Need help with QT/HT Method

[Biglurr54]

I am struggling with QTing. Im going to be stocking up my tank and want to set up a good Qt protocol. I also want to start buying up fish that look bad and seeing if I can save them.

I have a 20 gallon QT the is cycled. It is permanently set up and has a HOB filter, powerhead, heater on a controller and an ATO.
I would like to protect the qt tank and keep it as a fattening up and monitoring tank. I would only dose Prazipro in this tank if needed. This means I will need a separate Hospital tank for treatment. I figured a 10 gallon tank would suffice for hospital tank.

My concern is that if I put the new fish in the QT for observation and something becomes apparent (Ich, Velvet, or Flukes) then the QT is now contaminated. This would require break down, sterilization, and loss of beneficial Bac.

My thought on solving this would be to treat before symptoms appear in hospital tanks/TTM buckets for all new fish. I was thinking of this for protocol:

Day 1: Fish arrives and receives a 3 min fw bath (inspect for flukes), then a methylene blue bath (Heal any injuries), then into TTM day 1 with Prazipro (If flukes detected)
Day 2: 100% water change and Nitrofuracin Green Powder treatment (NGP1)
Day 3: NGP2
Day 4: Tank Transfer1, NGP3
Day 5: NGP4
Day 6: NGP5
Day 7: Tank Transfer2, NGP6
Day 8: NGP7
Day 9: 100% water change and Prazipro2 (if Flukes detected)
Day10: Tank Transfer3
Day 11:
Day 12:
Day 13: into permanent QT (Ich free, Fluke Free, Infection free, sores healed)

My thought was that this should treat just about any issue the fish may be facing (Fluke, Ammonia burns, Ich, Bacterial infection) or allow time for other issues to surface (Velvet, Brook). They can then be dealt with as needed in the 10 gallon hospital tank.

 

[DLHDesign]

I'm not really familiar with NGP, but looking up online I found that it seems to require a 25% water change before each dose, along with a 10-day minimum. And because things like ich won't be eliminated until after the final day of TTM, you would likely want to start that 10-day NGP treatment after the final day of the TTM. Earlier is good for any pre-existing injuries, of course, but won't help for those (albeit minor) injuries from the last of the ich.

Also; since NGP includes methylene blue, I'm not sure that having that bath up-front is really critical unless there are obvious needs for immediate treatment...

Final thought; make sure your tanks are 10ft+ apart, otherwise this is all for naught...

Overall, however, looks like a solid QT plan! Not sure what the 100% water change is for on Day 2 and 9, however - you shouldn't need that as 100% water change is done on each transfer.

 

[User]

Final thought; make sure your tanks are 10ft+ apart, otherwise this is all for naught

Care to explain the rationale for this to OP? If he’s asking questions about QT, he is likely unfamiliar with this.

Besides- using a lid on your tank and reducing surface agitation can mitigate the issue.

 

[DLHDesign]

Good point! Here is information specifically on aerosol transmission. TTM is fully covered here.

Lids can mitigate aerosol transmission, but when you're going through this much effort to QT, I (personally) feel any risk is just not worth it. Reducing surface agitation is an option, but that has downsides (reduces oxygen transfer - which is often critical to maximize when using medications).

 

[User]

I personally think aerosol transmission is overstated- I’m an infectious disease phd specializing in viruses- but I do my TTM and drug treatments in a separate area of the basement away from the fishroom. The 40b observation tank however is in the fishroom, but has a good lid and minimal surface bubbles. I have an oversized hob filter to provide aeration.

 

[Biglurr54]

Yes I am aware of of the need to keep things 10 ft apart. I plan to and do already aerate everything but the permanent qt. I don't get overly concerned with aerosol effect.

I understand the powder is a 10 day treatment. My concern is that the powder kills beneficial bacteria so it is best suited for used during ttm where your doing water changes for ammonia control. My ttm had always involved 50% water change daily to combat any ammonia. I figured since it's a prophylactic treatment it can be shortened to 7 days when the need for prazi pro is present if the infection is worse than the flukes, it will be continued and prazi pro will be with held. If no prazi pro is needed then I can do a full 10 day course and I will do prazi in the permanent qt during observation period.

 

[Biglurr54]

The 100% change on day 2 and 10 are to remove the prazi from the buckets. Prazi only needs to be dosed 24hrs. Typically I do prazi on the last day of a bucket before transfer.

The methylene blue is for immediate relief and protection of any wound from netting, shipping, fw dip, and any fluke wounds. It ensures clean wounds on the fish going into the first bucket. Other wise bacteria could get in and take effect during the days before the powder treatment.

 

[Maritimer]

It's kind of a hard-hitting protocol - which I can understand, since almost everything seems to be coming in with something.

For myself, I like to give the fish a day or two to de-stress from shipping and just be fish before hitting 'em with meds.

~Bruce