To QT or not to QT, that is the question.

[nick morgan]

I found that if you drop the temp in the Qt tank to about 67deg it will induce a parasite infestation if any are present. Found this out when the temp dropped in my apt. and the heater was off. It only took two days and the parasites were noticable. Treated the tank and all was ok. My yellow tang survived the lower temp ok as well. Always Qt.

 

[Anonymous]

Jo:

check out TerryB's input on quarrantining here:


http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38207


hth

 

[WRASSER]

hey guys and gals,



:? on the QT tank, i have a 29 gal. with a piggyback filtration system. can i start this tank up for QT and leave it running with like a neon goby in it to keep the bacteria going, what i mean is it will always be a QT tank just up and running all the time. or when i'm done QTing a fish shut it down.
the reason for this question is, in a few months i am going to be putting together a large tank and i want to QT the fish before i put them in the tank, this will be a long process of coruse. thank for your time



wrasser 8)

 

[Anonymous]

I ALWAYS have a QT tank up and running. Live sand, live rock, even a few corals. Lately, I just use my fully stocked 7 gallon nano. Obviously this works only for smaller fish. Also, if I need a hosptial tank (hasn't been necessary in a very long time) I would have to use a seperate tank without all the live substrate.
If I were you I'd treat this tank as any other, and just put some hermits or emerald crabs in there. You can drop food in every other day or so. If you want the option of using this tank as a hospital tank as well, forget the live sand and such. Otherwise add some live rock, sand, and the filter you have just becomes a way to provide circulation.

Cheers
Jim

 

[WRASSER]

JimM,

thanks a million for the info. it is very useful. also thanks for the in sight at wet/web. very nice pic. :wink: hope the fish works out for the best :!:



thanks

wrasser 8)

 

[ynd]

I asked this a bit earlier in the thread, but didn't get a reply. Do you need to QT coral and other inverts like slugs, nudibranches and snails?
If so do you have to provide them with the right lighting. Thanks guys.

 

[Anonymous]

Very good question. To QT or not depends on the compromise between the extra hassle and stress associated with QT'ing, and the risk of introduce pest and disease to the rest of the healthy ecosystem, and the cost of remove/treatment.

For coral ans other invert, the benefit usually does not outweight the potential harm, so it is usually not done. If you do decide to QT photosynethic coral, you shoule reproduce as much of the intended environment as possible, which mean you need to have the same type/intensity light setup on the QT tank.

 

[Anonymous]

I asked this a bit earlier in the thread, but didn't get a reply. Do you need to QT coral and other inverts like slugs, nudibranches and snails?
If so do you have to provide them with the right lighting. Thanks guys.

Yes! Quarantine everything! (You will find that I am just about the only one here who'll say this.) You run a good risk of infecting your system with some very nasty critters if you don't. It's also an excellent way of ensuring (especially if you're new) to ensure they're well acclimated to your system without risking your display. Yes, events can be rare, but is it worth the risk? In my exceedingly frugal opinion, no.

As for lighting, it's going to be best if you can at least provide what the photosynthetics had previously, being careful not to cause burning. It's helpful to remember that you don't necessarily have to keep a system full to the top (and that when I say "system", this means it does not have to be a proper aquarium). This can go a long way towards ensuring that you get the maximum out of your lighting without having to spend those big bucks twice.

 

[Anonymous]

QT for sure! Why not QT should be the question. I'm sure we've all tried to catch a fish from a reef tank. Why put yourself through that? Even if just the new fish has something non-contagious, like an internal infection, it may not show up for a few days and then it will be way more stressful to capture him (which will probably take you some time and effort and scare the hel out of the fish) and then move him AGAIN to another unfamiliar tank for treatment.

Worse case, you have a complete wipeout due to velvet and you have to start all over again not QTing fish. 8O

I think it is worth the hassle, time, and a little stress to the fish. Right SM?