QT is not necessary, but very helpful. someone recommended a freshwater dip above. i would not recommend this. the reason you get ick, is because there are parasites present in the water. your fish is stressed out from the commotion of going to a lfs and then your house. his immune system is weakend so he is vulnerable to the parasites. doing a freshwater dip will kill the parasites on him, but will stress him out more, and possibly make him more prone to getting it. so i believe you should not do a freshwater dip unless it is absolutely necessary. i dont freshwater dip my fish when they go into the tank. i also wouldnt use a lfs as your QT, but its good to let them be there awhile anyways, for other reasons. i am not running a QT because my mom is convinced im taking up enough room in the house with my main tank, so i have nowhere to put a QT. but believe me i wish i did. been lucky so far though. good luck, and if you can get a Q tank do so.