Can I add a clean up crew during fallow period?

[michellejy]

My Nano Cube is finished cycling now, but here is the problem. In setting it up, I added about 4 fist sized pieces of rock and a couple of scoops of sand from an established tank. About a week and a half later, the fish that was already in that tank died from what was apparently brook (possibly velvet, but it looked like brook from the pictures I found).

So since she was obviously already infected when I took rock out of that tank, I am starting my new tank off with a fallow period. I know I can't add fish during that time, but are snails or shrimp okay to add, or will any nastiness hang on to them until I add the fish after the fallow period?

 

[jsker]

To be on the safe side I would wait and treat everything then start adding in about 30 days.

 

[michellejy]

To be on the safe side I would wait and treat everything then start adding in about 30 days.

I'm not sure what you mean by treat everything. There is no livestock to treat. It's an entirely empty tank aside from rock and sand. I am assuming I don't want to put formalin or any of the other nastiness in my display tank.

 

[jsker]

Sorry, Yes add the cleaning crew

 

[buckroe07]

You can add a clean up crew but then wait 76 days to add fish. That will ensure whatever is on the snails and hermits when released will die off instead of attaching to a host and reproduce. I now have and from now on keep snails and hermits in a tank of their own for at least 76 days before adding them to any off my tanks.

 

[Kershaw]

Wait 76 days after the clean up crew as eggs from for velvet and Ich may be on shells of snails. Just to be safe!!

 

[michellejy]

It just keeps getting crazier, doesn't it? :/

 

[buckroe07]

Crazy indeed!^@#! Never thought I would be giving my CUC spa treatment! On second thought, I should be

 

[Kershaw]

I'm not sure. Some one might be able to say for sure. But I think you will need to feed your clean up crew to maintain your bacteria

 

[Reefahholic]

Ohh that's a tough one. The answer is simple though. Don't risk it.

I put mine in a 5/g and wait 72 days. Just feed them a little. There's always a chance of 1 or 2 tomonts that could have encysted on your snail/s.

All it takes is 1 to put 100's in your system.

 

[rayn]

I agree, put them in now. Let it be fallow with cuc. May have to add stuff for them to eat though.

Add on question, that may be helpful in later dates. How do you guys add to your cuc? Tank is going strong, full or coral and fish. No disease. By cuc needs strengthened.

 

[michellejy]

I'm not sure. Some one might be able to say for sure. But I think you will need to feed your clean up crew to maintain your bacteria

I am feeding the empty tank to maintain the bacteria anyway.

 

[melypr1985]

Yes you can add your CUC now and wait out the fallow period. It's best to QT everything that goes into your DT so having a fishless frag tank (for future purchases) makes it easier to QT cuc and corals before going into the dt for the 76 days needed.

 

[michellejy]

Yes you can add your CUC now and wait out the fallow period. It's best to QT everything that goes into your DT so having a fishless frag tank (for future purchases) makes it easier to QT cuc and corals before going into the dt for the 76 days needed.

I wish I had the budget and space to have separate quarantines for everything that are cycled with correct filtration and lighting, but I just don't. I'm trying to be as careful as possible with my fish, but I am having a hard time knowing what is realistically a risk vs being extra cautious over 1 in a million odds, if that makes sense.

 

[melypr1985]

I wish I had the budget and space to have separate quarantines for everything that are cycled with correct filtration and lighting, but I just don't. I'm trying to be as careful as possible with my fish, but I am having a hard time knowing what is realistically a risk vs being extra cautious over a 1 in a million odds, if that makes sense.

It does and I'll say this. At the LFS I work at we keep an invert tank with no fish in it. So I know that our snails and hermits come without any disease attached to them. If this is possible at any LFS you go to, then I'd be comfortable skipping QT with them. If you can't QT or get them from a fishless tank at the store, then it's always going to be a risk and completely up to you. Basically evaluate the fish in the coral tank and see if they are displaying any illness. If they are, then dont buy those corals without a QT. I actually know several people here on R2R and local to me that have had velvet wipe-outs or ich outbreaks because it traveled into the tank on a coral or invert.

 

[Reefahholic]

I've never seen a LFS that was completely free of all parasites. It's not there fault though. Most LFS go through a large volume of fish on a weekly or biweekly basis. It's near impossible to keep "everything" out. As we all know, different drugs treat different parasites. Some cannot be mixed and others can. You would need to have multiple seperate systems running with all different medications and antibiotic therapy to keep fish clean, but even then it would be very difficult. Ohh and did I mention, money cannot be ur ultimate goal. Does that even exist anymore?

If you want the best quality fish and reduced chances of disease. You better shop on Live Aquaria divers den. Although, I did get a parasite from the regular Live Aquaria site one time. However, many times I've ordered fish and observed 4-6 weeks and they were 100% clean. IMO they have the best quarantine practices on the Internet. Kevin Kohen does a great job.

 

[melypr1985]

I've never seen a LFS that was completely free of all parasites. It's not there fault though. Most LFS go through a large volume of fish on a weekly or biweekly basis. It's near impossible to keep "everything" out. As we all know, different drugs treat different parasites. Some cannot be mixed and others can. You would need to have multiple seperate systems running with all different medications and antibiotic therapy to keep fish clean, but even then it would be very difficult. Ohh and did I mention, money cannot be ur ultimate goal. Does that even exist anymore?

If you want the best quality fish and reduced chances of disease. You better shop on Live Aquaria divers den. Although, I did get a parasite from the regular Live Aquaria site one time. However, many times I've ordered fish and observed 4-6 weeks and they were 100% clean. IMO they have the best quarantine practices on the Internet. Kevin Kohen does a great job.

This is absolutely true! It's next to impossible to keep all the fish we run through completely clear of parasites! We do try our best, as I'm sure most others do as well. I should have mentioned that the invert tank we keep is it's own system and while there can be some contamination via wet nets and hands, the odds are pretty low. So if your looking for an invert tank with no fish in it, it needs to be it's own system to reduce the risk.

 

[michellejy]

I just did a Reef Cleaners order. (I hope it is okay to mention them.) Since my tank is fishless for now and they seem to not have fish, it seemed like the safest option outside of setting up and cycling yet another quarantine tank.