Sailfin Tang Quarantine Time.

[Renzo'sReef]

Hello reefers! I got a Sailfin tang from my LFS about 10 days ago since it was a recommended fish to keep algae at bay with constant grazing and would be compatable with my other fish already in the tank. Plus they are a very beautiful fish. I have kept him in my quarantine tank since we made it home and havent noticed any signs of sickness or parasites like ich. How long would you recommend leaving him in the QT for observation before adding to my main tank?

 

[Zach B]

Let the debate begin That's a really hard to answer question, with many answers and opinions. Under just observation & with a tang I personally would say it's potentially dangerous to add in that way. I have done it, but I don't recommend it with tangs. Once again just my opinion. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

There are two schools of thought. 1. Observational quarantine (usually for 2 weeks/14 days). 2. Medicated quarantine. I’m in the latter school. I view every single inhabitant as infected, especially with “ich magnets” such as tangs.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I would do a copper treatment just in case

 

[Renzo'sReef]

I have some copper power and will start adding some slowly so as not to cause a sudden spike and potentially do more harm than good. Will eventually level off at 2.5ppm copper and give it 2 weeks at that level for continued observation and if he's still perfectly healthy after that I will add him to my main tank. Thanks for asvising to medicate.

 

[nereefpat]

If doing observation-only QT, I would recommend a lot longer than 2 weeks.

If you are going the Copper Power route, 2 weeks at 2+ ppm and then moving directly into the display would protect you against ich and velvet.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I have some copper power and will start adding some slowly so as not to cause a sudden spike and potentially do more harm than good. Will eventually level off at 2.5ppm copper and give it 2 weeks at that level for continued observation and if he's still perfectly healthy after that I will add him to my main tank. Thanks for asvising to medicate.

Ensure you have proper aeration while under copper. I use two separate methods. A pump directly hitting the surface, and a high output air pump and stones.

 

[Renzo'sReef]

Little update for the thread. Copper is now at 2.5 ppm, just did a 100% water change to hopefully eliminate anything that was free swimming in the water. I added a T into my airline tubing with a control valve and the new line is plumbed into one of my power heads for extra aeration of the water. Sunny(name we gave to our sailfin) is chilling in one of his hideaway spots at the moment the picture was taken but as soon as I moved the phone away from the tank he came out swimming around like his cheerful self.

 

[Spare time]

There are two schools of thought. 1. Observational quarantine (usually for 2 weeks/14 days). 2. Medicated quarantine. I’m in the latter school. I view every single inhabitant as infected, especially with “ich magnets” such as tangs.

Ok with you on this as because you can't always see issues (especially flukes or internal issues), and if the fish starts showing symptoms it could be too late to save them. Plus if they do happen to get sick, the op would need to add an extra month of them in the qt

 

[Spare time]

Little update for the thread. Copper is now at 2.5 ppm, just did a 100% water change to hopefully eliminate anything that was free swimming in the water. I added a T into my airline tubing with a control valve and the new line is plumbed into one of my power heads for extra aeration of the water. Sunny(name we gave to our sailfin) is chilling in one of his hideaway spots at the moment the picture was taken but as soon as I moved the phone away from the tank he came out swimming around like his cheerful self.

I'd try to not have as many bubbles all over the place (maybe it was just the pic). Also, it's a good idea to add a biosponge or similar in the filter with a bottle of cycling bacteria so you don't have to worry about ammonia

 

[Renzo'sReef]

I'd try to not have as many bubbles all over the place (maybe it was just the pic). Also, it's a good idea to add a biosponge or similar in the filter with a bottle of cycling bacteria so you don't have to worry about ammonia

I did have my airstone directly under the larger powerhead and that was making more small bubbles. I moved the airstone off to the one side and the water cleared up quite a bit.

