QT vs FW Dip

NicoleIrene · Feb 10, 2019

Sorry, I am still struggling with this...I think I read too much!

So, I did set up a QT tank. Unfortunately, my QT sucks (it is 10 gal and has been running for months). The levels are always off and it evaporates like crazy. I even put a piece of live rock from my DT in there to help the bacteria (in addition to presoaking the sponge filter).

I was watching brs 52 weeks and he fw dips his fish in lieu of qt. I also read this article (which seems to be me): http://advancedaquariumconcepts.com/how-to-setup-a-quarantine-tank/

So, I did a fw dip with my Toby puffer, and that was a few weeks ago. He is doing fine.

Moving forward, I am still confused about acclimation. And, despite my Toby surviving my ineptness, I am not sure I did it correctly.

1st: create fw bath with bubbler and make sure temp is same as DT tank
2nd: dip fish 3-4 minutes
3rd: dump fish in DT tank

Ummm....where is the acclimation? I spent an hour pouring 1 cup every 15 minutes to acclimate my damsels and this poor Toby just got dumped into the FW bath and then the tank.

Should acclimate to DT, then fw dip, then dump?

Are there certain fish that cannot handle the fw dip?

Or, do I need to figure out my qt? (And if it matters I have a fowlr tank)

DarkSky · Feb 10, 2019

As long as the salinity is close and you've temp acclimated the fish in bag to your tank's water temperature, you should be fine with respect to acclimation.

However I wouldn't just rely on a FW dip in lieu of a proper QT process - if you keep watching subsequent 52 Weeks of Reefing videos, you will see that they did start losing some fish.

NicoleIrene · Feb 10, 2019

DarkSky said:
As long as the salinity is close and you've temp acclimated the fish in bag to your tank's water temperature, you should be fine with respect to acclimation.

However I wouldn't just rely on a FW dip in lieu of a proper QT process - if you keep watching subsequent 52 Reefing videos you see that they did start losing some fish.

Thanks...I am only on about week 20! Feel like I am in the process of earning another degree!