Poll: What is your Preferred QT Method

[Old Glory]

Observation and medicate as needed.

 

[SaltLifer]

I don't QT but my LFS QT's everything with 2 weeks of Prazipro/Copper. Saves me the trouble.

 

[sfin52]

My lfs qt for me. It’s a nice feature they come up with for me. I scratch there back they scratch mine. It works out.

 

[Coralfuture]

Observation only, treat as needed. I qt my fish for up to 6 weeks.

+1

 

[atoll]

Holy Moly...I just voted and then noticed that over 40% of those that have voted do not quarantine. To all that do not Q, sooner or later something bad will happen, I seriously suggest setting up a small 10-20 gallon Q tank for all new additions. I've been reefing for over 20 years, and for the first 5 never quarantined...until I had several rounds of ick and had to empty my whole tank and remove all the rock to capture and treat the fish.

I've been quarantining ever since, proactively treating for ick with CP, and other parasites with powder prazi. Even with my Q procedure, just last year I got lazy, only Q'd for 3 weeks in CP, introduced a fish to an established tank, and the next week, by powder blue had ick. Had to tear tank apart to catch the fish, etc, etc. Never again, 6 wks min continuous CP and prazi from here on out.

After 26 years I am still waiting for a serious outbreak of diseases to hit my tanks. The previous 10 years I did get bad oubreaks white spot. I have never QTd or medicated. I just changed they way I keep my tanks and follow nature's lead as much as I consider reasonably possible.

 

[norfolkgarden]

1.A. Does it belong in my tank in the first place???

1.B. research fish at home on computer using search terms individually under; size, care, and reef safe. read forum threads pertaining to personal experience.

1.C. research pretty fish in fish store on phone. (Dr Suess file fish) NO !

2. Observation at fish store; body condition, eye condition, fin condition, obvious parasites on body, *tiny* parasites on body, movement in the tank, location in the tank compared to other fish, interaction with other fish in the tank. Maybe 20-30 minutes. (Seriously)

3. Feeding at fish store.

4. 1-2 hour acclimation, float bag 15-30 minutes under lowered lights. Add small amounts of tank water to bag. Remove most of the water and start again, maybe twice, depending on salinity based on refractometer.
Empty most of water in bag and lower fish and remaining water into acclimatization box.
(Curse at fish for getting stuck in bag, hiding in bag)
(Leave enough water in bag so fish can swim out of horizontal bag. Tip up bag afterwards and throw away remaining water.)

5. Fish stays in acclamation box overnight with several pieces of rubble to freak it out less.

6. Next day or 3 depending on food response, belly shrunkenness, fish released from acclimatization box.

I like to release the 'easy' fish with fat bellies.

Difficult feeders, copper band, ruby red dragonette, go into tank after overnight acclimatization to eat the bazillion pods and plankton we are conscientious enough to stock our tank with.

Happy Reefing

 

[HB AL]

I've never had a quarantine setup in 30 plus years. Only time I thought about it was when I had a velvet outbreak around 20 years ago. Treated tank but except for one blue line trigger all fish succumbed quickly within a few days. I buy all my fish for all those years from one lfs 3 miles away. When I pick out a fish they put a hold on it and keep it in there system for a week to fatten it up before I pick it up so it's ready to hold its own from any prolific harassment my current posse will show towards it. I keep all my fish well fed thus healthy so they are more than able to fend off the ever present ich in my tank.

 

[kalare]

After 26 years I am still waiting for a serious outbreak of diseases to hit my tanks. The previous 10 years I did get bad oubreaks white spot. I have never QTd or medicated. I just changed they way I keep my tanks and follow nature's lead as much as I consider reasonably possible.

I've never had a quarantine setup in 30 plus years. Only time I thought about it was when I had a velvet outbreak around 20 years ago. Treated tank but except for one blue line trigger all fish succumbed quickly within a few days. I buy all my fish for all those years from one lfs 3 miles away. When I pick out a fish they put a hold on it and keep it in there system for a week to fatten it up before I pick it up so it's ready to hold its own from any prolific harassment my current posse will show towards it. I keep all my fish well fed thus healthy so they are more than able to fend off the ever present ich in my tank.

