Quarantine Help Plsm

[huckjai]

Hey Reefers. So, I got a little excited at the fish store today, and got 2 clowns and 6 hermit crabs for my new tank. Just realized I should quarantine the fish first before putting in the main tank.

I have all the equipment for the quarantine tank, but have not set it up / cycled it yet.

I've heard of people cycling tanks in a day with bacteria? Would it be possible using microbacter 7?

Or can I put the clowns in the display tank first, then transfer them to the quarantine tank later?

Also, should I treat the fish once in the quarantine tank, or just observe for now?
What should I be watching out for? Fluke, Ich, Velvet. Anything else?

Thanks so much!

 

[lapin]

Do not put the fish in your display tank.
If you can swing it get a second QT tank
Read about the TTM method for eliminating ich.
The TTM requires you change tanks every 72 hours or less for 2 weeks.
2 tanks, air pump with air stones for circulation and 2 heaters. No cycling required
Unless you really overfeed you will not have an ammonia problem.
While in TTM QT you can use General Cure to rid your fish of other things.
While this is not a complete QT proceedure it is what I do.

 

[Idoc]

Don't put the fish in your DT before quarantine. If they have a disease/parasite, it will now be in your DT.

Go ahead and setup your quarantine tank and load it with the MicroBacter7 or any other nitrifying bacterial product. Get the water to your desired temperature and match the salinity from the water the fish are currently in (in the bag). Once all that is in place, you can turn your fish loose into the QT. I'm assuming you already have the fish in hand...so, go ahead and float their bags in your DT just to keep their water temp up while you are setting up the quarantine tank.

All you really need to do is regularly check your ammonia levels in the QT. If the MB7 hasn't taken hold yet, you may have to do a water change if the ammonia starts showing up. I use a Seachem Ammonia Alert badge for my quarantine tanks. I typically setup my quarantine tanks the day before I plan on getting a fish. Then each day, add some more MB7 to the system for the first week.

Clowns are quite susceptible to having Brooklynella. So, I would first treat for that prior to anything else...unless the fish are already showing signs of something else, ie: ich, velvet, etc... I treated mine with Metrodonizole first. Then, I treated with copper, then finished with Prazi-Pro.

If you are seeing white stringy poo hanging from them, then they have an internal parasites/worms -- if this is the case, then just mix their food with a scoop of General Cure and a scoop of Focus and feed them that mixture twice a day for 2 weeks.

Hope this helps! Good luck! You should post some pics of those clowns!!

 

[huckjai]

Thanks for the quick responses guys! Will set up my QT immediately. Already have the Seachem Ammonia alert tag, so will do water changes if need be. Thank you.

 

[huckjai]

Hope this helps! Good luck! You should post some pics of those clowns!!

Here's some pics! They seem to be doing well in the QT.

 

[Idoc]

Here's some pics! They seem to be doing well in the QT.

Those are some beautiful clowns!
I've found with my fish quarantine tanks that the fish are less stressed and do better throughout all the treatments if they have stuff in the tank for them to swim around, through, and occasionally hide. I use 2" PVC elbows and fake plastic plants and corals. Especially good when you have more than one fish...sometimes one can be a little aggressive and having things to swim behind can put them where they don't see each other and the "chasing" can stop for a bit. Good luck!

 

[huckjai]

Those are some beautiful clowns!
I've found with my fish quarantine tanks that the fish are less stressed and do better throughout all the treatments if they have stuff in the tank for them to swim around, through, and occasionally hide. I use 2" PVC elbows and fake plastic plants and corals. Especially good when you have more than one fish...sometimes one can be a little aggressive and having things to swim behind can put them where they don't see each other and the "chasing" can stop for a bit. Good luck!

Haha. Funny thing, just got back from PetSmart. Bought some plants and stuff to put on the QT tank.

Planning to do a freshwater dip and go from there.