What is everyone doing quarantine wise?
- Thread starter Wildman
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Rob.D
Moderator
I keep a ten gallon, bio-wheel filter, and PVC elbows on hand. I only use it on fish that are more prone to have ick (tangs) but I will not be adding any new tangs. I would only treat with chemicals is I see any signs of infection.
Wildman
Active Member
I didn't think many people were quarantining. I am more qurious as to why not. You here most problems from ich. Are the cases of other infections/parasites not that common or are the fish just living with it?
I would really like for someone to chime in on the pollicies of the LFS as well.
I would really like for someone to chime in on the pollicies of the LFS as well.
jduck
Well-Known Member
After a recent bout with ich in my 240. I caught all fish and they went through 10 day treatment of chloroquine phosphate. Also 2 doses of Prazipro. They are all housed in 150g stock tank for another 7 weeks, for 10 weeks total fallow. It took me almost 14 days to catch the last 2 wrasse. I have a 40, 29, 20 gallon tanks I used. All of them had hob filters and sponge filters, seeded with livestock and seachem stability. Only the 20 gallon it still running with all 3 hob filters on it. I plan on setting the 40 back up next month when I order a couple more tangs. Easy enough to keep a sponge filter in your sump for when a new fish comes along. Saves a big headache to put everything through quarantine.
i quarantine them in my car on the ride home. if they make it home and look good in they go.
i think it comes down more to observing the fish in the store and looking at the rest of the fish they have. Most stores have many of their tanks connected in to one large system. if the fish you are looking at looks great but in the tank next to it has ich than you can be sure your fish is carrying as well. I will not buy a fish if i see one fish in their system with ich. One i first got started years ago i battled with ich in a 75 and lost. i have changed the way i bought fish since then and have never gotten ich since. i also keep my water a lot cleaner than those first tanks i had and feed more and better foods, that help keep the fish's immune systems a little stronger
to each there own
bob
i think it comes down more to observing the fish in the store and looking at the rest of the fish they have. Most stores have many of their tanks connected in to one large system. if the fish you are looking at looks great but in the tank next to it has ich than you can be sure your fish is carrying as well. I will not buy a fish if i see one fish in their system with ich. One i first got started years ago i battled with ich in a 75 and lost. i have changed the way i bought fish since then and have never gotten ich since. i also keep my water a lot cleaner than those first tanks i had and feed more and better foods, that help keep the fish's immune systems a little stronger
to each there own
bob
k2parkstar
Z&P Snob
Most LFS, not necessarily just Knoxville, do not have a QT process. The responsibility is that of the hobbyist.
fragmatic
retired reefer
Ditto.. except for a drip for an hour or so. If a fish makes it home alive in my car it must not be it too bad a condition.... Rough riding FJ Cruiser with a nutzy driver.
EDIT: however... I do give a fish a hard look at the LFS and it is not unusual for me to look at a fish for two or three trips. It is not often I add a fish to my tanks.
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Wildman
Active Member
Thanks Justin. That's what I was afraid of.
Redngold, is this just good practice or because you have had trouble in the past?
Solar, one of the main reasons to quarantine is to lessen the stress when introducing a fish. If I understand correctly all fish have ich so you are trying to keep stress down in the new arrival as to not cause an outbreak in your display.
The one question no one has addressed is other disease/parasites. I have had lots of beginner fish and never had a problem. When I put my system back together this time I plan on going above beginner fish. If I am paying $50.00 for a fish I want to make sure everything is good with it and all its tank mates.
Redngold, is this just good practice or because you have had trouble in the past?
Solar, one of the main reasons to quarantine is to lessen the stress when introducing a fish. If I understand correctly all fish have ich so you are trying to keep stress down in the new arrival as to not cause an outbreak in your display.
The one question no one has addressed is other disease/parasites. I have had lots of beginner fish and never had a problem. When I put my system back together this time I plan on going above beginner fish. If I am paying $50.00 for a fish I want to make sure everything is good with it and all its tank mates.
I have never QTed a fish and have only lost one a long time ago to disease. I've had tangs that arrive with ich and they go in the DT or get ich a day or two after going in the tank, likely due to the initial stress of a new environment. Usually the ich is gone in a week or two. IMO, a low-stress environment does more to reduce disease then putting them in a high stress QT tank, although the initial stress of a new environment is unavoidable. I'm one who believes ich is present in most systems and the fish's ability to fend it off is directly related to the environment they find themselves in.
