Quarintine for Corals

[al&burke]

As some of you know I have had some problems with ich in my 65 reef, since January I have had all my fish in an HT and my main tank fallow (if you would call it that). I don't want to go through this again since I have almost completed my upgrade. I understand QT for fish but am a little confused with corals - I don't want to bring anything bad into this system. So if you guys can help me out and probably others, what should I do. Or is there some good reading material you can suggest, thanks for now, Al

 

[btldreef]

I dip all SPS. LPS and zoanthids, I quarantine. You shouldn't QT corals in the same tank as your QT fish if you've ever used medication in that tank. Corals, snails, inverts can all carry ich for a short period of time. Usually dipping is enough, but it doesn't hurt to just QT them if you have the space and lighting available.

 

[al&burke]

Thanks TL - how long should the coral be in QT typically. Shrimp should be FWD as well?

 

[btldreef]

I don't FWD except for zoanthids. I use Coral Revive or Lugol's. Lately I've been using Melafix (yes, the fish med) after I was given the tip by the techs at Manhattan Aquariums. Rumor has it (and I have witnessed this), that it even kills red bugs and isn't as harsh on SPS as Lugol's can be. So far all my SPS that I dipped in Melafix as opposed to those in Lugol's are doing much better, so I may be permanently switching to Melafix as my dip, at least for SPS.
I do not dip inverts, just QT them. I usually QT them for 4 weeks. I know that technically ich can last for 6-8, but 4 is usually all I can wait. Rocks get a full 8 weeks, sometimes longer if I suspect evil hitchhikers.