Do you quarantine?

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

I feel like people are very passionate about quarantine vs no quarantine... so i made a poll! (Probably tons of other quarantine polls out there)

Jpimienta91 · Nov 19, 2019

I never did, I would observe fish and make sure they eat. After a velvet outbreak I will qt moving foward and medicate

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

Jpimienta91 said:
I never did, I would observe fish and make sure they eat. After a velvet outbreak I will qt moving foward and medicate

I feel like velvet is one of the main reasons people do. Wouldn’t this hobby be so much better without disease? Gah!

madweazl · Nov 19, 2019

I observe them at the shop and drop 'em in the tank. 20+ years later I'm doing pretty well (had something wipe out a tank around '96-97 but not sure what).

Sailfin11 · Nov 19, 2019

I always quarantine any fish that I get from the LFS or online. However, when I get them from other reefers I tend to put them straight into my tank without quarantine. So far it is has worked out well for me!

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

Honestly i don’t think there’s a right answer. Different things work for different people. I feel like as long as you’re good at whatever you do, you can be successful.

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

madweazl said:
I observe them at the shop and drop 'em in the tank. 20+ years later I'm doing pretty well (had something wipe out a tank around '96-97 but not sure what).

Impressive.. ‘96-‘97 is out of statute of limitations. As far as I’m concerned you’ve been 100% successful haha

Jpimienta91 · Nov 19, 2019

Murica said:
I feel like velvet is one of the main reasons people do. Wouldn’t this hobby be so much better without disease? Gah!

What makes it hard is most LFS medicate there fish to hide any diseases and are usually not in there long enough to kill whatever parasite they have. A week passes by and they throw in more fish into there system. At this point it’s safe to say all lfs fish have something and it’s up to the consumer to act accordingly. 15 years ago I did not QT or would ever think about it just feed.

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

Jpimienta91 said:
What makes it hard is most LFS medicate there fish to hide any diseases and are usually not in there long enough to kill whatever parasite they have. A week passes by and they throw in more fish into there system. At this point it’s safe to say all lfs fish have something and it’s up to the consumer to act accordingly. 15 years ago I did not QT or would ever think about it just feed.

Don’t forget the trade ins... who knows what the fish have that people trade to LFS

Jpimienta91 · Nov 19, 2019

Murica said:
Don’t forget the trade ins... who knows what the fish have that people trade to LFS

Yup! I’ve seen lfs dump trade in fish directly into there display without even Temp acclimating. I don’t blame or knock them. They operate a business not a hospital!

S.Pepper · Nov 19, 2019

I've had my tank up for a month now and no fish as of yet. But when I do introduce fish I won't be quarantining. Not because I don't want to, but because it's impossible, at this point, to have a QT: I've pushed my limits in the house with the tank, ro/di water system and other equipment. I'm going to try my best to follow Paul b.'s method... but it makes it more difficult with a new system.

The other option I am considering is buying my fish from Aqua Locker (which I am planning to do regardless) and have them quarantine for 45 days. I know it's not perfect, but my options are limited.

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

S.Pepper said:
I've had my tank up for a month now and no fish as of yet. But when I do introduce fish I won't be quarantining. Not because I don't want to, but because it's impossible, at this point, to have a QT: I've pushed my limits in the house with the tank, ro/di water system and other equipment. I'm going to try my best to follow Paul b.'s method... but it makes it more difficult with a new system.

The other option I am considering is buying my fish from Aqua Locker (which I am planning to do regardless) and have them quarantine for 45 days. I know it's not perfect, but my options are limited.

Nothing wrong with that method. Personally, i only buy from reputable sources and observe before putting them in. I did get flukes once, so i may start doing a FW dip for now on, but that’s wasn’t too bad getting rid of. Other than the one time getting flukes, I’ve never had issues

Ojv81 · Nov 19, 2019

I didn’t think QT was a big deal until we just (1 week ago) lost a fathead, 2 Borbonius, and a wrasse. Set up an emergency QT to treat and observe the others. From now on I will QT everything before going in the DT.

madweazl · Nov 19, 2019

S.Pepper said:
I've had my tank up for a month now and no fish as of yet. But when I do introduce fish I won't be quarantining. Not because I don't want to, but because it's impossible, at this point, to have a QT: I've pushed my limits in the house with the tank, ro/di water system and other equipment. I'm going to try my best to follow Paul b.'s method... but it makes it more difficult with a new system.

The other option I am considering is buying my fish from Aqua Locker (which I am planning to do regardless) and have them quarantine for 45 days. I know it's not perfect, but my options are limited.

You either fully commit to QT/treatment or you dont bother, there is no in between.

Magellan · Nov 19, 2019

I quarantined my fish for about 45 minutes in the little plastic bags while they floated in my tank to temperature acclimate. My cleaner shrimp was licking his chops to get at all those parasites, how could I deny him that opportunity...

S.Pepper · Nov 19, 2019

Murica said:
Nothing wrong with that method. Personally, i just be sure to only buy from reputable sources and observe putting them in. I did get flukes once, so i may start doing a FW dip for now on, but that’s wasn’t too bad getting rid of

I'm only looking at 2 sources for my fish and corals. AquaLocker as i previously said, and PacificEastAquaculture--I can actually drive and pick up my stuff from PEA. PEA has a great reputation and I will probably get all of my corals from them to start, and my most expensive fish--a pair of designer clowns.

P.S. I actually started preparing myself for a complete crash.;Hilarious

S.Pepper · Nov 19, 2019

madweazl said:
You either fully commit to QT/treatment or you dont bother, there is no in between.

As I said, I'm not committed to QT and I'm not bothering.

Murica · Nov 19, 2019

S.Pepper said:
I'm only looking at 2 sources for my fish and corals. AquaLocker as i previously said, and PacificEastAquaculture--I can actually drive and pick up my stuff from PEA. PEA has a great reputation and I will probably get all of my corals from them to start, and my most expensive fish--a pair of designer clowns.

P.S. I actually started preparing myself for a complete crash.;Hilarious

The only thing I’m really nervous for is velvet. I feel even with ich that after you understand the parasite well enough, it’s not nearly as bad as i thought it was when i first started the hobby. outbreaks are a thing of the past and now i focus on the fish’s health way more than i used to

living_tribunal · Nov 19, 2019

Queue the anti qt zealots.

Yes, I do qt. Fish, frags, and inverts.

S.Pepper · Nov 19, 2019

Murica said:
The only thing I’m really nervous for is velvet. I feel even with ich that after you understand the parasite well enough, it’s not nearly as bad as i thought it was when i first started the hobby.

I agree. I've done a lot of reading and velvet is the scary one. I'm not putting thousands of dollars of fish and corals in my tank. I'm taking it very slowly--one fish and one coral at a time--and see what happens.