Do You, or Don't You QT?

[beth]

TangMan Montréal came up with a marvelous poll topic:
How do our members set up their QT [quarantine tanks] and what is your QT method?
If you don’t use a QT, then why not??
And, if you can post a pic of your QT, then please do [it may motivate the non-QT-ers to start doing it].
The reason I thought it would be a good topic here in the Fish Forum, is because I know some folks don’t QT their fish at all. Yes, hard to believe, but true. Terry and I get non-QT-ers in the Disease Forum all the time.
We consider QT a vital part of fish and tank health and have daily seen the miserable results of hobbyist who don’t quarantine their fish. This is not meant to bash or flame anyone, but, rather to share information and experiences and, just maybe, motivate more of our members to take this vital step seriously and include it as an integral part of their hobby experience.
[BTW: Those who don’t QT will have to spend a week in the Disease Forum as honorary moderators---]

 

[sinner's girl]

I would qt but sinner doesn't see the point (beth you can make him spend a week on the Disease Forum).
really there is no reason for us not to...we have an extra 10 and 25gl tank and all the stuff for one....though we haven't added any fish in the last 8 months...
i plan on adding a fish in the fall and due to the source it's coming from (and the fact i love my 2 clowns) i'd like to qt.
the 25gl was an invert only tank and was taken down due to lack of money...yes we could tell the diff in the bill...we put the lr and inverts in the big tank and shut down the 25gl
so i guess the reason we don't have a qt set up is the money it takes to keep one running. (bad reason, but he pays the bills not me)
my guess is for most people it takes losing fish b/c of not qt'ing before they will.

 

[grouperhead]

I have a 20g eclipse as my qt. It may not be the best, but it works. Depending how long the fish was at the lfs determines the length of the qt. If they've been there for 3 months, I'll qt for a week max, probably less. If it is a new arrival, I'll qt for a week minimum, probably more. So far have lost 0 fish to disease. Have had the original two fish in my tank for close to two years now, no problems whatsoever. Bo

 

[c_bell]

I use a 20g Long for my q-tank and a have bio whell 330 for the filter. I heard its not a good idea to have substrate, but I do have about 10 lbs of LS only because I had my watchman goby in there after an ick out break. I have 1 hermitt crab and a blue damsel in there at all times. After an ick out break that wiped out my 55 gal. i am a firm beliver in q-tanks.

 

[tang_man_montreal]

I answered yes to the QT poll...
BUT,
That's because I will definately QT before I buy any fish... My QT is being setup this wkend hopefully.
QT time will be 3-4 wks in a 29gal long, barebottom, blue background paper, Mix of black and white PVC pipe, and thinking of maybe using hypo during QT as well, although I havn't made up my mind on that one yet.

 

[kev]

I was like alota people here at first, I didn't QT. After learning the hard way, I decided to go out and buy me a QT! With me being only 17, I have a VERY limited budget, and I set up a good QT tank with only 30 bucks! Most people spend more than that on medicines and other products that do nothing for the fish!

 

[aquarius 1]

I don't QT because my father and uncle have been in this hobby for well over 15 years and never have they used a quarantine tank, or ever heard of them for that matter. So when I got into the hobby, I just followed in their footsteps. We simply buy the fish, use the drip method of introduction and plop him in the tank. In case of disease we treat the entire show tank.

 

[beth]

gol, I'm shocked! You're a mod now and must set an example....QT QT QT. You and sinner will be joining me and Terry in the Disease Forum.
Aqua, if you have a FO tank, then you can treat in tank if disease develops, but it is best to QT first.
Sinner girl...sinner may bring home the bacon, but you're the one who cooks it up---if you get my gist.

 

[sinner's girl]

lol @ Beth but I don't live with him yet...and it's his tank (I now claim it...I'm more into fish then he is)...before we add another fish I will set up the qt. I'd hate for something to happen to my clowns and to hear "I told you so" lol
btw, good pull topic to make some people more aware of it. Might be an idea to have on the new hobbyist forum...that way the new guys learn about it...just a thought

 

[sterling]

I have a QT/hospital tank set up, my old 40 gallon. But, alas, I'm a bad person and haven't used it yet (knocking on my wooden head).
When I have added a new fish or shrimp or something, I always dose the tank with Reef Vital DNA for a few days.
So far, I guess, I've been lucky. But I do have it set up for treatments, if needed.

 

[souljah]

I have a 20 gallon quarantine tank, every new
fish I buy goes into my quarantine for at
least 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, if I feel the
fish is bright, colorful, active, always
eating, and free from disease
he is definately ready to be introduced
into the main tank.
QUARANTINING YOUR FISH IS A MUST!
You can say whatever you want about
your family tradition, not ever quarantining
and what not, but take my word for it,
one of these days you WILL get a bad apple.
and once this happens, and all your healthy
fish in your main tank are all suffering from
disease and wondering what the hells wrong
with you for not quaranting your new fish you
just flopped in there, you'll know what Im saying.
Quarantining is a VERY CRUCIAL part in keeping
a healthy marine aquarium.
Just think of it as having un-protected ---.
You might slide by the first couple of times
but eventually you WILL get burned....
QUARANTINE YOUR FISH PEOPLE!

