Quarantine Question

jasonmarc

jasonmarc

Member
Hi folks,
I have two fish in a 10 gal quarantine at the moment, and I'm seeing conflicting info on timeframes... can someone advise?
It's a 10gal w/HOT filter and small PH, PVC pipe, heater (of course) and a small sandwich-sized tupperware with aragonite and a pvc section in it for hiding with substrate (seeded with about a handful of sand from my DT) and a small chunk of chaeto - also from my DT...
If everyone is ok after 3 weeks, are they fine to transfer? Or is it 6 weeks as recommended in other posts?
TIA,
Jason
 
emm0909

emm0909

Member
Three weeks should be fine. Just inspect them and when YOU feel comfortable then make the move. Now... I haven't ever learned the hard way but if you do then you'll know what not to do the next time.
I say three weeks and looking fine... make the transfer.
 
jasonmarc

jasonmarc

Member
Thanks Mike - I had read her posting, and that led me to wonder if 3 weeks without an indication was really sufficient, since I also read stuff from other (well respected on here) folks about the possibility of ich living for up to 6 weeks without hosting on a fish...
It would seem to me that if you were introducing a fish to a QT, you'd only possibly be introducing ich already attached to the fish, or possibly some from water clinging to the net as you transfer them. Regardless, if they go through a 3 week life cycle, then you'd see it in three weeks, if it's there, correct?
I guess my confusion is while I don't doubt the expertise of any of the folks whom I've referenced above, why would a tank need to lay fallow for 6 weeks, if 3 weeks is sufficient for observation for just 3?
Or am I thinking too much? I do that sometimes.....

Jason
 
michaeltx

michaeltx

Moderator
what it is if there is ich in a tank for to completely run its course is 6 weeks when you QT it will only take about 3 weeks to know. the ich pathagen has specific life cycle 2 of which are in the water column that being said once you accimlate it to the QT it will only take 1/2 that time to know if the ich irratant is present in the fish.
does that make more sense or did I confuse you more LOL
Mike
 
rudedog40

rudedog40

Member
Originally Posted by JasonMarc
Hi folks,
I have two fish in a 10 gal quarantine at the moment, and I'm seeing conflicting info on timeframes... can someone advise?
It's a 10gal w/HOT filter and small PH, PVC pipe, heater (of course) and a small sandwich-sized tupperware with aragonite and a pvc section in it for hiding with substrate (seeded with about a handful of sand from my DT) and a small chunk of chaeto - also from my DT...
If everyone is ok after 3 weeks, are they fine to transfer? Or is it 6 weeks as recommended in other posts?
TIA,
Jason

Are these the only two fish you have? Do you have any existing fish in your DT? Are these new fish you want to add to your DT, or are they fish that had evidence of ich on them, and you're doing a hypo? The three week QT isn't just to verify whether your fish have ich or not. It's to make sure any new fish you want to add to your DT are healthy, and they aren't carrying ANY type of disease. If these are two new fish, and you aren't doing hypo to them during their 3 week stay, they could possibly still be carrying ich even after the three weeks. If you're trying to make sure these two fish won't have ich, then you have to perform the hypo to be 100% sure for the three week period (as per the advise of the ich experts on this forum). The six weeks timeframe is based on the theory that the ich parasite needs a 'host' to attach to in order to survive. It has a total lifespan of six weeks if it has no host. So if you keep your tank 'fishless' for that period of time, the ich parasite should completely die off.
 
jasonmarc

jasonmarc

Member
Mike - nope - frighteningly enough, I followed you! You were confirming what I was thinking...
Rudedog - these are two new fish I just purchased. I have 2 in my DT now, and these are going to be the new neighbors. They've been in the QT for a whopping 3 days now. I know the DT is completely ich-free, as is the QT - at least until I put the newbies in there - now time will tell.
The DT was fishless for 6 weeks - the clowns went in, and now I have two new fish in the QT, so any signs of ich in the QT came in on the new guys...
Ok - I got it. I think!
Thanks for your help guys,
Jason
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
A bit off the subject; but it may help next time. Get a few extra filter pads for your HOT filter and keep one somewhere in your main system. Pop one into your QT filter next time you need it and you have a bacteria colony ready to go; instantly cycled tank. Toss the old filter media when thru.
 
jasonmarc

jasonmarc

Member
Hey SRFisher - I did that this time around too - just put it in the sump for a while, then put them in the QT along with 50% tank water... 50% new. This was while the clowns were being acclimated to DT.... cleaned out the AT top to bottom (it needed it) and started over. 3 days of 2 fish in QT and all levels are staying at 0.....
Thanks for the reinforcement!
Jason
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by JasonMarc
Hey SRFisher - I did that this time around too - just put it in the sump for a while, then put them in the QT along with 50% tank water... 50% new. This was while the clowns were being acclimated to DT.... cleaned out the AT top to bottom (it needed it) and started over. 3 days of 2 fish in QT and all levels are staying at 0.....
Thanks for the reinforcement!
Jason
Glad to hear it! You may get some nitrates showing up, but not enough to worry about. HOT filter media can easily handle ammonia and nitrite in a small tank and being able to have a QT up and ready, at a moments notice, is great insurance. You seem to be doing your homework. IMO, this is a hobby where you can read everything on the subject; but, because there are so few hard rules, the opinions and experiences shared on these forums is priceless. I'll be looking forward to hearing about your progress; and watch as you re-finance everything you own to support this most addicting (and rewarding) hobby!
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
3 weeks. Ich has a particular life cycle and its not going to live beyond that. It can not complete its life-cycle with the fish. 4 weeks is good for good measure and to factor in any uncertainties.
 
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