FirstContact
Active Member
I've never quarantined before but have QT tanks now. Do I QT the old stock I've never had any issues with and treat them chemically, or do I just QT any new additions?
Never Quarantined Before
- Thread starter FirstContact
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nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
QT any new additions or use the QT setup as a hospital tank if any of your current fish get sick 
QT any new additions or use the QT setup as a hospital tank if any of your current fish get sick
+1
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
It depends on what you want to keep -- acanthurus tangs like powder blue, Achilles, and powder brown for instance require all fish to be pulled and treated in copper or CP. This is because they cannot live in ich management systems, except in immensely rare circumstances.
The assumption is that if you don't QT there's nearly 100% sure your existing fish have ich but have a strong resistance to it so it doesn't pose any immediate problems.
Add an acanthurus tang and it'll fall victim, even if you quarantine it first.
The assumption is that if you don't QT there's nearly 100% sure your existing fish have ich but have a strong resistance to it so it doesn't pose any immediate problems.
Add an acanthurus tang and it'll fall victim, even if you quarantine it first.
PatW
2500 Club Member
If you have had fish in your display tank with no symptoms, you are probably fine to no quarantine them. Now fish with a thick mucus coat like clown fish can resist ich pretty well and have it and not show symptoms or so I understand. The safest course is to quarantine your existing stock.
But you have to quarantine your display tank also. Most diseases require fish to survive. If you remove fish eventually the parasites will die. I am not sure on the time frame but it is something like 10 weeks.
There are different methods of quarantine. One is just observation. If they show no symptoms after x weeks, they are deemed good to go. You have done this with your current fisg.
Another protocol is to preemptively treat fish for disease. There are a number of treatments: copper, prazipro, tank transfer, low salinity, fresh water dips, etc. some treatments are relatively benign like the tank transfer and low salinity and some like copper pose a risk to the fish. On one hand, you gain by effectively eliminating disease but you risk losing some fish. Of course, adding diseased fish can eliminate all the fish. A no risk alternative does not exist.
But you have to quarantine your display tank also. Most diseases require fish to survive. If you remove fish eventually the parasites will die. I am not sure on the time frame but it is something like 10 weeks.
There are different methods of quarantine. One is just observation. If they show no symptoms after x weeks, they are deemed good to go. You have done this with your current fisg.
Another protocol is to preemptively treat fish for disease. There are a number of treatments: copper, prazipro, tank transfer, low salinity, fresh water dips, etc. some treatments are relatively benign like the tank transfer and low salinity and some like copper pose a risk to the fish. On one hand, you gain by effectively eliminating disease but you risk losing some fish. Of course, adding diseased fish can eliminate all the fish. A no risk alternative does not exist.
OP
OP
FirstContact
Active Member
Thanks everyone!
