Can EVERYONE Quarantine New Fish & Corals? Are their viable reasons not to QT?

[NancyFish]

I can't due to lack of space and mother not wanting "another tank"

We put our 10g hospital tank in the bathroom, all the wires are hideous. And extra gear having to buy. One thing someone said to me after is — if you don’t quarantine, think about the cost of your fish vs the cost and time to quarantine.. if the fish aren’t that expensive comparatively to begin with you may just be incurring another cost and nuisance for the idea of doing something proper.

 

[randomfishdude]

We put our 10g hospital tank in the bathroom, all the wires are hideous. And extra gear having to buy. One thing someone said to me after is — if you don’t quarantine, think about the cost of your fish vs the cost and time to quarantine.. if the fish aren’t that expensive comparatively to begin with you may just be incurring another cost and nuisance for the idea of doing something proper.

I've used in tank solutions however and was very successful.

 

[Paul B]

Do you not quarantine everything, or just fish? I’m already questioning if I want to quarantine coral for a brand new tank since QT for the two little clowns was 0 fun.

I don't quarantine anything.

 

[kenchilada]

very large tank decorated just like your normal reef with natural hiding places, not PVC fittings

A few years ago when I redid the aquascape in my 250G, I read one of your usual posts villainizing PVC fittings. I stacked live rock on one side the tank and stacked various PVC fittings (1.5”-4”) on the other. All the fish treated both halves the same. After a few days half the fish slept in the PVC pipes and half used the rock caves.

I have no comment on your methods but I find your hated for PVC pipes intriguing. Do you own stock in a galvanized pipe manufacturer? How do you feel towards PEX?

 

[Naekuh]

I do full QT on only Tangs... Chromis... anthias..
However i still lose when it comes to a PBT getting ich.

Everything else, i ive had for so long, and has gone though a lot of stressful moments, that if they had ich, the fish would of shown signs of it a long time ago.

If i get a new fish like a wrasse, i probably wont QT it, as i know some wrasses are not the best to go though QT.
Although i don't have any, as the last one i had managed to jump out of a near impossible hole and end up on top of my lid.

 

[kenchilada]

I do full QT on only Tangs... Chromis... anthias..

What do you think this accomplishes?

 

[LPS Bum]

Many years ago I lost every fish in my 240 FOWLR to a Velvet wipeout. It was awful.

Since then, I have QT'd every fish (probably 50 total between my 3 tanks) in a 29 gal basement system (with Copper Power) before adding to my FOWLR or reef tanks. The only exception being a Mandarin that I bought from Divers Den, because I've heard they don't tolerate copper well. Haven't had a disease outbreak since.

 

[NancyFish]

I don't quarantine anything.

What’s the biggest problem you encountered?

 

[Paul B]

What’s the biggest problem you encountered?

Biggest problem with what? None of my fish have ever died of a communicable disease in over 40 years. There is no problem but you have to know how to keep your fish immune and not to just throw them in any tank that is not set up properly to be immune.

 

[tzabor10]

I only QT to get the fish fattened up. Get them used to me, my food and cleaning habits. Low social stress. No meds. After 3 weeks they are happy and healthy. I believe this allows them to get acclimated to the display tank without starving. It’s worked well

 

[Glowurm]

100% QT since i set up my main display tank 3 months ago, currently have 5 Chromis zooming around in my 10 gallon! I don't medicate, preventive medicine is for OAPs.

Haven't QT inverts as my LFS run there critters in dedicated tanks, so i feel the risk is minimal. Dip my corals but TBH i don't have the room to run a separate tank (and my other half would get incredible suspicious as to just how much i'm spending).

 

[Paul B]

I have no comment on your methods but I find your hated for PVC pipes intriguing. Do you own stock in a galvanized pipe manufacturer? How do you feel towards PEX?

I love PEX and PVC. Just not in a fish tank. PVC does not naturally grow in the sea and fish are afraid of anything stark white and smooth. In a tank they have no choice but to hide in anything available but I am quite sure it scares the moose out of them.

 

[corosato]

I decided to cheat and only buy fish shipped directly from aquaculture...it limits my options but everything arrived super healthy and have been thriving. But I know I don't really have room to set up a QT tank and while I know inverts/corals had a chance to ruin it I've kinda reached the point where I just want things to grow and be steady for a while. If I figure out where to put a bigger tank eventually I will probably have to rethink all this.

 

[GARRIGA]

Biggest problem with what? None of my fish have ever died of a communicable disease in over 40 years. There is no problem but you have to know how to keep your fish immune and not to just throw them in any tank that is not set up properly to be immune.

Your approach how I've kept reptiles past 30 plus years. Nature has bad bugs too. Just not cramped but then we have other means to resolve that. Hobby has forgotten about DE filters yet we now have micron filter relative to that we want managed. Problem is most seek eradication which I keep thinking back to how futile that likely is. Every snail and frag likely vector of bad bugs, too. Time to setup an earthworm factory plus grandson will enjoy catching local gills and baby bass.

 

[GARRIGA]

I love PEX and PVC. Just not in a fish tank. PVC does not naturally grow in the sea and fish are afraid of anything stark white and smooth. In a tank they have no choice but to hide in anything available but I am quite sure it scares the moose out of them.

Schedule 80 perhaps

 

[SimbaAnto]

I have a QT setup and I do earlier but not anymore . I just get QT fish from reliable sources or Fish from Fellow reefers from their display.

 

[Dburr1014]

I love PEX and PVC. Just not in a fish tank. PVC does not naturally grow in the sea and fish are afraid of anything stark white and smooth. In a tank they have no choice but to hide in anything available but I am quite sure it scares the moose out of them.

Certainly pvc can't be as bad as a hammer. LOL

Post in thread 'Why don't algae control writers/advisors do live time work threads in the nuisance algae forum?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...he-nuisance-algae-forum.1034469/post-12271720

 

[kenchilada]

Certainly pvc can't be as bad as a hammer. LOL

Post in thread 'Why don't algae control writers/advisors do live time work threads in the nuisance algae forum?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...he-nuisance-algae-forum.1034469/post-12271720

My fish eat nori attached to PVC pipe every day and don’t seem afraid. Also knew a chinese restaurant that had fish at least 10 years old that had nothing but neon pink and orange plastic plants. No hammers though. I guess everyone has their weird theories in this hobby they get stuck on.

 

[JayM]

Yes. Everyone can quarantine. For many, if not most of us, a 10 or 20 gallon tank with an HOB a heater and maybe an air pump and stone is all that’s needed. It’s only a couple of square feet. Not many people don’t have that much space somewhere.

I have mine set up on a counter in the garage, though it’s likely too hot to use July through September. Aside from consumables, I’m all-in at about $75. The hardest part for me is waiting to put livestock in the DT.

I’m not entirely sure there’s any non-anecdotal evidence to not QT, but there’s obviously many successful hobbyists that don’t. My personal opinion is that it’s a good idea at least until you have a very well established tank.

 

[Dierks]

I QT all my Fish but that is it. If you aren't going to QT I highly suggest having some sort of backup plan at least in place for that "Oh Crap Moment" if you are unlucky enough to have it. Something you can have up and running within 24 hours that can house all your fish.