Is a "quarantine tank" really that essential?

[thabizness]

I bought a purple tang almost a month ago. The fish looked great at the store. Put him in a 40b for QT. A week later he came down with what looks like a aggressive strain of ick or velvet (clear to covered in spots in a day.) I dosed copper and the spots were gone in a few days. He is still in QT but now is eating better and will probably move to the DT in another week or so.

If that happened in my display it would have been a disaster.

Get a QT. Petco $1 per gallon sale is the best time to get spare tanks. a 40B is 40 dollars. 1 fish is normally more then that.

 

[blkhwkz]

I didn't think I needed a QT, got lucky with all my fish from the lfs for over 18 months. Then last year when I got my bigger tank, bought some tangs that had been through the stores QT process. Within a week, ich and velvet, wiped out all fish but 2 tangs, got QT setup and both eventually didn't make it. Now I QT all fish, bought a one spot foxface and a purple tang, within a few days of the tang going in QT, white spots appeared. Now they are both over halfway through medication for ich, looking fat and healthy. Every fish goes through QT now no matter what.

 

[Reefrookie220]

I've also noticed that fish don't like LA Lakers fans, and much prefer golden state.

May want to remove that sticker and reduce fish stress.

 

[pa1ntbru5h]

I always thought QT was overkill and I never thought I would need one.
I figured that as long as I bought healthy looking fish at the LFS, nothing bad would happen.
WRONG!
I had an Ich outbreak and I lost most my fish. Luckily, the original 4 fish survived (clownfish pair, melanurus wrasse, and Purple Tang).
Everything else died.. (Borb Anthias, Sunburst Anthias, Helfrichi Firefish, Mandarin Goby, Algae Blenny...)
I tried "managing" the Ich by running "reef-safe" medications and using a UV sterilizer.. None of them worked well enough.
Everyday I came home from work I would pray that my fish were still alive.. It was stressful to say the least. So I said "screw it" and took all my fish out and started a QT tank.
I'm currently still in my 76 day fallow period (fishless tank) to make sure all Ich is gone.
From now on, all new additions will undergo QT before being added into the display tank. I've learned my lesson the hard way.

 

[SciGuy2]

Confucius Waterkeeper once said:

"There are two types of reefkeeper: 1) reefkeepers who have and use quarantine systems; and, 2) reefkeepers that one day will wish they had and used a quarantine system."

 

[SPR1968]

Just for reference I buy all my aquatic life from 2 different lfs's by my home. So reading through all the threads on fish diseases and coral pests it got me thinking, is a quarantine tank really all that necessary, seems even people that quarantine have issues. My current tank I started back in December of 2015. I haven't added any fish in about 2 months since I'm pretty well stocked. I have 15 fish total, a fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp, a bunch of hermits and snails, a couple clams and lots of sps, lps, etc. The only thing I do when adding a fish or coral is float the bag in my sump for an hour or so then simply take it out of the bag and put it in the tank. My conclusion i guess is I'm really lucky and my lfs are selling good disease and pest free sea life. From reading many articles and posts about the importance of a good quarantine system I have definitely been playing with fire. Reason I really got to thinking about this is I have a lot invested in corals and fish and wondering should I keep playing with fire or start a good quarantine setup for any future additions?

I'm in a similar situation to you, although my tank is just coming up to a year old. I'm no expert, so rely on the advice from trusted sources and what I can learn.

Wherever possible I stick to learning modern methods, and before I get shot down, I'm not saying anything against tried and proven methods, but there seems to be 2 schools of thought on wether to QT or not and those that do, will argue you must.

I don't currently run a QT tank but for the reasons I'll try and outline. I don't care about the cost at all, so that's not the issue. If I needed to do it I would do it, no hesitation.

Firstly I'm based in the UK, so I don't know if we have different methods or standards etc over here but I asked my LFS about this, and I was quiet willing to buy a full QT setup from them. I've spent 1000's with them so they know they need to look after me, but they didn't want to sell me one. To me that shows they are confident of their procedures and methods of their live stock.