I'm glad you guys have had recent successes with no QT, however you both have just admitted that you have experienced multiple outbreaks that resulted in fish deaths which could have been avoided if you did QT.

 

[atoll]

I'm glad you guys have had recent successes with no QT, however you both have just admitted that you have experienced multiple outbreaks that resulted in fish deaths which could have been avoided if you did QT.

Fish deaths prior to what I have been doing for the last 26 years and no signs of disease since. Bit different to what you seem to be trying to suggest. So tell me why is that if sooner or later my tanks will be struck down with some fatal diseases. After 26 years how much longer do you think I have left before my tank suffers a major disease outbreak and how long before Paul's tank succumbs to disease given he's been waiting only 46 years?

 

[HB AL]

I'm glad you guys have had recent successes with no QT, however you both have just admitted that you have experienced multiple outbreaks that resulted in fish deaths which could have been avoided if you did QT.

Yes one KILLER outbreak in 30+ years, I can live with that. I just added(blonde naso) 3 weeks ago and it went exactly as I knew it would, the naso, hippo, green coris wrasse, rabbit, yellow and purple tang all got a couple specs of ich on them, less than a week and all visible signs where gone, I just kept doing what I do, great water quality, healthy feedings a ton of rocks in the display and it went away as quick as it popped up. Quarantine in my opinion is way overrated, just from reading quarantine threads on here a good share qaurantine and there fish die in qaurantine, for a variety of reasons or even worse they quarantine for months think they are good to go and go into the display to die from bullying or getting infected. I will say if you have the means for a very well, properly setup quarantine setup you will probably be successful in your venture, for me I will continue to do what's been working excellent for me. Happy reefing.

 

[HB AL]

I'm glad you guys have had recent successes with no QT, however you both have just admitted that you have experienced multiple outbreaks that resulted in fish deaths which could have been avoided if you did QT.

To be clear i had ONE outbreak a long time ago and I did not have the experience and tools and knowledge I have now. I can agree with you that not running a quarantine is not a good idea for the mast majority of people.
Now when talking Velvet that is a whole different animal compared to a little nuisance ich.

 

[cracker]

I just recently started using Q/T . I'll observe then treat only if necessary. I haven't had to yet cause no new fish ! I do dip all new corals but no long term Q/T for them. In the past I didn't but recently I had 2 bad experiences with butterfly's. They could have easily infected an entire tank.

 

[madweazl]

Look at it, buy it, temp acclimate it, throw in tank.

Edit: depending on salinity, I will dump half the bag water and add some of mine every 10 minutes or so until the bag is full again.

 

[kalare]

Fish deaths prior to what I have been doing for the last 26 years and no signs of disease since. Bit different to what you seem to be trying to suggest. So tell me why is that if sooner or later my tanks will be struck down with some fatal diseases. After 26 years how much longer do you think I have left before my tank suffers a major disease outbreak and how long before Paul's tank succumbs to disease given he's been waiting only 46 years?

Perhaps my statement was too apocalyptic, and perhaps you will continue to have success for the rest of your reefing career (and I hope you do). However to draw analogy, this is similar to someone that hasn't gotten the flu in 15 years, and refuses to get a flu shot at the age of 65, simply because it hasn't happened yet. IMO, it's a precautionary matter not only for the safety of the individual, but also the greater public health so as not to spread flu through the population. If we have the means to do what we can to prevent outbreak in our tanks as opposed to rolling the dice. QT protects your current stock and your new additions alike. I've been driving decades and never needed a seat belt (knock on wood), but for the one time I might need it, I'll be wearing it!

In any case, I was not trying to make any personal attacks or have contests about how long one can run a tank with no QT. Happy Reefing.

