QT to DT acclimation?

sn4265 · 07/12/2012, 07:13 AM

I'm curious what acclimation you go thru from the QT to the DT. I'm about to setup my first QT and I'm doing a LOT of research on how to have the best success with this. My intention is to end up at least with the QT water being the exact same water I use in the DT and at the same temp. Can I then feel safe to simply dump them straight from the QT to the DT or should I still drip acclimate for 30 minutes to an hour?

The temp and salinity should be the same between the two systems, but the PO4, NO3, NO2, Ca and Mg (since I run kalk) will obviously be different. Are these chemical differences enough to warrant a drip acclimation? I have no problem with drip acclimating, but I wonder if that process is going to be more stressful to the fish than the change to "cleaner" water with higher Ca & Mg?

Thanks in advance.

PS: Have I missed a thread on quarantine best practices? There seems to be a LOT of differences of opinion on this particular topic. Anyone know if there is a professional consensus on this topic?

sponger0 · 07/12/2012, 07:30 AM

I test both the DT and QT salinity. Drip for 20 min and then put the fish in. Never had an issue

MrTuskfish · 07/12/2012, 07:33 AM

You're right. there are many QT ideas, people go with what works. If temp, SG, & PH are very close; i just toss the fish in. the other stuff you're testing for doesn't matter to fish---no reason to test it in a QT. If you keep your DT parasite free, used DT water is ideal to use in a QT.

sn4265 · 07/12/2012, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

If you keep your DT parasite free, used DT water is ideal to use in a QT.

Thanks for anticipating that question. Is it safe to assume that the DT is parasite free if I have several healthy fish in there having no issues? I have some nuisance algaes that I'm trying to get rid of and at least a few Vermitids, but I don't think I have any harmful parasites. I assume that there is no way to actually test for parasites?

My thoughts for the QT setup was to put some kind of filter sponge in the sump for at least a couple weeks if not a month. Then to use the "waste" water from a DT water change as starter water in the QT tank. I'm still not entirely sure about the filter and flow requirements for the QT. I'm planning on a couple of PVC elbows, obviously a heater, and an eggcrate cover to keep potential jumpers where they belong.

I'm thinking of going the Cupramine and Praxipro route to treat incoming fish. I'm just really nervous about adding fish since we had a bad experience with ich that pretty much decimated the tank several months ago. Since that time we have recovered and have had healthy fish in there the last 6+ months. I worry because a couple fish survived the ich and have never left the DT. From what I've read, this means that I could still potentially have ich in the DT. I really want to get a tang or two but...

MrTuskfish · 07/12/2012, 09:35 AM

I think you're right, ich is a real possibility in your DT. it can stay invisible for months 9maybe longer); but will always reappear, if its there. The only way to completely eradicate a tank of ich is to leave it fishless for 9+ weeks. Nothing seems 100% certain when it comes to ich. But (IMO & IME), if ich re-appears after this time, something has gone wrong with the procedure. Cross-contamination, most likely. You may read stuff about newer, more resistant, strains of ich coming on the scene. Maybe, but I don't think the science confirms any of this. Unless your DT was fishless for at least 9 weeks; I would treat all of the fish in a QT and leave the DT fishless for the 9 weeks. I'll admit to being parasite-paranoid; but I've had 1000+ gals of ich-free DT space for many years. . You'll hear/read about tanks with ich that are doing just fine with low stress, diet, vitamins, and (of course) garlic. If folks want to keep their tanks that way, OK. But the ich will return, it always does.

sn4265 · 07/12/2012, 12:02 PM

Garlic??? Hmm. Looks like I need to do some more reading. Thanks.

sponger0 · 07/12/2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sn4265

Garlic??? Hmm. Looks like I need to do some more reading. Thanks.

Basically there is a theory by using garlic it boosts their immune system. And by boosting a fish's immune system it can make them be able to battle ich better. Some people have claimed this as working, but IMO I would much rather have an ich free tank. Cause Im sure you are still prone to ich outbreaks this way.

MrTuskfish · 07/12/2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sn4265

Garlic??? Hmm. Looks like I need to do some more reading. Thanks.

I hope you won't take the garlic cure seriously, although its a common myth. Garlic is a probable appetite enhancer, but does nothing to cure ich.

drktemplar · 07/12/2012, 02:21 PM

Don't acclimate more than 30 min.. once you start acclimating past that, ammonia starts to spike along with ph. It becomes deadly for the fish and after being in quarantine that long it'll die, and you'll never be able to enjoy it.

