Why no ich or parasites?

ScottR · Jan 16, 2020

I started keeping SW fish around 20 years ago. Back then I used only NSW for water and WC. Never had a diseased fish. After I got back in the hobby I’ve kept a few tanks. I started a tank once with a bucket of salt and RODI and in went 2 clowns. They got brook fast and died immediately. Then I decided to go the old route - NSW and live rock. I’ve since kept many fish and only lost them to bullying or poor acclimation. Once a fish made it past a week, they never died. I never quarantine and I’m against treating with copper (especially if they seem healthy). It makes me think, do we try to keep our tanks too clean? I seriously only acclimate to salinity and temp and the fish go right in.

Thoughts/experiences?

motortrendz · Jan 16, 2020

I agree with this completely. I inspect fish and do a fresh water dip to check for parasites. I also use an acclimation box to watch a fish for a few days.. usually if I dont loose the fish in the first couple days they survive. I'm all for hospital tanks and treating a fish who gets sick but I'm just not one of those quarantine for a million years guys. And I cant tell you how many posts I've read about where people QT a fish and then after 2 days in copper they just up and die.. I don't know maybe it's me. but I agree with @Paul B about alot of things. This topic especially. I've had tanks since the 90s and I've never had a severe outbreak of anything. Thank god. I've had ich show up on a tang here or there but honestly I've rarely ever lost a fish to it. you can never have a 100% sterile environment. Its just not gonna happen. So let the strong survive and their immune systems build. I believe itll.only make for a healthier environment.

And the millionth debate about qt will begin now lol.

ScottR · Jan 16, 2020

motortrendz said:
I agree with this completely. I inspect fish and do a fresh water dip to check for parasites. I also use an acclimation box to watch a fish for a few days.. usually if I dont loose the fish in the first couple days they survive. I'm all for hospital tanks and treating a fish who gets sick but I'm just not one of those quarantine for a million years guys. And I cant tell you how many posts I've read about where people QT a fish and then after 2 days in copper they just up and die.. I don't know maybe it's me. but I agree with @Paul B about alot of things. This topic especially. I've had tanks since the 90s and I've never had a severe outbreak of anything. Thank god. I've had ich show up on a tang here or there but honestly I've rarely ever lost a fish to it. you can never have a 100% sterile environment. Its just not gonna happen. So let the strong survive and their immune systems build. I believe itll.only make for a healthier environment.

And the millionth debate about qt will begin now lol.

Thanks for sharing. I hope this doesn’t turn into a qt vs no qt argument. I have seen too many posts about parasites and what to do. And I have to be honest, I’ve never been there and I have no advice. My local reefing buddy keeps losing fish and always calls me and asks what to do and I’m like.... call R2R?

WVNed · Jan 16, 2020

You are just lucky and it's the kind of fish you keep.

That is what I was always told.

I have no opinion on many of the things I see here. I have never done them and dont seem to have a need for them.

destro · Jan 16, 2020

I think it's relative to the size and age of the tank. For those that have an established tank for a very long time with fish that have been together and healthy, why risk adding a fish or two that look healthy and end up affecting the entire tank. It's a lot of stress if you don't take all the steps to ensure the fish are 100%. I'm playing devils advocate. I don't own a QT so I'm not judging.

motortrendz · Jan 16, 2020

I agree with the above. Definilty has alot to do with established fish and systems. But also those established fish started somewhere. I have everything from clowns(4) to all.different types of wrasses, blennies and tangs. Luck I'd say If it was a one or 2 time thing. But in 25 years I have never lost a system do an illness. A fish here or there sure. But I think those fish were already weak and couldn't fight off the parasite or illness.

Squidward · Jan 16, 2020

I've experienced what it feels like to have velvet. I can't afford to go the no quarantine way ever again. It is a nice relief knowing you have an ich free tank vs other hobbyists who like to do ich management.