Quarentine tank? (1 Viewer)

[majikmike9999]

I am curious as to how many people actually run a quarentine tank and how long they keep the new addition in it prior to going to the DT. I personally don't have one but do understand the benefit, it just seems like it would be another system to maintain, with limited use. Am i being naive and taking a big gamble or am i more on the norm?

 

[LogansRunRx]

it's not a lot of work for me...
of course, my main tank is just a BC29. been up for about 6 months now. i've kept a 5.5gal AGA up and running with a AC50 on it for the last 3 months. just the tank, HOB filter, PC light, a frag rack, and some 3" PVC fitting for fish to play in.
i stick coral in there for about a week and give it a good once over daily.
new fish go in for a few weeks.

 

[hoffy02]

only makes good sense to use one... I have it but no fish to put in it yet

 

[trb]

I have one set up now, a $5 Craigslist 10g with a bicolor psuedochromis in it. Had to tear up my display tank catching it, since the fish developed a whitish coloring on one side, then a few white dots on it's face. We got it about 3 weeks prior, but fearing it had ich or something, I wanted to pull it out and treat it just in case.

It is really hard to keep fish in another tank, especially with the kids wanting them in the big tank. But if you have hundreds of dollars of fish & corals, it only makes good sense to QT.

 

[Llama]

I have a little 10 gallon bow that I used. It's put away now as I have no plans to add anything for a while. Yeah right!! No seriously I put it up in an attempt to keep me from buying stuff. We'll see how it goes.

 

[majikmike9999]

do you have to do water changes and stuff on the QT when not in use? or just top it off? do you run a skimmer on it? LR etc? maybe i am over complicating it but i know how hard and expensive it is to maintain just one tank

 

[trb]

From what I've read, most people just keep a sponge or filter in their sump for the QT and then put it in the QT HOB filter when they need to use it. I have been doing water changes on mine, but used the old water from my main tank. Since there are no corals and stuff in it, should be OK. Like I said, it has only been up for a few weeks, I'll probably keep it up for a little while and then put it away. If I know I will get some fish, then maybe I'll pull it out a day before and do a water change and set it back up again.

 

[paraletho]

Do I have a Q-tank Yes. Do I use it as one No. It started out that way then shifted to holding stuff we didnt know what to do with. Now basically its just another tank.

 

[majikmike9999]

Thanks everyone for the responses it looks as if i am not alone, I have a 15 gallon nano that i was thinking i might be able to use as a QT and maybe get a small HOB or canister filter? Then again what about the stress on the poor fish of being moved around and handled so much? it seems like you quarentine him, he gets used to where he is cool with the water and all then next thing you know your scooping him up again to move him to the DT?

 

[Peredhil]

I have never used one. IMO, it's just another layer of stress on the fish which, again IMO, is the number 1 concern with fish health.

I do dip corals for parasite reasons, but I do not QT them.


So I do not QT every (or any) new additions and I find it counter productive.

The idea of a hospital tank though... in most cases, I find it's just another layer of stress and counter productive, but there are scenario's where you need to get a sick creature out of the DT so it doesn't spread. That's different. I call this a hospital tank and IMO is not the same thing as a QT.

They serve different purposes.

 

[Peredhil]

before someone jumps on my comment an example of why I find them to be different things is that you may use copper in a hospital tank but you would not (probably) want to use copper or other meds in your QT.

 

[majikmike9999]

ok you brought up dipping, what do you use? do you do a fresh water dip on the coral? how about the fish? I have seen this before, is it necessary?

 

[Peredhil]

ok you brought up dipping, what do you use? do you do a fresh water dip on the coral? how about the fish? I have seen this before, is it necessary?

to be honest, I really only dip my clams and zoa's.

I use RO/DI with pH and temp brought up to match DT. I soak them for 10-20 minutes and put them directly into the DT.

I dip those two bc clam eating tiny snails and zoa eating nudi's are almost common place on them.

I monitor fish for a week or two at LFS before I buy, so I'm fairly confident in their health before I take them home. These guys get acclimated and added to DT.