tank is new and no fish are in you will have to be careful to the bioload when adding fish . But if you add any fish to your QT tank during the QT process then that timer resets I will go 30-45 days before they leave my QT tank. I'd add a little at a time so not to shock the system.

 

[WvAquatics]

Well I would cycle system to a high 4-5ppm ammonia so it can handle a large stock at once. But I will add fish to a 120g slowly. In swings but to add one fish at a time would take years but if I could add groups it would cut down time. Would a sponge filter work for a qt or should I add a hob also

 

[Jerry Ebner]

Well I would cycle system to a high 4-5ppm ammonia so it can handle a large stock at once. But I will add fish to a 120g slowly. In swings but to add one fish at a time would take years but if I could add groups it would cut down time. Would a sponge filter work for a qt or should I add a hob also

You can do either but those will now be forever your QT setup items . I like the HOB option because you can use that area for all kinds of stuff. I like the Sponge filter because you can toss it and buy another so cheap either is good . Wouldn't go buy a HOB just to get one for that in my opinion

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Sponge filters work great just remember to remove carbon filter pads from any hob. I would cycle ammonia to around a 2 at first as it may take bacteria longer to build up than if you start at a 4.

Groups is fine just keep in mind that you want to put in the least aggressive fish first

 

[WvAquatics]

Well I have 3 aquaclear 20 I could use on a 10 and 5g. Should be a good flow from them. And probably cheaper than buying 5 air pumps. I also have some marineland penguin 15 so I could double the hob. Plus a bunch of small water pumps the would run a aquaclear I could use with powerheads.