Get a new fish? Thinking of getting a new fish? READ THIS^^^

[Zack]

Get a new fish? Thinking of getting a new fish? READ THIS^^^^^^^
PLEASE READ!!!

I have seen an occurrence all to common in our hobby today where people go out or order online a new fish for their tank. It can be a great feeling, believe me I know it. There is one thing that is just so key with a new fish and that is you must quarantine your fish!!!

You may wonder, "Hmm, what does that really mean?" Well what I am talking about is setting up a quarantine tank like maybe you have a 20-gallon just hanging out in the basement or something. What you can do is set that up with a little rock and a good PCV pipe for fish to hide and such. Put a power head in and maybe a hang on filter. Nothing to fancy at all. This will allow you to have a place to put new fish and sick ones as well.

By having this quarantine tank you will be able to offer a place for sick fish to get treatment or just so they don't infect other fish. Many people will place a new fish right in the main tank without quarantine it and they will just plain out die and take some other fish with them. This is key for you so that does not happen. As well in this tank you can treat it with copper or other chemicals that can't be in your main display tank.

I really hope this is able to help some people and that you seriously consider this idea. Please ask ?'s if you have.

Your concerned reefer,
Zack

[Finess]

Isn't there a chance that when you treat the QT with copper based meds that when you introduce the fish to the MT that you will also be introducing copper into it?

[miztahphong2]

i thought i heard that qt tanks werent good? i guess like everything else there are other opinions and ups and downs to everything!

[jman785]

Finess,

There is not a threat if copper treatment has been performed properly.

miztahphong2,

Although you are correct about many opinions and what is good and what's not...but in the quaratine case, this simply isn't an issue. I'd like to see where you've seen they are harmful or 'not good' because this simply is just not true. They are simply 'hospital' tanks and used to 'quarantine' new fish. Even MAJOR aquariums quaratine fish and have sick tanks for fish. But if you still think this, please show me some reference topics or something to read up on it because I'd be really interested in reading such an article.

[OceanMaster]

Yea I work in a public aquarium and before putting any fish into one of our tanks we do a lengthy quarantine of up to a few months for fish straight from the wild and down to one month for captive fish (i.e. from another aquairum). When you have thousands upon thousands of dollars of livestock you have to be very cautious not to introduce anything unwanted...but on the personal level a couple of weeks to see if any disease pops up is sufficient.

Once you get pyrimid snails, red acro bugs or some other nasty...that QT tank will be worth its weight in gold! In a QT tank you have lots of options to treat such an issue in the main display your pretty much in a hurt locker...

After investing a couple of thousand dollars (or more) in your display tanks live stock, live sand, and live rock....are you ready to risk it all?

[shellydp34]

Do you leave the QT up and running all the time? I mean if you only purchase a new fish every 4 or 5 months, then it seems like a lot of upkeep to run the QT the entire time.

Or do you dry it out each time and the get it going a week or so before you plan a new purchase?

[OceanMaster]

You can do it either way. If you leave it up and running, throwing a piece of shrimp or silverside in there will maintain a foodsource for the bacteria and decrease the cycle when you go to use it. If you dry it out and set it up before each use, keep an eye on your water quality and do water changes as necessary. You obviously don't want to subject the fish to a cycle from a newly set-up tank.

[TOGA]

i think this was a great post i am setting me up one

[marshalrckman]

I wouldnt suggest drying it out after each use.One:Its to much trouble.
Two:If you still have a main tank,and your just dried out your QT,and say...one of your tangs git dropsy syndrom,your screwed,you dont have place to QT the sick fish and it will die.The QT isnt just for having a hospital,but lets say your main tank has a major leak or crack,maybe your filter died,Ah ha you have a QT that just saved you several thousands of $'s in live stock.So in the longrun i would say that having a QT is an extremely wise investment.
I have a QT as well,and it was one of the smartest things(as a reefer)that i have done! :)

[Mako8500]

:bustin: GO QT GO QT GO GO GO GO QT in the house GOTTA LOVEIM!!!!!