If I don't have a QT tank, how should I introduce fish?

[justonwo]

I don't really have the space or resources for a QT tank - mainly space. But I also don't want to deprive myself of the opportunity to introduce new fish into my display tank. Are there any special precautions I can take to avoid problems when introducing fish into my display tank (acclimation aside) that will help minimize my chances of encountering disease? Or am I really opening myself up to serious problems by not using a QT tank?

Would it be a good idea, for example, to buy my fish from a local shop who follows a strict quarantine protocol? Or am I just as safe ordering from a reputable online dealer?

 

[Dtackett]

I always buy locally. that way you can watch them. most LFS will hold the fish for you for a while as long as you pay for it. have them hold it for a week and watch them feed it, watch for spots, watch for signs of stress. only buy healthy fish. its not 100% fool proof but it will help.

 

[Feltman]

I personally wouldn't risk it qt tanks can be set up pretty quick and cheap as far as room I'd find a way it's not like its going to be perminent or need to look good. You can usually find tanks cheap enough off of craigs list and turn around and sell em for close to what u gave when ur done.

 

[Cleo642]

There are online places that quarantine fish before they sell them, like pieces of the ocean and divers den. Idk if they tell you the exact protocol they take.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Don't rely completely on someone else's qt protocols, even the most trustworthy places can have things slip through.

Prazipro is reef safe and treats flukes and worms.

Go especially slow when adding fish if bypassing qt. Provide as stress free of an environment as possible too, avoid temp swings, keep pristine water quality, avoid aggressive species, etc.

 

[saltyphish]

I would never add a fish without QT them. Buy a Rubbermaid tote and use that for a QT. Long story short I skipped QT added a fish guaranteed to have been QT and healthy as can be from a very reliable source. Guess what? I lost that fish and 2 others, then had to leave my tank fallow for 5 weeks. Otherwise it is a risk. You could win but if you don't you could lose everything. Good luck!

 

[ReefMama]

I have to agree with the advice given by eatbreakfast and saltyphish. It's honestly better not to take the risk... because one slip-up with a healthy-looking but secretly-sick fish can undo several years worth of hard work and make you want to pull your hair out.

 

[miyags]

If you have the resources for fish, you have it for a QT. You and your fish, WIN in the long run. Evey day thier's someone on here beging for help becauce they didn't QT, and thier 100$ fish is dieing. Fish can live for 20 years, not 2 months. QT is the best money you can spend in this hobbie!!!

 

[psirex]

Buy local and have them house them for a few weeks.....

 

[Broadfield]

If you absolutely refuse to QT, then you would want to use Safety Stop:

http://www.bluelifeusa.com/safety/

It's in no way a replacement for QT, but it's definitely better than simple acclimation. I learned my lesson with not QT and lost everything, but my Hawkfish, to Velvet. Then having to run fallow for 10-12 weeks is the icing on top of loosing all of the fish. I use Safety Stop before I put them in my QT.

 

[BkReefBaby]

Just like you Justonwo...I live in a apt in a small apt in Brooklyn NYC I don't have room a for a QT there's now way I can fit anything else in here...like some of the other members suggested I buy from a respectable LFS take a look at the fish and go for the strongest brightest looking one, I also ask if they can hold him for a few days just to make sure he's not dead by the time I get back...if all is good I take him home and do a 5 min freshwater dip I've been lucky enough I've never had any fish problems
I also do not have any fish that cost me over 60$ if I was into really expensive fish then I would do the whole QT thing cause who wants a 300$ or more fish dying

 

[justonwo]

Hmmm . . . perhaps I should re-think my strategy. It seems like a lot of people are using the QT on an infrequent basis and then putting it away when not being used. This could be workable.

Is the idea to keep a bio filter in your main tank ready and then fill the QT tank with your display tank water and move the biofilter over and you are ready to go for QT?

