Medicat healthy fish in Quarantine tank

shluffer · 08/17/2009, 09:48 PM

I have a quarantine tank that I set up for any new fish I pick up. Should I be medicating the fish while they are in quarantine? If so,what should I medicate with?

Also, how long should I be keeping the new fish in the QT? I currently do 3 to 4 weeks.

Shane Hoffman · 08/17/2009, 11:04 PM

I dont medicate anything other than copper. Simply because any fish can have ich in its gills that cant be seen....other than that most other common diseases are visible.....with other diseases I dont treat without symptoms

shluffer · 08/18/2009, 07:03 AM

I'm thinking if I treat I would go with an anti bacterial / fungus and formalyn to treat possible ich. I see that you use copper, is it more affective than formalyn? copper makes me nervous since I may quaranteen iverts in the future and don't have a second setup.

Gwynhidwy · 08/18/2009, 07:04 AM

I try to wait until fish are eating well and behaving normally before treating for anything. I treat ALL fish with two rounds of praziquantel with a large water change in between. After that, if they appear healthy for 4-6 weeks, then I move them to the DT.

If at any point they show signs of disease, I move them to a hospital tank and treat accordingly. Once they are done with treatment and appear healthy they go back to the quarantine tank. If they appear healthy for 4-6 weeks after treatment, they go into the DT.

I used to treat with copper prophylactically, but I don't any more.

Gwynhidwy · 08/18/2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shluffer
I'm thinking if I treat I would go with an anti bacterial / fungus and formalyn to treat possible ich.

This is NOT an effective means or eradicating ich. Copper, I prefer Cupramine as I have found it to be the safest, or tank transfer method are the best choices in my opinion.

LobsterOfJustice · 08/18/2009, 07:16 AM

Lots of people treat with prazipro as well.

shluffer · 08/18/2009, 02:34 PM

What is the tank transfer method?

mcoomer · 08/18/2009, 03:04 PM

I have used Cupramine in the past but recently I've taken to keeping fish in the QT without meds. If they stay healthy and ich free for 3-4 weeks, off to the main tank they go. If they were to get sick I'd treat according to the symptoms. I wouldn't treat any fish unless it appeared to be sick.

Mike

shluffer · 08/18/2009, 05:03 PM

So my Foxface in quarantine in rubbing against the sides of the tank. He also seems a little stressed. What treatment would be appropriate, or is this normal behavior? He has been in the QT for a day.

mcoomer · 08/23/2009, 12:06 PM

Since it's been a few days now your fish has either calmed down and looks fine or hasn't. How's it doing?

shluffer · 08/23/2009, 12:19 PM

He seems ok but is still rather skittish.

He is eating. He takes flake food when I stand on the other side of the room. The nori I am putting in is going somewhere. I assume he is eating it.

He still looses all his color when I go near the tank. He has two white areas when he looses his color. I'm not convinced they are an issue since they go away when he regains his color.

I'm not sure what I can do other than wait and watch water quality.

I could be all of this is normal. I'm just not familiar enough with these guys to know.

I know that these guys eat marine algae. Do you know if they eat chaeto? I have some in my sump and wouldn't mind letting him have some. On the other hand, it won't be fun getting it out if he doesn't eat it.

Any advice is appreciated.

mcoomer · 08/23/2009, 12:29 PM

Keep sticking nori in there and keep the water parameters up and I think it will be fine. If all goes well you can move it to the main tank.

08/17/2009, 09:48 PM	#1
shluffer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 199	Medicat healthy fish in Quarantine tank I have a quarantine tank that I set up for any new fish I pick up. Should I be medicating the fish while they are in quarantine? If so,what should I medicate with? Also, how long should I be keeping the new fish in the QT? I currently do 3 to 4 weeks.

08/17/2009, 11:04 PM	#2
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	I dont medicate anything other than copper. Simply because any fish can have ich in its gills that cant be seen....other than that most other common diseases are visible.....with other diseases I dont treat without symptoms __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

08/18/2009, 07:04 AM	#4
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,511	I try to wait until fish are eating well and behaving normally before treating for anything. I treat ALL fish with two rounds of praziquantel with a large water change in between. After that, if they appear healthy for 4-6 weeks, then I move them to the DT. If at any point they show signs of disease, I move them to a hospital tank and treat accordingly. Once they are done with treatment and appear healthy they go back to the quarantine tank. If they appear healthy for 4-6 weeks after treatment, they go into the DT. I used to treat with copper prophylactically, but I don't any more. __________________ -- He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. -- Aeschylus

08/18/2009, 07:16 AM	#6
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Lots of people treat with prazipro as well. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

08/18/2009, 03:04 PM	#8
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	I have used Cupramine in the past but recently I've taken to keeping fish in the QT without meds. If they stay healthy and ich free for 3-4 weeks, off to the main tank they go. If they were to get sick I'd treat according to the symptoms. I wouldn't treat any fish unless it appeared to be sick. Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

08/18/2009, 07:03 AM	#3
shluffer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 199	I'm thinking if I treat I would go with an anti bacterial / fungus and formalyn to treat possible ich. I see that you use copper, is it more affective than formalyn? copper makes me nervous since I may quaranteen iverts in the future and don't have a second setup.

08/18/2009, 02:34 PM	#7
shluffer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 199	What is the tank transfer method?

08/18/2009, 05:03 PM	#9
shluffer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 199	So my Foxface in quarantine in rubbing against the sides of the tank. He also seems a little stressed. What treatment would be appropriate, or is this normal behavior? He has been in the QT for a day.

08/23/2009, 12:06 PM	#10
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	Since it's been a few days now your fish has either calmed down and looks fine or hasn't. How's it doing? __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

08/23/2009, 12:19 PM	#11
shluffer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 199	He seems ok but is still rather skittish. He is eating. He takes flake food when I stand on the other side of the room. The nori I am putting in is going somewhere. I assume he is eating it. He still looses all his color when I go near the tank. He has two white areas when he looses his color. I'm not convinced they are an issue since they go away when he regains his color. I'm not sure what I can do other than wait and watch water quality. I could be all of this is normal. I'm just not familiar enough with these guys to know. I know that these guys eat marine algae. Do you know if they eat chaeto? I have some in my sump and wouldn't mind letting him have some. On the other hand, it won't be fun getting it out if he doesn't eat it. Any advice is appreciated.

08/23/2009, 12:29 PM	#12
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	Keep sticking nori in there and keep the water parameters up and I think it will be fine. If all goes well you can move it to the main tank. __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors