QT To medicate or observe

[Susan Edwards]

In my coming up with a QT plan for future additions I have some questions. And I realize this is a subject that gets all sorts of answers and beliefs.

I know some use QT as a time for the fish to settle into aquarium life, eat, fatten up etc. and observe then treat if needed, while others go thru medication schedules from get go. Some start off with prison style tanks, others set up a regular tank, a pleasant holding tank so to speak.

If I medicate, does that mean, later down the road, if there is stress in the tank, my fish won't get ick or marine velvet? Or can stress bring it on no matter how intense or long the qt time/process. Even going from qt to dt is going to be stressful.

If I simply observe, keep the fish in qt for 6 weeks or up to 90 days and fish is fine, will the stress of putting it in the DT bring on unwanted disease? Or any other stress.

In short, does medicating mean the fish will not get ick or marine velvet.

Can fish and corals be qt'd together? Obviously if have to treat, corals have to come out. What is a good set up for corals? A five gal tank?

How about CUC? What are snails to eat in qt? How long in qt? I can't see keeping them in qt for 76 days as there is nothing to eat.

Corals can be dipped, but are they then put in 76 day qt, basically a fallow tank? Does that mean power heads or wavemakers for a qt? Not to mention decent lighting. And I can't see how you'd qt an anemone like a bta. They'd attach and be difficult to get loose.

And after, how do you sterilize tank, filters, etc. Right now, I put the 10 gal tank outside to sit in the hot sun for a couple days. Does letting everything dry completely keep anything from spreading. I also labeled everything used for that tank to keep it dedicated to it. Sand and rock I used, I'll also cook under sun and keep with that tank for those needing sand.

My thoughts for next month are to re set up the 10 gal tank for a mandarin to get it cycled, and after the fallow period of DT, take rock and some sand from the DT that is covered in copepods (will add a bowl of rubble to get more gathering) as every surface is covered now. Even the rubble rocks I put in with nori rubberbanded to them for the snails (no algae) are crawling with life. I'll also seed some sponges in the sump now and by the end of the fallow period I should be able to use them (unless I need to start seeding them after).
The other 20 gal hex tank will be set up for other fish and I'll fill with tank water after the fish in it go back to the DT. And sponges. Unless because it's been treated with copper and copper removed, I don't need to tear it down completely but just clean it and change 50 percent water?

And filters? I have a 30 gal canister on the hex but will change that to the 10 (hob did not do well) and get something else for the hex. I have hob filters but they are woefully inadequate--cheap ones that come with cheap tanks. Looking at a new one with more room for media for the hex

I want to find a balance between extremes, esp. as I have little room to set up qt tanks and xmas is coming....

 

[sbash]

Take a look at this protocol:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/qt-protocol-flowchart.312531/

It was built in the spirit of having a QT, mainly for observation, and a hospital tank for medicating. That said, if you are short on space, you may need to combine the two.

It also is designed to immediately and prophylactically start medicating fish; which has its advantages and disadvantages.

I treat my QT like a real tank, which answers most of your questions.

However the hospital tank should be pretty bare, no CUC, just and HOB with some rubble to keep it cycled.

A fallow period is the best way for me to rid the tank of any disease. This can be with or without water. However, no, leaving the tank in the sun for a couple days will not likely sterilize the tank. If you want quick sterilization, you will need to use bleach. Give it two washed with bleach water, rinse it until you can no longer smell the bleach. Let it site over night and rinse it again. Then stick it in the sun for a couple days to ensure the bleach is fully broken down.

Some of your questions can be answered by developing a better understanding of the diseases (such as ich and velvet). Learn their lifecycle, symptoms, treatments, etc...