Learned a lesson

[Pirate Randy]

Well, I am a newb and learned a lesson early in my saltwater time today. QT is a necessity. I now have a fish with definite ich and I think a second is infected. So I had to run out to the LFS to quickly set up a treatment tank. Will QT all my fish from now on. Lesson learned.

Here's to hoping all my fish make it through my learning curve.

 

[reefwiser]

We try to help others my suggesting QT tank. Because we don't want a newb to have to learn the hard way. Good luck. Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[Chrisss]

Ehh.. Dont like QT tanks... If tank parameters are good there's no reason to QT. I did have a few fish die when I first started but I'm pretty sure everyone has. And mostly because my parameters weren't stable at all. Fish I get now just get acclimated and put in a box in my tank where I can target feed. I feel it's better then QT.

And you have to QT for the right reasons!!!!!
If you are QT for ich its a lost cause, because when you put them into DT they will get ich again from stress of switching tank. It's not worth it IMO. Just get a controller and have very stable conditions like Salinity and Tempature and your fish will survive ich easily. Plus feeding is a must. Fish that Eats = healthy.

If you are QTing fish with Bacteria infections or something like red velvet that's a whole different story.

 

[bknapp]

No, @Chrisss . That is not right.

The process of QT is an important step and I'm glad you came to that conclusion, took me a while to do and I cannot believe I didn't start earlier.

Once you pull your fish from your DT and start your QT you must leave the DT fallow for at least 72 days to starve out the pest.

And remember, fish don't have to show that they have ich. Ich doesn't always show it can be on their gills.

Venture down into the Disease forum there is a great amount of info to be had there.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-and-diagnosis.771/

 

[rayn]

Gotta disagree with chrisss. QT is a vital part of the reef keeping hobby for numerous reasons. Few long term successful reefers don't QT.

@Pirate Randy, good choice on setting the QT. Have you decided on how you are going to handle the ich?

 

[Pirate Randy]

Thanks. I know I have to do a fallow period as I have been reading a lot on this last night and today. I read about the benefits of qt but thought I could go without it and that expense. Now I know better. The wife and I are in agreement that all fish will go through an appropriate qt from now on.

The wife and I have already made

 

[Justiful]

Calculated risk: A chance taken after careful estimation of the probable outcome.

Fish had a low chance of living in QT. It was already withdrawn and eating little, and thin.
My tank is healthy and I fear not ICK. Worst case scenario I lose the fish and $225 dollars in other fish.

Decided $275 in fish was an acceptable loss value.

Fish is now well on it's way to obesity.

I am rolling with a laissez–faire strategy for my tank. I accept that it was a risk, I rolled the dice. Knowing the likely outcome as well as the worst case outcome. My tank is two clown fish away from fully stocked, but even if all my fish died tomorrow it would have minimal impact on where I want my tank to be in 6 months, as this is a reef tank first, and a fish tank second.

Before I started my reef tank I made a decision. Corals are my primary purpose of the tank, fish are a nice bonus. I read a great article about reefing forget by who before I started. Essentially it said every reefer needed to make a choice before they ever started the hobby, do they want fish or do they want corals. Doesn't mean you can't have both, but when it comes down to it if you had to decide who lived and died you better be ready to make the decision without question.

Note: I do have a QT I am not crazy. I chose not to use it. ICK aint scary enough for me to worry about, but more importantly the fish would probably be in worse shape from the experience if not dead. I am not saying this is what you should do, if a fish gets an ick outbreak in your tank, getting it out is probably best as something caused it in the tank, and until that is addressed it is less safe.

 

[Chrisss]

No, @Chrisss . That is not right.

The process of QT is an important step and I'm glad you came to that conclusion, took me a while to do and I cannot believe I didn't start earlier.

Once you pull your fish from your DT and start your QT you must leave the DT fallow for at least 72 days to starve out the pest.

And remember, fish don't have to show that they have ich. Ich doesn't always show it can be on their gills.

Venture down into the Disease forum there is a great amount of info to be had there.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-and-diagnosis.771/

Treating a fish for ich in a QT is pointless IMO. Adds more stress to the fish and then gets ich again?
If you plan on setting up a QT for ich it's defiantly not worth it. I'm not saying don't do it but DO IT for the right reasons. As in dosing copper and treatments to fight actual fish conditions.

A better plan to fight ICH is raise your temp to 82 for a few weeks. Watch it go away super fast.

 

[40Gallon]

Ehh.. Dont like QT tanks... If tank parameters are good there's no reason to QT. I did have a few fish die when I first started but I'm pretty sure everyone has. And mostly because my parameters weren't stable at all. Fish I get now just get acclimated and put in a box in my tank where I can target feed. I feel it's better then QT.

