Theronts can be released from a tomont (encysted to a coral) on an hourly, daily, weekly timetable. Each strain is a little different, so there's no way to predict theront release. And that's assuming coral dips even kill free swimmers in the first place.
QT Disaster
- Thread starter rich nyc
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Theronts can be released from a tomont (encysted to a coral) on an hourly, daily, weekly timetable. Each strain is a little different, so there's no way to predict theront release. And that's assuming coral dips even kill free swimmers in the first place.
thank it makes me feel like not adding anything else to my tank ever
"There's no comfort in the truth."
Crashjack
Well-Known Member
I'm a proponent for doing what you can. A dip might or might not help, but if you buy your corals from suppliers that keep corals and fish in separate systems or maybe even a LFS that keeps frags with a fish or two, and you dip, you might not eliminate all probability of infection but at least you can reduce the chances significantly.
When I pondered getting back in the hobby, I realized I couldn't do a perfect quarantine for everything and also realized that no quarantine system or method is really 100% full-proof. I figured out what I could do and am relying on reducing my chances of parasitic infections instead of trying to achieve quarantine utopia. The quarantine methods these very knowledgeable folks have outlined are truly the best methods. However, I don't like to see people throw up their hands and do nothing just because they can't or don't want to follow all quarantining best practices. There are things you can do to improve your odds, even if you don't do every single thing and do it all, "By the book."
I appreciate this approach. I think there are some who don't understand the limitations those of us in Manhattan have. My entire 1 bedroom apt. is probably as big as just a single room in many people's houses.
Crashjack
Well-Known Member
My biggest limitation is my physical handicap. I operate mostly out of a powerchair so everything I do has to be accessible and not overly taxing. I have plenty of space for a coral QT but no "accessible space". Also, keeping my DT and QT is enough work for me. Keeping a second QT would be hard, especially if I used the 10' rule. Due to my handicap, I have to plan and figure out ways I can accomplish things before I jump-in and try to do. My DT and quarantine setup and quarantine procedures are inline with what I can handle.
I noticed a lot of the corals at my LFS are kept in a shallow tank on racks and they have like 1-2 fish swimming around as well. Is this good, bad, or neutral as far as potential diseases/parasites etc that the corals could be carrying? They also sell coral colonies that are in various DTs that contain a lot of fish.
@rich nyc what LFS do you shop at? Manhattan Aquariums was pretty good when I went last weekend
From purely a disease standpoint, it would be best to house corals/inverts with no fish. This way if a coral/invert came (from the wholesaler) with a tomont encysted on it, the lifecycle of the parasite could end without a fish host present to feed upon. Of course, the million dollar question is when does that particular tomont rupture and release all of it's theronts (free swimmers which need to feed on fish to survive)? At present time, 72 days is the longest recorded period - with 7-14 days being more the norm. But at least with no fish present in the coral system, new tomonts can never form because the parasite's lifecycle will get interrupted and prevent that from happening.
Interesting. I wonder why they allow a couple fish to swim around in their coral tanks then. Seems like a strictly bad idea with no upside, except might look kind of cool to someone coming in to look around?
Fish poop provides nutrients for the corals. Without that, you risk the water being "too clean" - especially for softies & LPS. But even SPS need detectable nitrates to thrive.
melypr1985
totally addicted
The only fish in the coral tanks at the LFS I work at are there to do a job. I have a couple tangs to eat algae, a couple wrasse to eat flatworms (just in case) and a pipefish to eat redbugs (again just in case). Then there's the whole fish poop thing and all. lol