I couldn't agree more, Dave. I think putting them into an established reef with good food is much better than putting them into a stressful QT. I mean, most QTs aren't exactly ideal conditions for the fish. I think that stresses them out more than just putting them into the tank. I also think that ich is constantly present in the tank. I absolutely do NOT buy the idea that if you keep all fish out for a certain length of time that you will get rid of every ich parasite. Whether it's from the parasites encysting and staying in the sand or rock OR whether it's present in the gills of fish, I do not know. But I don't think we ever really get rid of it.
YOU'RE not going to add any more tangs?!? The TON of fish that you've currently got is enough for you? No way.
Wildman
Active Member
Cee, I totally agreee and don't want to turn this into a debate on wheter it is less stress to quarantine or not as I have seen in some threads. I have had fresh water tanks since I was a kid and have seen fish get injured or stressed for some reason and be covered in ich and none of the other fish show any signs. I think that is what I'm trying to get to. Everyone always immediately jumps to ich. WHat about the stories you hear about marine velvet or serious parasite outbreaks? Why is this not a concern?
fragmatic
retired reefer
I'm trying to find some wood to tap my knuckles on.. I guess my head will do.. because this is sure to get me a bout of problems with fish health in my tank. But I will say it... I am in the, ...... feed well, keep the tank warm, keep quality water, and work hard to not have a stressful tank community, ... as my best solution to not having sick fish, ....camp. .. AND why I rapped on my wooden head is because.. it has worked well for me.... now with a reef and as well in the past for MANY years with fresh water fish.
I run (for right or for wrong) my tank system at between 79 and 81°f so any parasites cycle out faster... shrugg.. it may not be accurate science, but it is working... apparently.
At least it was until I opened my big trap.. LOL...
I run (for right or for wrong) my tank system at between 79 and 81°f so any parasites cycle out faster... shrugg.. it may not be accurate science, but it is working... apparently.
At least it was until I opened my big trap.. LOL...
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redngold
Community Member
I do it just as a good practice and have quarantined for years going back to freshwater. I like having the fish in a small controllable environment with as few variables as possible. I do provide plenty of hiding and low light in my QT. I have never had an ich issue *knock on wood*.
As with most things in fish keeping there are several successful ways to go about things.
As with most things in fish keeping there are several successful ways to go about things.
gmoney243
2500 Club Member
We recently had the same discussion heres some more input. Do what u want with your tanks but its playing russian roulette imo. Id say ich is the least of your worries. If adding enough fish its only a matter of time before some kind of parasite gets to them all. Mrsaltwatertank also chimes in with his experiences and opinions if its worth anything to ya haha
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112656
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112656
I generally don't debate as I've usually considered most aspects by the time I state something on here and it has worked for me. As usual, there are many different paths to success and I don't knock another's approach but try to learn from it. I did get a deepwater wrasse once that wasn't properly decompressed and watched it suffer with nothing I could do about it (too late to stick a hypodermic needle in its swim bladder). As far as parasites I guess I've been lucky through the years. I think they are all concerns but the frequency of outbreak in healthy tanks is still quite low from what I've seen and read so it is a calculated risk.
gmoney243
2500 Club Member
I will also add im a big fan of cleaners like shrimp and gobys. And the ocean doesn't qt it has cleaners. We cant get all the right cleaners to do the job but some are better than none. And i have witnessed the power of cleaning a fish of some type of parasites as i have done a lot of not qting myself and my shrimp barely touches any fish anymore. I do qt now tho just because i dont think its worth the risk. And also a big reason for me to qt is to let fish get used to aquarium life and feeding without competition.
Wildman
Active Member
Cee I wasn't singling you out just speaking in general and wanting to stay on topic.
Gmoney thanks for the info.
I've had vets tell me all wildlife have parasites and the strong will live long healthy lives. I'm thinking fish are the same way. Just because we don't see signs of an issue doesn't mean it's not there or that it will cause an outbreak.
Gmoney thanks for the info.
I've had vets tell me all wildlife have parasites and the strong will live long healthy lives. I'm thinking fish are the same way. Just because we don't see signs of an issue doesn't mean it's not there or that it will cause an outbreak.