And you have to QT for the right reasons!!!!!
If you are QT for ich its a lost cause, because when you put them into DT they will get ich again from stress of switching tank. It's not worth it IMO. Just get a controller and have very stable conditions like Salinity and Tempature and your fish will survive ich easily. Plus feeding is a must. Fish that Eats = healthy.

If you are QTing fish with Bacteria infections or something like red velvet that's a whole different story.

Congratulations you are in the running for insane post of the year.

Yes I love Red Velvet cake too. Mmmm red velvet.

 

[Chrisss]

Congratulations you are in the running for insane post of the year.

Yes I love Red Velvet cake too. Mmmm red velvet.

Hahaha ill stand by it forever.

 

[bevo5]

Eh. I'm using a QT for the first time with a new build and I've decided it's a good thing....but I think it's more important for certain types of fish.

 

[bevo5]

I don't use a QT for Red Velvet. I usually just put it out on the counter and my wife eats it.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

To all the the guys that say no to qt I was like you guys but only time will tell I say QT is a must you get away with it now but it will get you when you come home and find your favorite fish dead. Plus 40$ for a qt to save 200$ fish is a no brainer in my book.

 

[Chrisss]

To all the the guys that say no to qt I was like you guys but only time will tell I say QT is a must you get away with it now but it will get you when you come home and find your favorite fish dead. Plus 40$ for a qt to save 200$ fish is a no brainer in my book.

It's like a bullet in the chamber, I know that lol. Just gotta have a good eye for healthy fish or just buy more corals and forget about the fish!

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Man I use to talk just like you till i lost my fav fish [emoji41]

 

[Lenny_S]

I'm a big fan of QT for fish. I even like to go a step further and combine quarantine with TTM plus a course of Praziquantel for a minimum of 5 transfers (3 of them with Praziquantel). I've had other things show themselves in quarantine like fungal and bacterial infections which were easily and quickly treated in the QT.
Sure it's a little work but once a fish goes in the DT they never need to come out again and I have a near 100% survival rate. My DT has never been treated for/with anything.

Just my $0.02

 

[JD13]

Calculated risk: A chance taken after careful estimation of the probable outcome.

Fish had a low chance of living in QT. It was already withdrawn and eating little, and thin.
My tank is healthy and I fear not ICK. Worst case scenario I lose the fish and $225 dollars in other fish.

Decided $275 in fish was an acceptable loss value.

Fish is now well on it's way to obesity.

I am rolling with a laissez–faire strategy for my tank. I accept that it was a risk, I rolled the dice. Knowing the likely outcome as well as the worst case outcome. My tank is two clown fish away from fully stocked, but even if all my fish died tomorrow it would have minimal impact on where I want my tank to be in 6 months, as this is a reef tank first, and a fish tank second.

Before I started my reef tank I made a decision. Corals are my primary purpose of the tank, fish are a nice bonus. I read a great article about reefing forget by who before I started. Essentially it said every reefer needed to make a choice before they ever started the hobby, do they want fish or do they want corals. Doesn't mean you can't have both, but when it comes down to it if you had to decide who lived and died you better be ready to make the decision without question.

Note: I do have a QT I am not crazy. I chose not to use it. ICK aint scary enough for me to worry about, but more importantly the fish would probably be in worse shape from the experience if not dead. I am not saying this is what you should do, if a fish gets an ick outbreak in your tank, getting it out is probably best as something caused it in the tank, and until that is addressed it is less safe.

Thanks for sharing. Absolutely love the calculated mindful risk! I am setting up my reef tank with the same strategy (corals then fish) and you have made my position even more resolute.

 

[bknapp]

Wow....

I'm not even sure where to go with this. So much asinine and illogical reasoning in this thread.

 

[Lenny_S]

Wow....

I'm not even sure where to go with this. So much asinine and illogical reasoning in this thread.

Two thumbs up on your passion, but this debate has raged for years. I personally would never introduce livestock to my DT without quarantine, but that's me and that half of the debate.
There is no denying there is great risk in no quarantine. Some folks determine for themselves that the risk isn't as bad as the trouble, and some have learned that it is a lot less trouble than the consequences.

 

[bknapp]

Two thumbs up on your passion, but this debate has raged for years. I personally would never introduce livestock to my DT without quarantine, but that's me and that half of the debate.
There is no denying there is great risk in no quarantine. Some folks determine for themselves that the risk isn't as bad as the trouble, and some have learned that it is a lot less trouble than the consequences.

I hate QTing, I hate the entire process. But, if we're going to call ourselves responsible hobbyists (which should be the minimal goal) than QT shouldn't be a debate.

Yes, i'm being somewhat hypocritical as up until my most recent build I didn't QT, I rolled the dice. I lost a lot more than I won. I learned my lesson the hard way, I would rather lose one in QT than a displays worth.