quarantine tanks

Neo Jeo · Dec 19, 2017

Im starting to do research on quarantine tanks. I found this article
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/quarantining-marine-fish-made-simple

Would this be good to go off of? What do I do about corals? I found a 10h tank, heater , hood, led light , filter for $30!

Neo Jeo · Dec 19, 2017

https://www.petsmart.com/fish/starter-kits/top-fin-essentials-aquarium-starter-kit-5262353.html

This is what I got

Mark Derail · Dec 19, 2017

My two QT's are cheap from Kijiji, a 5g and a 3 footer 30g.
I use the small one for corals after doing dips, just for a few days. The QT for the coral gets water from the DT. If no pests seen after 2 days, in it goes.
The dip smells like Pinesol floor cleaner. I was surprised at the junk that came off a tiny frag, tiny bugs.

The article you posted is good, however, no mention about tangs though. Mine didn't survive in Cupramine when 5 other fish types were doing fine.
And guess what? My next fish is going to be a tang... So not sure how to QT properly a tang.

So if you want a tang, my suggestion would be to QT all the other fish first, get them in the Display Tank, then do just the tang, beewing vewy vewy gental.

siggy · Dec 19, 2017

@Neo Jeo Did you find that Clown at a LFS ;Woot

Neo Jeo · Dec 19, 2017

siggy said:
@Neo Jeo Did you find that Clown at a LFS ;Woot

No google

Neo Jeo · Dec 19, 2017

Mark Derail said:
My two QT's are cheap from Kijiji, a 5g and a 3 footer 30g.
I use the small one for corals after doing dips, just for a few days. The QT for the coral gets water from the DT. If no pests seen after 2 days, in it goes.
The dip smells like Pinesol floor cleaner. I was surprised at the junk that came off a tiny frag, tiny bugs.

The article you posted is good, however, no mention about tangs though. Mine didn't survive in Cupramine when 5 other fish types were doing fine.
And guess what? My next fish is going to be a tang... So not sure how to QT properly a tang.

So if you want a tang, my suggestion would be to QT all the other fish first, get them in the Display Tank, then do just the tang, beewing vewy vewy gental.

Do I have to do 2 different QT tanks for coral and fish?
What dip did you use?
What do I do for lighting for coral QT?

I only got a 10g for fish bc I don’t have that much room. Is that ok?

Idoc · Dec 19, 2017

Neo Jeo said:
Do I have to do 2 different QT tanks for coral and fish?
What dip did you use?
What do I do for lighting for coral QT?

I only got a 10g for fish bc I don’t have that much room. Is that ok?

It is recommended for corals to be quarantined for 76 days before putting into your DT. This is because the corals may not actually be infected with the same parasites/diseases as fish, but they can carry the parasitic encapsulated cysts that will effect your fish. So, putting them into a "fishless" QT for 76 days gives plenty of time for those cysts to open and release their parasites...but since there are no fish in the tank, those parasites will die off. Then when you put the coral (or invert) into your DT, there is a pretty darn good chance you aren't adding any parasites with it. There are a couple good articles in the R2R disease section detailing exactly how to quarantine fish and inverts.

I used CoralRx dip for my latest frags! Amazed at the stuff that came off of them! So glad I didn't just put those into my DT.

If keeping corals in a QT...then, you will need some lights for them so they are able to thrive and grow before putting in your DT. A cheap Chinese black box light would suffice...I'm using a ReefBreeders Basic 16" light for my 20g long coral QT.

Willy315 · Dec 19, 2017

There is some great info HERE.

Mark Derail · Dec 19, 2017

I won't repeat - above have said it best.

Also this post (and thread) has great info from today.
How to Quarantine Kole tang

If you are starting from scratch - brand new - you can essentially make your DT your QT - just go fish-less "fallow" for 76 days. Use some shrimps with hermits & snails for company.

In fact, I recommend to everyone I meet, starting this hobby, to go fallow 3 months before going with fish, instead of the other way around. Fish are expensive.

Neo Jeo · Dec 20, 2017

Alright, based on what I'm reading Ill do 2 tanks. I think I should do a 10g for corals and 20g for fish.

