Quarantine - TO or NOT TO?

[nitrex]

I am relatively new to this board so if this topic has been beaten to death, then I am sorry, I feel like beating it a little more.
I see so many post about how people all of sudden are losing all of their fish even though all their water paramters are solid - It's called a parasite and I'd be willing to bet that 99% of those who are loosing tankfuls of fish don't quarantine.
I have one question that is two parts for everyone....
1) How old is your oldest fish and do you qurantine?
The bottom line is that whenever you buy a fish from your LFS, more than likely (like over 90%) it has some type of parasite coming along for the ride to make your life miserable. I was once a victim of this stupidity myself-not assuming that every fish I bought had a parasite. We all probably make this mistake when we first start out in this hobby. I think it is probably one of the most important lessons all saltwater aquarists must first learn before they can be successful.
I quaratine for at least three weeks always. However about two months ago, for the first time in over 6 years, I failed to qurantine just once and I lost my seven year old tomato clown...needless to say, I knew better, but I thought I could get away with it just once...Yeah right
Anyways, I hope this helps save some fish and everyone money. <img src="graemlins//freak.gif" border="0" alt="[freak]" />

 

[kris walker]

Then there are stupid people like me who don't have a quarantine tank because they have no space for one.
BTW, if lfs fish are ridden with parasites, and you simply quarantine them, you are not getting rid of the parasites. You need to quarntine with hyposalinity or copper. I know you both meant this, but just wanted to make sure it was said.
EDIT: I actually don't have fish anymore because, in part, I don't have space for a quarantine tank.
sam

 

[whipple]

I quaritine everything i buy and atleast for three weeks. By that time they will show signs of the problem they contian. If they have any problems they start to receive HYPO till they are clean.

[hr]
Bill

 

[kris walker]

But why wait 3 weeks before problems may or may not show up? If you use maracyn-two along with hypo, why not do it from the beginning? It would save you time. But more importantly, it is safer because a parasite will not necessarily show up in 3 weeks in QT and so you could still introduce it into your tank unless you treat from day one.
sam

 

[bigred]

What happens if the lfs I go to has copper in his tank he keeps the fish in?

 

[jakob4001]

if you have the time, $$$, space...then yes, you should have a Q tank; like some people, I just want to try things out or just add & hope for the best; HOWEVER, do try to "buy smart" at least...does it look healthy, do I trust this LFS or online retailer, preferably have I witnessed it eating, what is it's behavior, will it make a good addition to the tank in respect to does my tank specs accommadate it...

 

[sheni_angel]

I'm new at this too and I do want to quarantine all my fish as I gradually get them. What's a proper quarantine set up? Thanks alot.

 

[scott270]

i would also like to know what i would need for a q tank

 

[jester]

A proper Qt:
An absoulte min of 10 ga tank. 20-30 is preferred
heater
bio filter
pvc tube (provides hiding)
ABSOULTY no substrate (CC,LS/LR)
Always keep it running. A properly cycled qt is important. If you don't, and set it up in an emergency, the cycle of it can kill the already ailing fish.
Hope this helps.
It is just a small version of the main tank.

 

[sheni_angel]

Thanks for answering that. It's nice to know, that's an area I really haven't researched yet.