I shouldn't say don't acclimate more than 30 minutes but be careful. I lost fish this way when I first started. acclimating too long. I researched it online an found that out and read a few articles on here about it as well.

just my 2 cents.

As too garlic it is myth it stops Ich, no evidence at all. I use it as a flavor enhancement to entice my fish to eat. I get crushed garlic and add some juice to the food.

07/12/2012, 07:13 AM	#1
sn4265 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 570	QT to DT acclimation? I'm curious what acclimation you go thru from the QT to the DT. I'm about to setup my first QT and I'm doing a LOT of research on how to have the best success with this. My intention is to end up at least with the QT water being the exact same water I use in the DT and at the same temp. Can I then feel safe to simply dump them straight from the QT to the DT or should I still drip acclimate for 30 minutes to an hour? The temp and salinity should be the same between the two systems, but the PO4, NO3, NO2, Ca and Mg (since I run kalk) will obviously be different. Are these chemical differences enough to warrant a drip acclimation? I have no problem with drip acclimating, but I wonder if that process is going to be more stressful to the fish than the change to "cleaner" water with higher Ca & Mg? Thanks in advance. PS: Have I missed a thread on quarantine best practices? There seems to be a LOT of differences of opinion on this particular topic. Anyone know if there is a professional consensus on this topic? __________________ First saltwater tank setup 11/6/10: 80 lbs LS and 150 lbs LR, Aquamaxx EM200 skimmer & Phosban Reactor Photon 48 LED pH 8.0, Temp 78, NO3 ~0, Mg 1400, Ca 420, Alk 7.5 Current Tank Info: 120 gal with 40B sump with fuge, pair of black Occellaris Clowns, purple Firefish, Coral Banded Shrimp, Foxface

07/12/2012, 07:33 AM	#3
MrTuskfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Wild Blue Yonder Posts: 8,887	You're right. there are many QT ideas, people go with what works. If temp, SG, & PH are very close; i just toss the fish in. the other stuff you're testing for doesn't matter to fish---no reason to test it in a QT. If you keep your DT parasite free, used DT water is ideal to use in a QT. __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat. Steve Current Tank Info: 180, 2-240 FOWLRs, 240 reef

07/12/2012, 09:35 AM	#5
MrTuskfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Wild Blue Yonder Posts: 8,887	I think you're right, ich is a real possibility in your DT. it can stay invisible for months 9maybe longer); but will always reappear, if its there. The only way to completely eradicate a tank of ich is to leave it fishless for 9+ weeks. Nothing seems 100% certain when it comes to ich. But (IMO & IME), if ich re-appears after this time, something has gone wrong with the procedure. Cross-contamination, most likely. You may read stuff about newer, more resistant, strains of ich coming on the scene. Maybe, but I don't think the science confirms any of this. Unless your DT was fishless for at least 9 weeks; I would treat all of the fish in a QT and leave the DT fishless for the 9 weeks. I'll admit to being parasite-paranoid; but I've had 1000+ gals of ich-free DT space for many years. . You'll hear/read about tanks with ich that are doing just fine with low stress, diet, vitamins, and (of course) garlic. If folks want to keep their tanks that way, OK. But the ich will return, it always does. __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat. Steve Current Tank Info: 180, 2-240 FOWLRs, 240 reef

07/12/2012, 12:02 PM	#6
sn4265 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 570	Garlic??? Hmm. Looks like I need to do some more reading. Thanks. __________________ First saltwater tank setup 11/6/10: 80 lbs LS and 150 lbs LR, Aquamaxx EM200 skimmer & Phosban Reactor Photon 48 LED pH 8.0, Temp 78, NO3 ~0, Mg 1400, Ca 420, Alk 7.5 Current Tank Info: 120 gal with 40B sump with fuge, pair of black Occellaris Clowns, purple Firefish, Coral Banded Shrimp, Foxface

07/12/2012, 07:30 AM	#2
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	I test both the DT and QT salinity. Drip for 20 min and then put the fish in. Never had an issue

07/12/2012, 02:21 PM	#9
drktemplar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: maryland Posts: 56	Don't acclimate more than 30 min.. once you start acclimating past that, ammonia starts to spike along with ph. It becomes deadly for the fish and after being in quarantine that long it'll die, and you'll never be able to enjoy it. I shouldn't say don't acclimate more than 30 minutes but be careful. I lost fish this way when I first started. acclimating too long. I researched it online an found that out and read a few articles on here about it as well. just my 2 cents. As too garlic it is myth it stops Ich, no evidence at all. I use it as a flavor enhancement to entice my fish to eat. I get crushed garlic and add some juice to the food.