 

[frankl15207]

I learned the hard way years ago with fish only tanks.
I use a 20 gallon bare bottom with a filter (actually an eclipse hood now), along with a powerhead for circulation. The tank is generally set up with half of the water from an established tank and the other half freshly mixed sea water (I also have the advantage of an LFS less than a mile away who will hold any fish that I want for as long as I want).
Depending on the species, I generally place rocks or decorative (ok - dead) coral into the tank so the fish feels more secure. These were acquired years ago and I see no point in destroying them.
I agree that it is a nuisance, but I placed a puffer into a tank that had three percula clowns that were together for 6.5 years along with a yellow tang and royal gramma that were in the tank for over 5. The puffer had a really nasty virus that hit its brain and it infected the entire tank. By the time we finished treating with gram positive and negative anti-biotics and every other thing that the LFS and I could come up with, only two of the clowns survived. I decided that was never going to happen again. It was the most pathetic thing that I ever had to watch.
Even a marine biologist couldn't identify the disease. He just recommended that I put all of them out of their misery.

 

[cap'n pete]

QT.... aaargh, never! Just kidding. Don't have another tank or the room for another tank. Make sure I get good specimins from the LFS and hope nothing goes horribly wrong... and it has before (1 sickly lawnmower blenny= 1 dead flame angel, 1 dead yellow tang).

 

[steamboat1569]

I have thought about starting a QT many times. The only thing is, that in 5+yrs. I have never had the need. I am probably pushing the odds and my next shipment will have some kind of parasite or disease. I am soon to have 2 tanks, instead of one, so it might be a good idea to start one on the side, and I do have an extra 15 gallon tank in the garage.
One thing that I don't get, you have no substrate, and no live rock. How the heck do you cycle the darn thing???
I am really a novice when it comes to this subject!

 

[fshhub]

well, i have ot be honest here, i love the idea and preach it hard, but have not yet done it myself, b/c we set up our qt tank about 5 months ago, and have not goten fish yet, mainly b/c our tank is primarily where we want it, but got the qt anyhow, and keep it up for hospital reasons or any new additions we may add later on(but we do keep it ready, now)

 

[steamboat1569]

trying to understand nad preack.
How come moderators get to "sticky" their poll, and we can not?

 

[nm reef]

I voted "yes"...but I go about QT a bit different. I do have a 29 gal system running with rubble/LS /2 mechanical filters & a 20 month old domino damsel. IF I ever decide to add another fish to either of my system I will initially place the new fish in the QT tank for 4-5 weeks(but I've not added a fish for a very long time)....also all my fish added since the first damsels that cycles my reef have been QT'd. But I also am very selective of any fish added...and the LFS I do business with allows me to reserve my fish selection for as long as I want to insure good health. To a large extent I agree with Sammystingray....if your system is mature/balanced/stable then your chances of avoiding problems with new additions are much greater....plus careful selection of additions help a lot.One other thing I'd add is that "IF" I do purchase a new fish....I will remove the domino and let him live in my refugium during the QT process....the dang domino damsel just don't care much for anybody but me and the food he gets. After the QT is over then the domino goes back to his 29 gal domino detention center(AKA QT tank)

 

[jacksonpt]

I do not simply because I don't really have the time/money to setup another tank to use as a qt tank right now.

 

[wrassecal]

I've been using 20 gal qt for 2 weeks each ever since I introduced a rusty pygmy angel that came down with ich and died. Luckily, it was the only fish that died, some others got a light case and garlic enriched foods and cleaner shrimp took care of it. I've also used the qt tank for "jailing" my tang when I added a coral beauty that the tang was aggressive to. The coral beauty got stressed and came down with light case of ich, but I left it in main tank and took the aggressive tang out for a week and fed everyone garlic.So I've used the 20 gal for a couple different reasons.No other fish I've ever bought had any problems, but I didn't know that until I qt'd them first. So in my case, still only tank that has ever had ich in it is main tank even using q. With all that being said,I wouldn't be without the extra tank for when it's needed for various reasons.

 

[souljah]

I cant believe all the people on here
that dont quarantine their fish.
The ignorance amazes me.
How do you NOT have room for one?
You can buy a tiny eclipse 6 gallon at the store for god
sakes that comes with a light and filter and use that as
your quarantine tank. (its $50 people, come on)
if your that low on a budget you shouldnt
have a tank at all.
I vote "Yes, Yes, and Yes" for quarantine tanks