QT Fish, CUC, Rock Together?

[DocRose]

Looking for thoughts and/or experience on putting one or two fish into a QT tank WITH clean up crew and a large piece of ocean live rock.

Before anyone says it, I’m aware of the risk of live rock and copper in QT as well as the fact that copper is lethal to inverts. This will be a QT tank ONLY for observation, not for treatment.

The display these will be going into is a new setup done with all dry material. We want to avoid introducing anything to it unintentionally (as much as possible). So here are the reasons for the QT…

The purpose of QT’ing the fish is the same as any other person. To avoid bringing infection/disease/parasites into the display.

The purpose of QT’ing the inverts is to avoid things the snails can carry on/in their shells. Such as flatworms, eggs, etc.

The purpose of QT’ing the rock is to avoid unwanted hitchhikers since it is direct from the ocean; and none of the distributors can guarantee the rock to be free of everything you could possibly want to avoid…which makes sense.

I know 30 days is usually enough of a QT for fish, and that for inverts (and the rocks) it would be 90. So I would obviously keep ALL of them in the QT for the full 90 day minimum.

All that said…thoughts?

NOTE - This is not a thread seeking advice on whether or not to quarantine. That decision has already been made. Please refrain from posting your feelings/experiences with quarantining in general. Please also refrain from posts about hitchhikers and whether they’re worth avoiding.

 

[blaxsun]

If it's a QT for observation only and you're not adding any medications or treatments, you should be fine with all three. I wouldn't add live rock if you plan any medications, though. I don't QT my fish so I don't have a dog in this fight - so how you proceed is entirely your call (just keep in mind that this is more observation than quarantine, because quarantine usually entails either some form of treatment or tank transfer method).

 

[DocRose]

BUMPING...looking for any other feedback before I pull the trigger and order this rock, sand, and CUC at the same time. Specifics now include...

Real Aquacultured Live Rock - Coming from Salty Bottom Reef Company
Live Ocean Sand - Coming from Salty Bottom Reef Company
Assortment of Snails - Coming from Reef Cleaners
Ruby Long-fin Fairy Wrasse - Source TBD
Yellow Wrasse - Source TBD

 

[Spare time]

45 days at 81 degrees F is enough. If the rock is ocean rock, you don't need to QT it for disease imo. However, QT-ing live rock for hitch hikers is always a good idea

 

[SaltyB24]

I am curious how the rock and sand turns out please tag me in pictures!!

 

[DocRose]

45 days at 81 degrees F is enough. If the rock is ocean rock, you don't need to QT it for disease imo. However, QT-ing live rock for hitch hikers is always a good idea

I keep my DT at 77...why do you recommend 81 for the QT?

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I would not call this a proper qt tank and more of a barrier tank or nano tank. You might as well setup a 2nd tank and after a period just move them to display. Not hating just saying what happens if fish catch something do you start a 3rd tank call it a hospital. I have a coral and cuc tank and use it as a qt but no fish. I'd set this up as invert/coral qt tank and not do fish. If you want to host fish in there clock resets for 6 weeks after fish move out. This would be better then just drop and pray method.

 

[Spare time]

I keep my DT at 77...why do you recommend 81 for the QT?

It may help speed along the cycle of marine ich and velvet.

 

[DocRose]

I would not call this a proper qt tank and more of a barrier tank or nano tank. You might as well setup a 2nd tank and after a period just move them to display. Not hating just saying what happens if fish catch something do you start a 3rd tank call it a hospital. I have a coral and cuc tank and use it as a qt but no fish. I'd set this up as invert/coral qt tank and not do fish. If you want to host fish in there clock resets for 6 weeks after fish move out. This would be better then just drop and pray method.

I decided to leave the fish out after all. I call it a QT because of what QT means (quarantine), not because of what thought it invokes based on the hobby. Sorry. But it's all set up now. Latest post on my build thread.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I decided to leave the fish out after all. I call it a QT because of what QT means (quarantine), not because of what thought it invokes based on the hobby. Sorry. But it's all set up now. Latest post on my build thread.

I totally understand what you mean I just know there are a lot of new reefers and want to make sure they know what proper qt is. I'll check out the build. Good luck!

 

[cdnco2004]

To most people a QT is where they do their medication. I have different tanks for treatment and observation. My treatment QT tanks are completely bare have nothing in them except for air stone and PVC pipe to hide in. Then I have observation QT tanks that have LR and some form of mechanical filtration.