Quarantine tank questions

[1979fishgeek]

I strongly believe every new fish has ick in their gills even if they don’t show visual signs or a strong chance of velvet. (Based on myself and several friends experiences this year!)

I’ve got two QT’s now which I’m going to be religiously using no more complacency! One is for inverts and one for fish only and this one I want to medicate as if every new fish is harbouring ick or Velvet.

1. Can I run a fish only QT tank with a constant level of Cupermine 24/7, treating every new fish?
2. What therapeutic levels of Cupermine can fish safely acclimate to in a day? Full dose or half?
3. Does a copper medicated QT need breaking down and sterilising between every fish stay?
4. If I’m running copper how long should each stay in the QT last before moving to a display tank?

 

[HotRocks]

Glad to hear you are going to QT everything! Answers to your questions below.

1. You could, but I would recommend starting them off in a copper free tank and slowly ramping up the copper to therapuetic level over a period of 5-7 days. Or if velvet is present over 48 hours.

I keep fish med free for 3-5 days upon arrival to allow them to get situated and hopefully eating well before ramping up, unless velvet is present, then I would get them in therapuetic copper within 48 hrs.

2. .5ppm is the therapuetic level you will want to treat at. I would recommend no faster than a 48 hour ramp up.

3. I would break down and sterilize every 3-4 batches depending what all was needed for treatment.

4. 30 days at the therapuetic level. Then I recommend 14 days of observation med free to make sure they are all clear. You can also treat for only 14 days if you have a second sterile QT they can be transferred to, for the 14 day observation.

All great questions. Hope this is helps!

 

[1979fishgeek]

Glad to hear you are going to QT everything! Answers to your questions below.

1. You could, but I would recommend starting them off in a copper free tank and slowly ramping up the copper to therapuetic level over a period of 5-7 days. Or if velvet is present over 48 hours.

I keep fish med free for 3-5 days upon arrival to allow them to get situated and hopefully eating well before ramping up, unless velvet is present, then I would get them in therapuetic copper within 48 hrs.

2. .5ppm is the therapuetic level you will want to treat at. I would recommend no faster than a 48 hour ramp up.

3. I would break down and sterilize every 3-4 batches depending what all was needed for treatment.

4. 30 days at the therapuetic level. Then I recommend 14 days of observation med free to make sure they are all clear. You can also treat for only 14 days if you have a second sterile QT they can be transferred to, for the 14 day observation.

All great questions. Hope this is helps!

Thank you!

I was just thinking, if I removed them from the copper after 30 day treatment to another tank. Then do a short hyposalinty treatment before 14 day observation would this help eliminate any potential flukes as well or would the copper have killed them off?

Again, thanks so much for replying so quick!

 

[blkhwkz]

For flukes, run 2 doses of prazi or general cure (I prefer GC, if you can get it there) when you take them out of copper. Add 1st dose, wait 5-7 days and do a 25% water change and add the 2nd dose. Run some carbon after the 2nd dose to remove it all while doing your observation period.

 

[chrissreef]

I have 2 QT tanks too now because I got ich from a coral I got at a frag swap.

Fish - I keep fish in the copper free 36g QT tank for 1-2 weeks to ensure it's eating. (I try to group fish I want to introduce to the DT at the same time). After 1-2 weeks I add copper. 2 weeks later I run carbon to remove and then I run prazi. If I'm just introducing 1-2 fish and they're small I'll likely go with the tank transfer method of QT in two 5g QT tanks I have. The fish QT I have a heater and 3 HOB filters with ceramic media in them)

Coral - I put in the 20g QT tank for at least 4 weeks. When I do water changes on the DT I put that water in the QT tank so the corals are used to the DT water. I try to transfer as very little water from the coral/bag on this invert tank. I also dip the corals prior to going into QT and I observe for pests with a flashlight several times a week. (aiptasia, daisy polyps etc.). The invert tank is just a Kessil LED, powerhead, heater and carbon filter from innovative marine.

 

[HotRocks]

Thank you!

I was just thinking, if I removed them from the copper after 30 day treatment to another tank. Then do a short hyposalinty treatment before 14 day observation would this help eliminate any potential flukes as well or would the copper have killed them off?

Again, thanks so much for replying so quick!

As @blkhwkz said above GC or Prazipro are best medication for flukes.

Copper may supress flukes some but it will not successfully erradicate them.

Also o2 is very important when medicating QT. Make sure you have a powerhead breaking the surface of the water to create oxygen exchange. I also use an airstone in QT.