Should I go fallow still?

[Sump Crab]

There is no point to QT if you're not going to follow a protocol of some kind. Many people buy frags that are only in fishless systems. Many people buy CUC that are raised in fishless systems. These systems are also fallow since they have no fish. If you just 'dump a bunch of frags and snails in your tank' the risk is not as high probably as 'dumping a bunch of fish' but it's still there. You are correct, though, there are many people that do not quarantine frags and snails, there are also many people that don't QT or treat their fish. Most of them get away with it - until they don't.

I find it hard to trust that these coral vendors with fishless systems isolate every new frag for 2.5 months before they put them into their system. I would doubt even more, considering 99% of CUC are wild caught, that CUC in a fishless tank don't carry pathogens.

But that's just me and my glass half empty attitude lol

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I find it hard to trust that these coral vendors with fishless systems isolate every new frag for 2.5 months before they put them into their system. I would doubt even more, considering 99% of CUC are wild caught, that CUC in a fishless tank don't carry pathogens.

But that's just me and my glass half empty attitude lol

Unless there was an active disease in the tank, corals and CUC held in a fishless system for 30 days seem safe.

The main issue is that some dealers put tangs in their coral trays for algae control, and they often don’t quarantine them. There is a local dealer to me that is/was putting sick fish in their coral system dumps to “heal them” in a better environment - ugh!

 

[Sump Crab]

Unless there was an active disease in the tank, corals and CUC held in a fishless system for 30 days seem safe.

The main issue is that some dealers put tangs in their coral trays for algae control, and they often don’t quarantine them. There is a local dealer to me that is/was putting sick fish in their coral system dumps to “heal them” in a better environment - ugh!

That's interesting, I was under the impression that frags had to be fallow for the 75 days (give or take) to bid rid of ich.

Ultimately I just wouldn't ever trust a LFS to purposely isolate and qt batches of corals, CUC, etc. We have to remember that the LFS is getting new shipments of livestock weekly, not to mention local trades/teardowns. The end user is responsible for their preferred level of qt and any disease introduction is 100% on them IMO.

I personally don't QT at all, never have. That's not to say I've never ran into issues but that's the level of risk I have personally accepted.

To each their own.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That's interesting, I was under the impression that frags had to be fallow for the 75 days (give or take) to bid rid of ich.

Ultimately I just wouldn't ever trust a LFS to purposely isolate and qt batches of corals, CUC, etc. We have to remember that the LFS is getting new shipments of livestock weekly, not to mention local trades/teardowns. The end user is responsible for their preferred level of qt and any disease introduction is 100% on them IMO.

I personally don't QT at all, never have. That's not to say I've never ran into issues but that's the level of risk I have personally accepted.

To each their own.

That 75 day time came from an old paper where the author themselves said it was a one off case, in a bacteria free, cold culture. It got picked up by a guy who likes to extrapolate from papers and became “gospel”, but it is wrong. 45 days at 82 degrees or 60 days below that is a more realistic time.

I quarantine everything and haven’t lost a fish to velvet in 40 years, and no losses to marine ich in 20.

 

[Sump Crab]

That 75 day time came from an old paper where the author themselves said it was a one off case, in a bacteria free, cold culture. It got picked up by a guy who likes to extrapolate from papers and became “gospel”, but it is wrong. 45 days at 82 degrees or 60 days below that is a more realistic time.

I quarantine everything and haven’t lost a fish to velvet in 40 years, and no losses to marine ich in 20.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Just FYI - I was trying to make the case for QT - as compared to the opposite

I knew you were. I was supporting you! To have a total loss with a tank is just heartbreak. And not to QT is gambling with it all.

 

[MnFish1]

I find it hard to trust that these coral vendors with fishless systems isolate every new frag for 2.5 months before they put them into their system. I would doubt even more, considering 99% of CUC are wild caught, that CUC in a fishless tank don't carry pathogens.

But that's just me and my glass half empty attitude lol

Actually, many home frag sellers - and many large companies grow out their corals in a fish free environment. As to the CUC - agree - that depends on the source - however, remember, wild caught CUC are going to have a markedly less number of CI on them - since the concentration is so much lower in the wild than in a tank. The whole problem here is the potential exponential concentration increase of parasites if an infection breaks out.

 

[Sump Crab]

Actually, many home frag sellers - and many large companies grow out their corals in a fish free environment. As to the CUC - agree - that depends on the source - however, remember, wild caught CUC are going to have a markedly less number of CI on them - since the concentration is so much lower in the wild than in a tank. The whole problem here is the potential exponential concentration increase of parasites if an infection breaks out.

Can't argue with that!