How long does quarantine need to be set up before introducing fish?

Sean16420 · 09/05/2011, 10:18 PM

Setting up a 30 gallon quarantine tank and just wondering how long I need to wait before adding fish to it. I have a Fullbar clownfish that has been suffering from some sort of fungus for the last month. Still eating vigorously but nothing I do seems to be helping. Bifuran dips, freshwater dips, nothing works. So I'm setting up a tank just for him. How long should I wait before adding him to the tank. It will be completelly bare.

sporto0 · 09/05/2011, 10:31 PM

No waiting, put him in & start treating, you should monitor ammonia levels & do water changes accordingly. Typically QT & Hospital tanks don't require cycling unless you plan to keep a fish in there permanently.

Sean16420 · 09/05/2011, 10:40 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. Should have enough water mixed and ready to start treating tomorrow morning

sporto0 · 09/05/2011, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean16420

Thanks for the quick reply. Should have enough water mixed and ready to start treating tomorrow morning

Ready for what? Adding medication won't produce ammonia, only food & waste will, I would not feed more than once a week during treatment, this will keep your water changes at a minimum, however you must monitor ammonia levels everyday, that will kill your fish faster than any disease. Freshly mixed saltwater only needs a couple of hours before use. You're welcome & good luck.

pwreef · 09/06/2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporto0

would not feed more than once a week during treatment

Good thing they don't have rules like that at the people hospital.

Ron Reefman · 09/06/2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwreef

Good thing they don't have rules like that at the people hospital.

It depends what you are sick with.

ZR1001 · 09/07/2011, 03:59 PM

Use water from your display tank and you can start the QT right away.

00Warpig00 · 09/07/2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZR1001

Use water from your display tank and you can start the QT right away.

Also will give you a reason to change some water in your DT. a win/win

Nick

sporto0 · 09/07/2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZR1001

Use water from your display tank and you can start the QT right away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00Warpig00

Also will give you a reason to change some water in your DT. a win/win

Nick

That is not good advice, your water from the display is old & is more likely to have trace amounts of ammonia in it, you will not transfer any beneficial bacteria from water, they colonize on surfaces in your tank, i.e. Live Rock, Bio-Media, sponges or the glass surface itself. It is always better to use freshly mixed saltwater (mixed for at least 2hrs) for a QT.

Korrine · 09/08/2011, 07:45 AM

You might be able to use Prime, depending on what you are using to treat the fish. Do a search on Prime here on RC.

Hoyden · 09/08/2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporto0

I would not feed more than once a week...

If your fish will eat during treatment, it should be fed daily. Starving an already weakened fish is not a good idea. Feed only what the fish will eat, siphon out any uneaten food and do water changes as needed.

Korrine · 09/09/2011, 06:35 AM

If you can get them eating pellets you can just drop a pellet or 2 in a time to be sure they eat it. Then you won't have to siphon out food.

Uncle Salty 05 · 09/09/2011, 06:50 AM

It would be best to put a small power filter on the tank and cycle it with a shrimp like you would any other tank.
If you have an established biological filter on the tank the fish will not be subjected to ammonia and will have a much better chance of survival.

ZR1001 · 09/09/2011, 09:29 AM

If your fish has fungus, you'll need to treat it with some sort of antibiotic which will destroy your biological filter. Therefore, cycling won't do you much good. Feed PE mysis shrimp and siphon all detritus regularly to prevent ammonia spike.

Uncle Salty 05 · 09/09/2011, 09:35 AM

Antibiotics will knock back some of your bacteria, but will not eliminate all of them. (depending on the antibiotic - gram negative or gram positive)

sporto0 · 09/09/2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoyden

If your fish will eat during treatment, it should be fed daily. Starving an already weakened fish is not a good idea. Feed only what the fish will eat, siphon out any uneaten food and do water changes as needed.

Well, National Fish Pharmaceuticals & I would disagree with you, in fact they state they do not feed their fish while being medicated for up to 28 days. The fish isn't starving & the added ammonia will kill fish faster than any disease or parasite will.

09/05/2011, 10:18 PM	#1
Sean16420 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sarnia, Ont Posts: 138	How long does quarantine need to be set up before introducing fish? Setting up a 30 gallon quarantine tank and just wondering how long I need to wait before adding fish to it. I have a Fullbar clownfish that has been suffering from some sort of fungus for the last month. Still eating vigorously but nothing I do seems to be helping. Bifuran dips, freshwater dips, nothing works. So I'm setting up a tank just for him. How long should I wait before adding him to the tank. It will be completelly bare.

09/08/2011, 07:45 AM	#10
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	You might be able to use Prime, depending on what you are using to treat the fish. Do a search on Prime here on RC. __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

09/09/2011, 06:35 AM	#12
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	If you can get them eating pellets you can just drop a pellet or 2 in a time to be sure they eat it. Then you won't have to siphon out food. __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

09/09/2011, 06:50 AM	#13
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	It would be best to put a small power filter on the tank and cycle it with a shrimp like you would any other tank. If you have an established biological filter on the tank the fish will not be subjected to ammonia and will have a much better chance of survival. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

09/09/2011, 09:35 AM	#15
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Antibiotics will knock back some of your bacteria, but will not eliminate all of them. (depending on the antibiotic - gram negative or gram positive) __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

09/05/2011, 10:31 PM	#2
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	No waiting, put him in & start treating, you should monitor ammonia levels & do water changes accordingly. Typically QT & Hospital tanks don't require cycling unless you plan to keep a fish in there permanently.

09/05/2011, 10:40 PM	#3
Sean16420 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sarnia, Ont Posts: 138	Thanks for the quick reply. Should have enough water mixed and ready to start treating tomorrow morning

09/07/2011, 03:59 PM	#7
ZR1001 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 359	Use water from your display tank and you can start the QT right away.

09/09/2011, 09:29 AM	#14
ZR1001 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 359	If your fish has fungus, you'll need to treat it with some sort of antibiotic which will destroy your biological filter. Therefore, cycling won't do you much good. Feed PE mysis shrimp and siphon all detritus regularly to prevent ammonia spike.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Setting up a QT tank?	b0bab0ey	Fish Disease Treatment	3	01/12/2012 07:01 PM
How long before re-introducing fish in DT?	CanhMan	Fish Disease Treatment	13	06/29/2011 01:20 PM
How long to quarantine new fish for ich.	downhillbiker	Reef Discussion	8	03/30/2008 02:35 PM
How long to quarantine?	marino420td	Reef Discussion	2	07/20/2006 12:40 PM
How long to quarantine?	colettem	New to the Hobby	7	02/14/2006 08:18 PM