 

[HB AL]

Reading threads on here and other places I can't get away from the fact that some people have had more fish die in quarantine than I have in my dt without any quarantine in the last 20 plus years because of no quarantine. Some Fill the water with all kinds of meds, copper, etc... with no sign of disease on the fish, and leave them in it for months on end that never make it to there dt just to have them die in there quarantine tank. Kinda like torture for a healthy fish, I could see if the fish had some obvious signs of illness( myself I wouldn't have bought it to begin with if was obviously infected) but throwing it in a smallish quarantine tank with no natural settings to only add in all kinds of meds, copper, etc... then throw in some high level of ammonia build up, well that's just a recipe for disaster and they blame the fish store for selling sick fish. I guess I'm lucky to have a good lfs that I can get my fish from. In all the years I've been keeping fresh and saltwater livestock I don't think I'm gonna go start up a quarantine tank anytime soon. I believe we should leave it up to the individual on what direction they want to take but a quarantine take is not absolutely necessary by a long shot to fish survival in my opinion. My blonde naso sure seems happier with all the friends he just made in my dt than a small quarantine tank with no friends or rocks, caves, corals to cruise around in. Gotta go and feed my posse.

 

[atoll]

However to draw analogy, this is similar to someone that hasn't gotten the flu in 15 years, and refuses to get a flu shot at the age of 65, simply because it hasn't happened yet.

Nope, nothing remotely like it IMO and you are 11 years out anyway but if that's what you wish to believe and I and a few others are just very lucky then fine you believe it I certainly don't. Like Paul, I wouldn't suggest anybody do what I do all I know is it has worked for me for 26 years so see no good reason to change my ways. What works for your animals works QT or no QT, I wouldn't expect to convince anybody who is deeply rooted in QTing their animals to stop, that is just the way it is. We can all have opinions on this hobby it's part of what makes it what it is and few things are black and white it seems. Happy New Year reefing

 

[Gmj4409]

It’s truly a personal decisiont . I’m a 20+ year reefer who had a bad Velvet experience in the very beginning which turned me off for a about a year. I then started adding fish again without QT & went on my merry way for the next 18 years or so. I then had two bad experiences in the last 14 months. One was definitely Velvet & still unsure on the 2nd. I went fallow for both. I reluctantly started QT this last batch of fish.

Some of you guys have done some amazing long term things with your tanks regarding disease control/prevention! I relish reading your stories and hope to learn. I’ve also read pretty much every post in the Disease forum for the last year. I believe each of us needs to be as knowledgeable as possible & then make the most informed QT possible. The newbies are the ones who scare me but at least they’re starting on the forum to read.

We need to be careful to remain respectful of all opinions. Let’s just listen & maybe learn. There are a lot of folks who spend a lot of time & energy answering questions here. I’ve noticed a little negativity regarding this overall issue (not necessarily this thread). I’ve also noticed some of the mainstays have been somewhat absent as of late. Could be the holidays or? Just my opinion.

 

[Reefrodeo]

1/Float bag in the DT
2/Mix water for a short period of time.
3/ Release fish into DT.
QT done, relax and watch my tank thriving.

I add Safety Stop dip treatment after step 2 - 2 parts at 45 minutes/each.

I never quarantined when I was in the hobby 25 years ago, and was going to be good and quarantine everything when I dove back in last year, but honestly, I had more difficulties with QT than the above method. I'm not saying its right, and I know its a gamble, but I'm also not planning on adding any more fish to my tank for quite a while.

 

[BigJohnny]

I have personally not QT'd any of my fish previously due to lack of knowledge, space, and dedication to do so. That led to a large die off of my tank inhabitants other than a few that had a solid enough immune system to fight the infection.

My latest system (currently in the build phase) has a slew of quarantine space. I have two 10 gallons, a 30 breeder, 40 breeder (if needed for larger fish), and a 20 gallon high for coral, inverts, and snails. I plan to quarantine everything for 76 days while prophylactically treating with prazipro and copper if the fish allows for it. Any that are non-copper safe fish will go through TTM.

I also plan to take some of the advantages from Paul B's process and to feed a variety of foods like live blood worms among other things to ensure good bacteria in the fish guts.

Just so you are aware, live BLACKworms are the magical fruit, not bloodworms I buy mine from:

https://www.aquaticfoods.com/LiveBlackwormsM.html

Best food ever, enjoy.

 

[IronChefItaly]

I really enjoy following these polls. My vote was “other”. I begin with observation a low-stress proactive treatment of Seachem metroplex and kanaplex mixed into the food.