Introducing new fish to tank

[jcarroll]

I've heard people say to put a new fish in a separate tank before adding it to your regular tank. I understand the reasons why you would (catch diseases and all), but in this pre tank what kind of equipment would it need? I don't want to spend the money on equip for a whole other tank.
For those who don't use this method, what is the best way to introduce a new fish to your water once you bring him home?

 

[bill f]

A simple 20 gallon starter kit is fine (<$100). Tank, filter, heater and hood. Add a powerhead. Throw in a piece of PVC pipe for fish to hide. And maybe a handfull of LS from display tank.

 

[salty cheese]

Read the second post in the thread.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...hreadid=127007

 

[snipe]

That is the best post ever. I followed that to a T and im ready to QT any thing I need to. Mabey I can get some rubber gloves and a mask lol

.

 

[mudplayerx]

I don't quarantine anything I buy before I put it into the main tank. I understand I am gambling with the health of everything in my tank each time I do this. My point is that if you don't have the capacity to set of a quarantine tank: although it is highly frowned upon to do without one, it doesn't always necessarily lead to disaster.

 

[mbrands]

I read somewhere, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist (sp?) I believe, that only 7% of hobbyists have and use a quarantine tank. Ideally, we'd all have one, but obviously a majority don't.
If you have a QT, you would drip acclimate to your QT, then drip acclimate to your main tank when moving him again.

 

[mbrands]

I read somewhere, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist (sp?) I believe, that only 7% of hobbyists have and use a quarantine tank. Ideally, we'd all have one, but obviously a majority don't.
If you have a QT, you would drip acclimate to your QT, then drip acclimate to your main tank when moving him again.

 

[snipe]

Kinda weird only 7% and a tank only costs $10. Most ppl have freshwater guppy tanks they no longer want and will give away. Take the fish to the store get some money for it. Take everything off and clean throw the gravel in the driveway "make it pretty" and start with that. For tanks so cheap and ppl giving them away there is no reason for ppl to not have one if you can afford this hobby certainly you can afford a 10 or 20 gallon tank. You dont even need gravel or a background or even a light. Just a tank a filter and a heater. Though the light is always welcomed to see if the fish has any abnormal "anything" on it.

 

[scubadoo]

J Carrol....I have never used a QT tank. I drip acclimate . I set the thermostat on 76 in my home since I use a bucket and the fish is in there for a long period . I float the bag for about 10 minutes in the main tank. I open the bag and place the fish in a five gallon bucket. I drip acclimate until the orignal amount of water doubles. I empty half out and repeat the prosess and then move the fish to the display tank.
Ich outbreaks are usually caused by stress, poor water quality or large temp fluctuations Therefore, I concentrate on maintaing water quality, supplement feeding with vitamins and a proper diet for each animal. Keeping the immune system of each animal at a high level helps reduce the possibility of an ich outbreak. However, stress alone, poor water quality and/or large temp fluctuations does not mean fish will get ich...the presence of the disease is needed.
The road from the ocean to our tanks can be quite long for these animals. One addtional stop in a QT tank just makes the trip stressful and longer. I understand my view/opinion is not mainstream but it has worked for me.
I understand the use of a QT tank and why folks swear by them. I beleive they need to be big enough to house the animals and include all the comforts of home. To place a fish in a less than adequate enviornment even if in a QT tank and for a breif period is counter-productive and only adds to the stress these fish are under. I know others will disagree...and that is okay...as I understnd why folks swear by a QT tank. JMO

 

[scubadoo]

Oppps...Although I just mention the dreaded ich disease the above covers all the other diseases too.

 

[jcarroll]

thanks for the ideas everyone. Hey scuba, have you ever had a fish catch something you had to treat? If so, how did you treat it? I mean, did you set up a quarantine tank?

 

[scubadoo]

Over the last 5 plus years I have not lost a fish...well, just one. A Tusk jumped out and committed suicide as I left the cover off accidentally.
Besides supplementing feeding with vitamins, I also soak the food in garlic xtreme a couple times a week.
I have never used a QT tank...but when I first started in this hobby over 30 years ago I had numerous losses. maybe I have been lucky recently . I concentrate on vitamins, etc if a fish shows signs of disease. I really do not change my normal routine, other then soaking the food for a particular animal and making sure I do it more frequently. A few months ago I transferred some fish to a larger tank I set-up along with the live rock. My Niger Trigger showed signs of ich which baffled me since I had no addtions of any kind to my tank in about 4 years or so. Perhaps I screwed up the diagnosis but I know what it looks like and how fish act when they have the disease. In two or three days he stopped rubbing and the little white spots were gone and have since not returned. I suspect the move stressed him out which is why his immune system was weakened. I simply thought the disease was not present since I had no issues for many years...go figure.
I also try to keep my water parameters steady, with weekly 5% water changes and regular maintenace. I also try to feed all the animals the diest that is recommended. For eample, part of my tangs dies is seaweed sheets along with macro algaerom the fuge. I never feed frosen brine shrimp as it has little if any nutritional value.
The type of fish I keep I would need a very large QT tank in order for the fish to be stress free while in QT. I do not beleive it is benficial to a stressed out sick fish to be placed in cramp quarters without the comforts of home such as live rock and appropriate surroundings.
I guess most folks do not have a QT tank due to lack of space, lack of understanding regarding the benefits, or perhaps the Scretary of Defense refuses to allow another tank in the house.