Coral QT...how long?

[KJoFan]

All my remaining coral from my now broken down system is currently going through a fishless QT due to a velvet outbreak in the display. I was originally told I should go fishless for 76 days before re-introducing fish. This would be the fallow period for ich, which is all well and good but I am not really intending to achieve a completely ich free display.

Also, I will be adding a six line wrasse to the coral QT at some point from a different tank that I've had for at least a year now.

The display will be getting my 3+ yr old pair of clowns along with the coral in QT eventually.

None of these fish have ever been sick with anything but..that doesn't mean they couldn't introduce ich I would assume.

So...do I really need to keep the coral qt fallow for 76 days before introducing the six line? Or, could I just go the typical 6 weeks or so for the velvet to have left the building and proceed?

 

[Big G]

If you add a fish to your coral QT you will be providing a host for any ich/velvet parasites that may come in with new added corals thus defeating the purpose of the QT. Seems like what you are proposing is more of a "grow out" tank for your corals with a few fish in there.

 

[KJoFan]

If you add a fish to your coral QT you will be providing a host for any ich/velvet parasites that may come in with new added corals thus defeating the purpose of the QT. Seems like what you are proposing is more of a "grow out" tank for your corals with a few fish in there.

Well, yes, currently it's serving as a QT due to the velvet in the tank they came out of. But, going forward, I don't intend to QT every coral for 76 days in a fishless system in order to prevent ich. I will hold the corals in this system for a few weeks, to dip/observe for any coral pests before moving them into the display.

I do not intend to have more than just the sixline in the coral tank for pest control, if needed.
So, that said, if I am not intending to aim to prevent ich my DT (though I will hold the corals and QT all new fish), do I really need to keep these corals fishless for 76 days, or is the typical 6 week time frame long enough?

 

[Big G]

From our own Humblefish:

Fallow period - 6 weeks if you are certain it is velvet. However, if you suspect ich or any other disease(s) may be lingering in your display tank, then it is best to go fallow for 76 days.

 

[KJoFan]

From our own Humblefish:

Fallow period - 6 weeks if you are certain it is velvet. However, if you suspect ich or any other disease(s) may be lingering in your display tank, then it is best to go fallow for 76 days.

Yes I have read this, hence the indecision. I'll think it over and decide whether I want to go full coral QT or just coral observation/holding tank.