Questions:
1. What light do i need for corals? I really did not want to spend more money on lights lol!
2. Do you QT corals for 3-4 weeks just like fish? Im looking to dip them as well. Do you do this often?
3. I'm pluming a water change station in my furnace room. I will have the fresh batch of water next to my furnace with a lid on it. About 7 feet away I was going to have my QT tanks. There is no air blowing around in the room but the furnace will pull air I guess. Is 7 feet fine or will stuff travel into that water I have then back into my tank? Is this really a huge concern? or will 7 feet be fine? I don't have any other place to put these tanks....

JoshH · Dec 20, 2017

Neo Jeo said:
Alright, based on what I'm reading Ill do 2 tanks. I think I should do a 10g for corals and 20g for fish.

Questions:
3. I'm pluming a water change station in my furnace room. I will have the fresh batch of water next to my furnace with a lid on it. About 7 feet away I was going to have my QT tanks. There is no air blowing around in the room but the furnace will pull air I guess. Is 7 feet fine or will stuff travel into that water I have then back into my tank? Is this really a huge concern? or will 7 feet be fine? I don't have any other place to put these tanks....

I just had this issue pointed out to me on my build thread. From everything I could find on it of your QT tank has a lot of airation (Airstones) you need roughly 10 ft. If not 2-3 feet of separation. Look up marine disease transmission through air to read for yourself. I'm trying to find the thread myself.

Here we go...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aerosol-transmission.190292/

Neo Jeo · Dec 20, 2017

JoshH said:
I just had this issue pointed out to me on my build thread. From everything I could find on it of your QT tank has a lot of airation (Airstones) you need roughly 10 ft. If not 2-3 feet of separation. Look up marine disease transmission through air to read for yourself. I'm trying to find the thread myself.

Here we go...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aerosol-transmission.190292/

Thanks! So it im not using airstones then 2-3ft? I will be 7ft away. Will a power head on the surface work?

JoshH · Dec 20, 2017

Neo Jeo said:
Thanks! So it im not using airstones then 2-3ft? I will be 7ft away. Will a power head on the surface work?

I would think you would be Okay, but I am by no means an expert on this. @Humblefish might be a better person to direct that question towards.

Mark Derail · Dec 20, 2017

JoshH said:
I just had this issue pointed out to me on my build thread. From everything I could find on it of your QT tank has a lot of airation (Airstones) you need roughly 10 ft. If not 2-3 feet of separation. Look up marine disease transmission through air to read for yourself. I'm trying to find the thread myself.

Here we go...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aerosol-transmission.190292/

This was hard for me. Ideal is another room. Surprisingly, the bathroom works really well, as it's a place often visited, easy to dispose water during the daily/every 2nd day WCs...Big Bonus - something to look at other than the smart phone while sitting.
Second bonus? Water sounds...

Neo Jeo · Dec 20, 2017

Well my bathroom is out of the question. Lol plus tolet flushes would go in the tank?

PatW · Dec 20, 2017

The article is good but it is a single view of quarantine. They advocate preemptive treatment of all fish. Many people do not. Many people hold fish in quarantine for X number of days and only treat the fish if symptoms manifest themselves. Preemptive treatment can stress and kill a fish. Holding a fish might allow a pathogen to get into the display tank. It is a matter of weighing the risks and rewards.

There are stickies for quarantining fish at virtually all of the popular reef aquarium discussion forums. I suggest you read these.

Neo Jeo · Dec 21, 2017

I will mostlikly do a QT for fish not for corals. I will be doing a dip. Do you think this 20g set up will work? I can add my sponge to the filter. I do not want a bubblier in the tank, the HOB filter will work fine right?

https://www.petsmart.com/fish/starter-kits/top-fin-essentials-aquarium-starter-kit-5262353.html

Neo Jeo · Dec 21, 2017

Or will a power head be just fine? and use some media from my main tank?

TroyHoot · Dec 21, 2017

i use the 20 gallon version of that tank. the hob filter is loud. but its out of my way so i dont hear it unless im in the room. I also use small tunze powerhead for more surface agitation. When you medicate you want either bubbles or a pump agitating the surface.

Neo Jeo · Dec 21, 2017

It will be in my furnace room so I’m not worried about the pump noise thank you for letting me know do you think a powerhead that is pointed to the surface will work just as good as bubbles ? I don’t want the bubbles popping in putting salt everywhere