 

[RMS18]

You can set up a qt tank for $80 brand new... cheaper if you go used. Don't have the space or resources is translation for I'm lazy and cheap but i will spend on frags every weekend. I can say what I did because I was you... then ich came along. Some of us have to learn the hard way. Good luck.

 

[NanaReefer]

I do not QT. Haven't in the last 5yrs. My fish come from a reputable wholesaler who QT's all their fish before selling to our 1 and only LFS. The LFS will then hold the fish for me until I'm totally satisfied with its condition. I usually wait 5-7 days after the fishes arrival.
Haven't lost a fish to disease in 4yrs. Did lose 4 to Maxi Mini anemones though [emoji16]

Oh and I am neither lazy nor cheap!! Hate the very arrogant reference!! I feed my fish the best of foods, keep stress to a minimum and they live happy, disease free lives. It works for me!

 

[Ahruk]

We use tank transfer method (generally using five gall0n buckets) to make sure our fish are ich free and to see if there are any other apparent issues. So far it's been working great and only have to have it set for 2 weeks which is fabulous.

 

[kkgaskin90]

I also run a super simple QT. Tank, HOB filter, heater, air stone, and ammonia badge. Sand if I have something that needs it. PVC for hiding spots. Cheap and very effective. I set it up when I order fish & break it down when I'm done. Seed it with a piece sponge I keep in my sump. Also use Seachem Stability.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

QT is definitely viewed by most in the reefing industry as the best practice. I went for several years without quarantining and had great luck...until I introduced what looked like a perfectly healthy wrasse from a very reputable vendor... That "healthy-looking" wrasse brought a disease into my tank that wiped out the fish population over the next 2 weeks (16 fish died). I will forever more be an advocate for quarantine.

I highly recommend doing QT yourself with a temporary tank set up just for the time it takes to do the process. If you absolutely cannot do that, then the next best thing is buying from an LFS that will do a QT for you. Places like Exotic Reef Creations and Pieces of the Ocean have fish that they QT. Check with anyone you trust to do QT to be sure they will follow proper QT procedure.

Another idea would be to get a buddy in your reefing community to do it for you if you don't have the space for a temporary tank.

 

[Reefaddict305]

I agree with most of what you guys are saying, so what that being said you need buy a qt tank don't take quick short cuts, you have to be patient. Setting up a qt is very inexpensive.

 

[Lenny_S]

Im a big fan of QT. I use the tank transfer method similar to this article
http://www.delvalreefclub.org/forums/topic/17121-tank-transfer-method/
I have two 5 gal tanks, 2 tiny heaters and 2 cheap HOB filters. The whole set of things was like $50.00 and it stays in a pretty small storage bin in a closet most of the time. When it's out and being used, it's just on a little folding table next to my DT for a couple of weeks.
It is honestly not much space, cost, or trouble. I don't get the aversion to QT because from experience a single infection in an established tank is 10 times more expensive and headache.

 

[merlberg]

Dnt risk it.... I've been introducing fish in my tank since the beggining of the year when i started my fowl and always buy from my lfs.

Well this last time things didnt go so well for me :/. I watched the fish for like 3 weeks before i actually took it from my lfs, it was a puffer. Within a few days of putting it in my dt since i didnt have a qt, my tank had ich :/.

My black damsel had it real bad and so did my tomato clown but the puffer had it the worse and the rest of my fish were ok besides the 3 tht died, including my favorite cowfish.

Now i have to keep my dt empty for 76 days which is such a bummer. I do feel that if i had a qt and did it myself i could of prevented this instead of observing it at my lfs. Its so not worth the risk IMO.

I had an 18 gal tank on hand but it was too small since i still had 6 fish to leave in a qt, I purchased a 30 gal plastic bin and is now using that as a qt. I always said i dnt have the space too but i had to figure it out and just figured out a spot to put the qt. I'll tell you 1 thing I would never not use a qt for a new fish again. Some ppl have luck n dnt have to qt but I didn't :/.