Do you quarantine everything?

jasonrusso · Jun 5, 2017

Right now I am going through a tough time with running 2 quarantine tanks while leaving my DT empty. I never want to go through this again.

That being said, what do you guys do for inverts, rock, live food, etc?

If I buy hermit crabs (I have a porcupine puffer and a tusk so my CUC needs to be replaced often), I can treat them with CP.

As far as snails or rocks go, do I need to put them in a unmedicated tank for 76 days after receiving them?

I sometimes like to give my puffer and lionfish live shrimp as a treat and to keep them acting happy. How can I do this if I want to be safe?

How can I be sure that the frozen food I buy is parasite free?

I want to be safe, buy still enjoy my fish. I love watching my lion hunt down a ghost shrimp.

I just bought some chaeto, pods, and nassarius snails from Reefcleaners because he guaranteed me that it is pest and parasite free. He says he has no fish in his warehouse and grows his own chaeto.

Brew12 · Jun 5, 2017

jasonrusso said:
Right now I am going through a tough time with running 2 quarantine tanks while leaving my DT empty. I never want to go through this again.

That being said, what do you guys do for inverts, rock, live food, etc?

If I buy hermit crabs (I have a porcupine puffer and a tusk so my CUC needs to be replaced often), I can treat them with CP.

As far as snails or rocks go, do I need to put them in a unmedicated tank for 76 days after receiving them?

I sometimes like to give my puffer and lionfish live shrimp as a treat and to keep them acting happy. How can I do this if I want to be safe?

How can I be sure that the frozen food I buy is parasite free?

I want to be safe, buy still enjoy my fish. I love watching my lion hunt down a ghost shrimp.

I just bought some chaeto, pods, and nassarius snails from Reefcleaners because he guaranteed me that it is pest and parasite free. He says he has no fish in his warehouse and grows his own chaeto.

I don't think anyone can ever be 100% sure we keep everything out of our systems. All we can do is our best.
I am a big fan of Reefcleaners because he doesn't raise fish. Makes it much safer. That said, I did put the last batch of CuC I got from him in my coral/invert QT just to be on the safe side.

Frozen food shouldn't be a problem for the commonly found parasite issues in a tank. The freezing alone would kill of most marine parasites.

Any chance you can find a supplier for ghost shrimp that doesn't raise them with fish?

jasonrusso · Jun 5, 2017

Brew12 said:
I am a big fan of Reefcleaners because he doesn't raise fish. Makes it much safer. That said, I did put the last batch of CuC I got from him in my coral/invert QT just to be on the safe side.

Explain how you QT inverts.

Brew12 · Jun 5, 2017

jasonrusso said:
Explain how you QT inverts.

I have a 20g tank that has a few pieces of live rock, HOB filter, powerhead, heater, about 1 1/2" of gravel, frag racks, and a big shell for decoration. I use it as a coral/invert QT so no fish. I only buy snails from Reefcleaners but any shrimp or crabs go into the QT until they molt. Coral goes in it for 80 days.

jasonrusso · Jun 5, 2017

Brew12 said:
I have a 20g tank that has a few pieces of live rock, HOB filter, powerhead, heater, about 1 1/2" of gravel, frag racks, and a big shell for decoration. I use it as a coral/invert QT so no fish. I only buy snails from Reefcleaners but any shrimp or crabs go into the QT until they molt. Coral goes in it for 80 days.

80 days for snails as well?

Brew12 · Jun 5, 2017

jasonrusso said:
80 days for snails as well?

Yup, unless I know they come from a fish free supplier.

melypr1985 · Jun 5, 2017

Agreed. I have a 20 gallon jbj AIO that I use for corals and inverts. There are no fish in there and I have it set up like a tiny reef so it looks pretty while everything is waiting to go in the display. Not much fuss with it really. Water changes, an ATO and a little food a couple times a week and it runs itself.

Ghost shrimp are freshwater shrimp that will not carry diseases into a saltwater environment, so they are fine to use as a live treat without any worry.

jasonrusso · Jun 5, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Agreed. I have a 20 gallon jbj AIO that I use for corals and inverts. There are no fish in there and I have it set up like a tiny reef so it looks pretty while everything is waiting to go in the display. Not much fuss with it really. Water changes, an ATO and a little food a couple times a week and it runs itself.

Ghost shrimp are freshwater shrimp that will not carry diseases into a saltwater environment, so they are fine to use as a live treat without any worry.

I used to buy saltwater shrimp at a LFS before they closed. I think they were called "grass shrimp."