 

[FIN&BONEZ]

Unless I missed something, why are we treating healthy fish with copper and housing them in a smaller probably not heated proper qt? Its probably enough that they got shipped three times only to be put in a 30 gallon long at your lfs where kids then pound on the glass. IMO let them go and stop being so scared. If your tank is healthy and fish as well nobody gonna catch the virus.

 

[Renzo'sReef]

Ever heard the saying better safe than sorry? Last time I bought a fish from my LFS and "thought" it looked healthy and put into my display I had nothing but problems. Outbreak of velvet and I lost 2 fish plus had to tear apart my display catching the rest to treat them. 40 gallon quarantine tank and if you look at the posted pictures theres clearly a Fluval heater right in the center.

 

[mehaffydr]

Unless I missed something, why are we treating healthy fish with copper and housing them in a smaller probably not heated proper qt? Its probably enough that they got shipped three times only to be put in a 30 gallon long at your lfs where kids then pound on the glass. IMO let them go and stop being so scared. If your tank is healthy and fish as well nobody gonna catch the virus.

OP please continue what your doing.
1. Theres no way to know that the fish is heathy it just went through who knows how many systems that could have been infected.
2. I see a heater in the QT so that statement is just wrong.
3. Its not scared its called preventive and its a good idea.

I applaud the OP for doing what they can to be sure that they do not infect the DT.
Careless practices will work sometimes but its only a matter of time before you will get something in the DT and you will regret it.

 

[Dcal]

Ever heard the saying better safe than sorry? Last time I bought a fish from my LFS and "thought" it looked healthy and put into my display I had nothing but problems. Outbreak of velvet and I lost 2 fish plus had to tear apart my display catching the rest to treat them. 40 gallon quarantine tank and if you look at the posted pictures theres clearly a Fluval heater right in the center.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

and @Renzo'sReef has already experienced having to go through the PITA that is an outbreak so why would they not try to prevent having to do so again

 

[FIN&BONEZ]

Ever heard the saying better safe than sorry? Last time I bought a fish from my LFS and "thought" it looked healthy and put into my display I had nothing but problems. Outbreak of velvet and I lost 2 fish plus had to tear apart my display catching the rest to treat them. 40 gallon quarantine tank and if you look at the posted pictures theres clearly a Fluval heater right in the center.

Yeah I've herd the term probably before you were born. Sorry you deal with a nasty store who would sell you a questionable fish. My bad for missing the heater in the pic. But stand tall on why more stress on an already stressed specimen. Copper is not good for a fish, thats like giving a five year old a pack of cowboy killers and saying you'll be fine down the road nothing to worry about. WHO'S NEXT?

 

[FIN&BONEZ]

Does the fish show any signs of illness? I read about several skitzos giving there children meds for no reason just because they're sick in the head. Or maybe just new kids on the block who believe in using as may chems as possible to achieve there short term goals.

 

[Renzo'sReef]

Which conspiracy theory website were you on? Somehow you strike me as someone who believes everything they read on the internet. Also your comparison of low levels of copper in the water a fish lives in to handing a pack of marlboro 100s to a kid and saying smoke these seems a bit on the extreme end. Maybe more like saying its healthy to play outside with smoke from a nearby wildfire settled in.

Medicating the fish is only temporary and prevents the PITA that an outbreak causes. One day you will experience an outbreak and change your mind on proper QT of all new fish to add to your system. So until then enjoy ignorance in bliss.

 

[Uncle99]

40 years, 100’s of fish, just QT for two weeks, once got ick on a clown, Hypoed him, never a problem otherwise.

With clean run from store (which you know) to QT, eating a ton, sometimes less is better.

Any medication is stressful, and that weakens the immune system. Sometimes fish lose appetite in copper.

But that’s just the other side.

Everyone does things differently.

 

[Renzo'sReef]

Whelp so much for helpful advice. Thread took a bad turn and I am partly responsible for it. Yes learning a proper QT takes time and everyone has their own method. Wish you continued luck on your reefing.