The answer I got to the question was that firstly, they will not sell any fish or coral to anyone until they are confident its eating and in good health. In the past I've said I want such and such coral and they've said, know you don't.....

Secondly, they basically said fish will do far better if they are allowed to build up their immune systems so that they can cope with problems they may face during their life, and will also be happier in their final home rather than being in a smaller tank being treated with whatever treatments etc etc....

Clearly I'm not saying add unhealthy fish or corals to a tank, but I think it depends a lot on were your getting it from. Also there are modern reef safe medications available for many conditions these days.

There is a very old tank around which many of you will know about - I'm not going to quote from him as I wouldn't wish to misrepresent his opinions in any way, but there is a life time of experience there on this subject.

It is something I think about, to QT or not, and I ask the LFS the same question every so often, and I always get the same answer which is why I currently don't.

 

[blkhwkz]

I'm in a similar situation to you, although my tank is just coming up to a year old. I'm no expert, so rely on the advice from trusted sources and what I can learn.

Wherever possible I stick to learning modern methods, and before I get shot down, I'm not saying anything against tried and proven methods, but there seems to be 2 schools of thought on wether to QT or not and those that do, will argue you must.

I don't currently run a QT tank but for the reasons I'll try and outline. I don't care about the cost at all, so that's not the issue. If I needed to do it I would do it, no hesitation.

Firstly I'm based in the UK, so I don't know if we have different methods or standards etc over here but I asked my LFS about this, and I was quiet willing to buy a full QT setup from them. I've spent 1000's with them so they know they need to look after me, but they didn't want to sell me one. To me that shows they are confident of there procedures and methods of their live stock.

The answer I got to the question was that firstly, they will not sell any fish or coral to anyone until they are confident its eating and in good health. In the past I've said I want such and such coral and they've said, know you don't.....

Secondly, they basically said fish will do far better if they are allowed to build up their immune systems so that they can cope with problems they may face during their life, and will also be happier in their final home rather than being in a smaller tank being treated with whatever treatments etc etc....

Clearly I'm not saying add unhealthy fish or corals to a tank, but I think it depends a lot on were your getting it from. Also there are modern reef safe medications available for many conditions these days.

There is a very old tank around which many of you will know about - I'm not going to quote from him as I wouldn't wish to misrepresent his opinions in any way, but there is a life time of experience there on this subject.

It is something I think about, to QT or not, and I ask the LFS the same question every so often, and I always get the same answer which is why I currently don't.

There are ZERO reef safe medications for ich or velvet which are quite common. There are reef safe things that can help with ich management, but to actually cure it, no such thing as reef safe medication. I'd rather take the couple of weeks of the fish in QT getting treatment and curing the problem, than trying to manage it and wondering when the next problem will be.

 

[Don Lidtke]

I believe that just as in motorcycling, there are two classes, those that have and those that will. QT seems to be the better way to avoid the "those that will."

 

[Capn Briarius]

A quarantine tank isn't necessary, until it is.

 

[Paul B]

I personally do not quarantine and have not in 40 years. But I keep my fish immune so it is not just throwing fish in and hope for the best. That won't work at all. For the majority of people quarantining is the way to go. I feel quarantining is very bad for fish as it will totally destroy their immune system but until you gain enough experience and all your paired fish are spawning and only dying of old age. Keep quarantine. There is no other way. Also if you feed dry foods keep quaranting

 

[jwshiver]

About 5 months ago I watched all of my fish die in a period of 3 days after adding a new fish. One by one ...dead, dead, dead...$$$$. Not a fun experience, especially when the wife gets teary eyed when the pair of clowns go belly up! I thought about going fallow, but like an idiot I tried it again. In less than two weeks, dead,dead,dead. Nothing like flushing money down the toilet not to mention the bad feeling you get, because part of the experience in keeping fish is the attachment you get to them. I started a QT, caught the three survivors with a sabiki tipped with mysis, and I am just now finishing up my fallow period this weekend. That was a long 76 days. Just another reason to QT, 76 day fallow periods SUCK!

