IM encore 20 as a fish/coral quarentine?

[Sayn3ver]

Anyone see an issue with using an innovative Marine encore 20 tank as a fish and coral quarentine?

Is cross contamination an concern?

I like the idea of containing these in one unit however I feel like I dont see adding fish after initial stocking except if loss occurs.

Maybe the encore could be used as a two stage coral quarentine. First stage is several rounds of dipping and observation and then moved over into a more of a long term quarentine/frag tank. However, again, does cross contamination pose a possible risk? With the close proximity does accidental splashing pose risk of pests being transferred?

 

[Mr.Z]

Anyone see an issue with using an innovative Marine encore 20 tank as a fish and coral quarentine?

Is cross contamination an concern?

I like the idea of containing these in one unit however I feel like I dont see adding fish after initial stocking except if loss occurs.

Maybe the encore could be used as a two stage coral quarentine. First stage is several rounds of dipping and observation and then moved over into a more of a long term quarentine/frag tank. However, again, does cross contamination pose a possible risk? With the close proximity does accidental splashing pose risk of pests being transferred?

I think cross contamination makes this impossible as a true quarantine solution.

Even if you don’t buy into the idea that tanks should be [10] feet apart to avoid aerosol transmission, the tanks being physically attached mean contamination is inevitable.

 

[Hydrored]

I use one in another room of my house as a coral quarantine with a couple damsels. I do not use it as a fish quarantine, I use a 20 long for that.

 

[Mr.Z]

I use one in another room of my house as a coral quarantine with a couple damsels. I do not use it as a fish quarantine, I use a 20 long for that.

Do you QT your coral to remove fish parasites? If so, wouldn’t this setup prevent your QT process from being effective?

 

[Hydrored]

the only two fish have been in there for 8 months and have zero signs of fish disease, I also quarantine for flatworms, nudi, bugs, whatever else. I’ll add that the fish will show signs of a disease long before the coral comes out. I found you have to have some fish poop to keep them happy, dosing nitrates and phosphates only gets you so far

 

[Mr.Z]

the only two fish have been in there for 8 months and have zero signs of fish disease, I also quarantine for flatworms, nudi, bugs, whatever else. I’ll add that the fish will show signs of a disease long before the coral comes out. I found you have to have some fish poop to keep them happy, dosing nitrates and phosphates only gets you so far

Based on my understanding of the QT process, allowing a fish to be in the coral QT tank will close the first parasite lifecycle. So, even though the fish are 100% clean now, if a coral is introduced to the system with a fish parasite on it, the whole QT process will be nullified for all inhabitants.

 

[Hydrored]

You are right, but the coral stays in for 90 days and I do not add coral to it mid cycle. I will buy a batch of coral at once, my point is after 90 days I will know if the damsels have any type of disease from it. You can do a no fish coral quarantine, just know that nutrients of 0 were a problem and had to dose them to keep coral happy. Good luck!