Quarintine Tank... Do you believe in it or not?

[reeferchief]

I have spoke to several hobbyists regarding QT tanks and also some of my local fish store owners and employees thoughts. The majority mainly don't believe a QT tank is neccessary. I guess the thought I am getting from most of them is it's your tank and if everythng is good then there's no reason for a QT tank and just let nature run it's course. Apparently setting up a QT is like playing doctor and attempting a 50/50 chance of being able to help a fish out or you risk "spooking" the fish more by QT'ing.
I personally don't QT anything and I had a powder brown tang that got ich which never harmed my DT. I believe if a fish is going to get sick it should be strong enough to fight it off naturally provided it has a good environment and good nutritious food. I want to know more hobbyists thoughts on QT.

 

[bang guy]

I do believe in using a QT. There are some diseases such as Brook that can devastate a tank. Even if the disease isn't contagious there is often no good way to remove a fish from a reef tank so it can be treated. Addin a fish to a QT first is absolutely more stressful that addit it directly to a DT. So it's true that it could make it more likely that the fish will develop symptoms. On the other hand, if it doesn't develop any symptoms after being stressed it's likely that it's disease free and if it does develop symptoms it's a whole lot easier to treat.

 

[travelerjp98]

IMO... if you have the materials and pace for one, it's dumb not to have one. Why risk introducing ich, velvet, etc, when you can avoid it? Now, I don't have a qt, and I regret it. It's like playing with fire....

 

[mr. limpid]

I hole heartily believe in QT for everything wet. My story: had hippo tang, naso tang, facula butterfly, porters angel, 2 percula clowns and lawnmower blenny (all where QT). I purchase 60lbs of live rock from LFS that was in his tanks, since the ride was 15 min I added right to my DT. With in 3 weeks all fish came down with ick. I lost all but the facula butterfly. Reason to have QT: fish stores do not have time to treat all new incoming fish; fish do not sit long at LFS; gives alone time for new fish (no harassment from other fish); can give personal attention (no competition for food); find out foods it will eat (get it to eat other foods); main reason, to see if it develops any problems (it is already isolated easy to treat). Note on QT, this tank should be as good as your DT (filtration and water quality).

 

[reeferchief]

I guess this is true but what if you QT then something comes out of no where or maybe from the water you use, then what do you do? Are you obligated at that point to keep QT'ing everything over again? To me it seems like a cycle that could be once or it could be never ending. So maybe you QT a fish and no symptoms for the 30 days, then you introduce to DT and few weeks later the fish you spent sooo much time and effort QT'ing contracts some kind of illness.
I'm just skeptical of treating a fish for something it may or may not even have. Like the old saying..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it"......... besides in the end GOD has the final say!

 

[bang guy]

God gave us free will for a reason.
And you're right, a QT is not a guarantee of a healthy fish. It reduced the odds of introducing a diseased fish dramatically though. I don't believe there are any contagious diseases that can come out of nowhere though.

 

[reeferchief]

After reading about Jack's statement it makes sense in the aspect of feeding and harassment. What kind of treatment is used in QT's if any? Also if the fish is in QT by itself and adjusting nicely, then what's to guarantee that once introduced to the Dt that it will not feel stressed and display a disease, let's say ich since it's a common disease?

 

[mr. limpid]

First I would like to say thanks "Jack's statement it makes sense", yes when the med's ware off I make sense, LOL. As for your question, if after 3 to 4 weeks in QT and all is well eating good no signs of any fiscal problems, it is safe to say (99.9%) fish is free of any disease. As for your DT this should already be free of any diseases. And as for stress, that will still happen from the others in the DT, but after the time in QT it would be strong enough to handle it.