 

[Kentech5]

Had my first fish losses to a new introduction with ich. Sad thing is it was the only fish I ever introduced without a quarantine period. I would never go without one but Paul B is a prime example that you can keep a healthy tank without QT. However he has the experience to make it work and keeps his fish in peak condition that can handle disease.

 

[FirstContact]

I've been doing this since 2006. Never quarantined and never got anything worse than aiptasia. That being said I am fully stocked fish wise, and am now adding a coral QT and a fish QT to my fish room.

 

[emvanburen]

Had this conversation with my LFS today. Owner's points were : we run copper at a hard and expensive to test level for two weeks. We're better than anyone in this geography- and - it's possible but infrequent for a sick fish to get through. For you to run something similar would be really hard to handle all the various illnesses and treatments etc. but you could run some simple meds that don't require testing but are volumetrically dosed (like prazi) Most of our service customers don't have problems with our fish.

Net net he was not suggesting i quarantine but had some ideas on what I could do.

My takeaway (from convo, from other threads and this one) is that there is a lot of distance between what a professional aquarium can do and doing nothing. And that in that distance there are some good common sense steps that we can use. Just haven't figured out my plan yet!

 

[Maritimer]

In my neighborhood, fish stores serve as a vector to get aquatic life and equipment close enough for you to see and purchase. (Some of them are very good fish stores - others are ... less so.)

Do some of the shops run copper? Sure. The fish arrive at 10:00 in the morning on Tuesday, and by 6:00 in the evening half have already been sold. By Monday evening, stock in the tanks will be slim. Did the copper in the shop's sales tanks do much good for the end purchaser? Debatable.

I tried not quarantining. Didn't work out so well for me.

Now I QT.

~Bruce

 

[evmibo]

Got lucky for 8+ years.

Lost 5 fish in 7 days almost a month ago.

Day 16 of fallow period, with the 3 remaining fish in QT receiving treatment.

For me it's been one of those things that I didnt really understand until it happened to me. I plan on QT'ing all new additions from here on out.

 

[edosan]

I personally do not quarantine and have not in 40 years. But I keep my fish immune so it is not just throwing fish in and hope for the best. That won't work at all. For the majority of people quarantining is the way to go. I feel quarantining is very bad for fish as it will totally destroy their immune system but until you gain enough experience and all your paired fish are spawning and only dying of old age. Keep quarantine. There is no other way. Also if you feed dry foods keep quaranting

I agree with most, but curious why do you say quarantining is bad for fish and totally destroy their IS ?

Sound a bit extreme, considering qt tank is just a normal tank with no deco or sand usually. Is not an hospital tank. For me qt are for observation and heavy feeding in order to boost their inmune system, not to destroy it.

Qt tank is a must imo.

 

[Labridaedicted]

As mentioned above, a qt is not necessarily a medication tank. It is a sterile system that allows you to see if there's illness and then makes it easier to medicate if you have to. You can also see how well the fish eats, what it eats, etc. before you make it right with a tank full of hungry fishes.

Think about it this way..... It's like a fire detector in your house. Not everyone will have a fire, but those that do..... Not everyone will get a sick fish, but those that do....

Not doing it when it's so cheap and simple to do is playing with fire.

 

[edosan]

For me QT is for observation and heavy feeding, never meds, for meds If needed, I have an Hospital Tank (2 actually for tank tranfer method if needed)

 

[atoll]

Confucius Waterkeeper once said:

"There are two types of reefkeeper: 1) reefkeepers who have and use quarantine systems; and, 2) reefkeepers that one day will wish they had and used a quarantine system."

After 25 years disease free (Paul B much much longer) I am still waiting for the day I wish I had used a quarantine system but as people will tell you we are just extremely luck guys. I also have another very lucky reefing friend who is also still wishing as long as me and does not use a quarantine system. Luck, black magic or could it possibly something else you recon?