Looking for some basic advice

[melbournefl]

Well now you've all done it! After following this forum for a few weeks now you've scared the ummmm pants off me! I'm in the process of building a 220 tank, my first attempt at salt in more than 20 years (we won't even start going into the changes that have occured in my absence). I know for a fact that 1) there is no way I'm looking forward to chasing fish around this tank and 2) my daughter, who would fit in the tank easily, has put her foot down at the prospect of being my resident fish chaser, with or without the scuba gear. All this is leading to my question, besides putting all new living creatures into a QTank for 4 to 6 weeks, is there anything I can, or should, do to minimize my risks of disease/illness when building up my tank's lifestock?
Thanks much for all the information you guys so generously share and I look forward to being able to contribute something worthwhile in the future. I'd just prefer not to contribute by way of stupid, avoidable mistakes!
Later, Paul

 

[carrie1429]

I can give you a couple tips to help prevent ich. One way is too feed garlic soaked foods. You soak the fish food in garlic astract, this helps biuld up a healthy immune system. Another way is with cleaner shrimp, they clean any parasites off fish to help them not get ich or any other unwanted parasites. Just keep your tank clean and your fish healthy and you should be alright.

 

[jlem]

Have you bought your fish yett. The Garlic is the best thing to do. I would highly reccomend purchasing your fish from this sight. People get scared buying fish online but the fish get to skip the LFS which is where I would think that most fish get diseases from and the prices are outstanding.

 

[melbournefl]

Thanks for the input! I'm still several weeks away from even putting water in the tank but I'm in the final design phase for the stand (tanks almost done, no glass yet though) and I wanted to make sure that my design, at the very least, accomodated all the "hardware" that I'd need to have available for QT etc. I like the garlic treatment, lord knows we only go through about 20 or 30 cloves a week here Terry, I'll go in search of back issues of FAMA, do you have an online site I could order them from? Again, thanks for the input and I'll keep the boards updated as the "beast" progresses
Later,
Paul

 

[beth]

With a tank and investment that size, why are you so resistent to setting up a QT?

 

[melbournefl]

Beth, I think you misread something. I'm designing the QT as an intrigal part of the tank/stand. I was just looking for input regarding anything else I might do to prevent having to go on a wild fish trapping adventure in the display tank
Later, Paul

 

[melbournefl]

I understand that Ed thanks! My *plan* is to have the QT tank on a completely separate circulation/filtration system but incorporated in the "structure" so at least we can see the "inmate" while waiting to introduce him/her to the general prison population
Later, Paul