 

[reeferchief]

The reason I am asking all this is because I recently got a Blue Hippo, which was not my choice but I was overruled by the lady. I was so paranoid of it contracting ich which a Hippo is notorious for. Sure enough it appears ich is beginning and after much research and talking to people a hippo can naturally fight this off with good food and a clean environment. Still paranoies the crap outta me either way. So essentially keeping the hippo QT'd for several weeks it may contract ich still but in the end it makes this fish more aware of it's surroundings and in the end less stressed when added to a DT.
However while in the QT, from the beginning day, should a fish be medicated or only observed...then medicate if needed?
All this info is good and opening my mind to a different side of things.

 

[mr. limpid]

First all tangs are acceptable to getting ick because there slim coat is thin. As for fighting off ick since we have closed systems most fish will get ick, in the ocean if a fish gets ick after its matures and falls off that particular fish can be miles away b4 the ick turns into its free swimming stage. But in our tanks it can not escape and the same fish will get reinfected. "However while in the QT, from the beginning day, should a fish be medicated or only observed...then medicate if needed?" This is your choice some people hypo right away others wait to see (I wait to see). If you use copper I suggest waiting to see (why put them threw that unless necessary).

 

[kiefers]

I believe!!!

 

[mr. limpid]

Welcome my son (you are male?) to the church of Limpid. LOL

 

[smallreef]

I believe in Quarantining IF you have an established system you are adding too.. If you arent going to add anything then you dont need one HAHAHA
Like any of us aren't going to add ANYTHING after we set it up the first time... just saying.. its cheaper to run a 10g tank than kill everything (or even one well established fish youv'e had for 4 years) ...Most people could fit a 10g QT tank under their stand..

 

[saxman]

We're firm believers...even tho Scorpaeniformes are pretty disease-resistant, they still get sick, some more likely than others. Our QT's are pretty much set up as "mini DT's" as most of these fish require substrate or LR to hide in, esp. newbies. Another thing we do during QT is get the fish conditioned and eating, then wean them over to frozen. At that point, we will either place them in their target tank, or leave them in the QT if they have some growing to do (so they won't be eaten).
I learned my lesson the hard way...had a yellow tang wipe out most of my fish in a reef setup due to ******...
Ask the guy who has a dozen setups running at any given time if he believes in QT's...

 

[mr. limpid]

The last part of your statement is so true Saxman. you don't have to believe in QT put you will in time.

 

[reeferchief]

So far the verdict here seems to be QT. Either the owners/employees of the fish store honestly don't believe in one or they are just trying to make some money...

 

[luvmyreef]

Yes, you should QT all new fish and coral. I agree with saxman. It is a good time to get the fish eating, etc. I have had ick wipe out 5 of my fish, and only 4 others survived. And as far as QTing corals, that is a definite too. I have bought frags with flatworms, red bugs, etc and if they weren't placed in QT my main tank would be infected. Better safe then sorry..

 

[mr. limpid]

"just trying to make some money..." you hit the nail on the head, if your fish lives that can't sell you another. When I first started 30 years ago I would buy a fish a week. I'm ashamed to say how many went down the drain, literally.

But back then we didn't the resources we do today, had to depend on the stores advise or others we met at the store. So today when I hear bad advise from LFS given to people I tell them of this site and say research b4 you flush your money down the toilet.

 

[florida joe]

A little discussed reason for a QT is that it gives the hobbyist a chance to evaluate his new addition from a stand point of “was this just an impulse buy” do I really want this fish or coral ? Have I done my homework on keeping it? If the answer is no and you want to return it is much easier to remove a fish from a QT then it is from a DT especially if it’s a larger gallon reef tank

 

[slice]

I will, in the next week or two for the first time, quarantine a fish (Flame Angel). This will also be the first online buy; I have 'till now bought only from an LFS that either hypos or low-level coppers their fish before offering for purchase.
When I mentioned my intentions during my last visit there, they suggested keeping the angel in quarantine for at least a month to make sure it eagerly eats and gets used to frozen foods before releasing it into my reef tank.
That sounded like a very good idea. Hopefully it will not view my coral as a buffet.