Quarantine dilemma, what would you do?

Lotus99 · 01/08/2007, 12:52 AM

OK, so the quarantine tank is set up. It's currently seeding with a piece of LR, which will come out before any fish go in. It is barebottom.

Our first planned fish is a sand sifting goby (not sure which, depends on what the store has/can get). I understand they're more prone to ich than some other fish.

My dilemma is whether I should put sand in the quarantine and put the fish in there, or put it the fish straight in the display tank (where there's sand), and remove him if he gets ich (or something else). There are no other fish, so the worst that can happen is that we have to tear the tank down to get him out to treat him.

What would you do?

bertoni · 01/08/2007, 01:08 AM

The goby should be fine without sand. If the fish has ich, the tank will be infected with ich. That's not an issue if you're willing to wait eight weeks before buying other fish. Pulling apart the tank would be a lot of work. I'd go with the quarantine, but either way is feasible.

I would add some PVC tubes or the like to the quarantine tank, for hiding places.

kass03 · 01/08/2007, 01:26 AM

If it were me I'd rethink the first fish being a sandsifter. They usually do better with well established sandbeds. Just a thought.

I'd try something else first so the pod population can get built up and add a sandsifter later on. They also arent usually as hardy as some other fish for a first addition IMO.

kass

drummereef · 01/08/2007, 02:00 AM

I agree. Most die from jumping and/or starvation.

AllenFord_SC · 01/08/2007, 03:15 AM

I second Bertoni on placing some pipes in the QT for hiding. New fish are very skittish and pipes or even LR can help relax them.

kfowler · 01/08/2007, 07:21 AM

Just to check. What media are you using to "seed" your QT tank with your LR? Sponge filter?

billr · 01/08/2007, 07:27 AM

Tubes me in too.

Lotus99 · 01/08/2007, 08:24 AM

Thanks for the advice all. I was planning on putting some tubes in there, or possibly a plastic cave. I think I have both.

I have an Emperor filter on the Q tank (with bio-wheel). I was assuming that would work for bio-filtration. Any thoughts? It's a 10g Q tank.

I was hoping to get a goby that eats prepared food from the LFS (if they have one), but will rethink which fish to get first.

It's still a couple of weeks until I get the first fish, so there's time to think or change things around in the Q tank.

Sk8r · 01/08/2007, 09:43 AM

Actually blennies and gobies are fairly ich-resistent, just as an FYI: do qt, however. It's tangs, angels, and rabbits which are very ich-prone. Usually if a blenny or goby gets ich, the tank is absolutely infested with the parasite, the fish is sick from other causes, or the water quality is very low. But a strictly sand-sifting fish is not for a brand new tank. A yellow watchman goby will eat pellet food quite handily, or anything else he can catch, plus sift a little sand. A diamond goby, a much more energetic sand-sifter, would have trouble making a living in a well-established 50g.

Wrench · 01/08/2007, 10:22 AM

I have a diamond watchman goby and it eats everything from the water column. Brine, blackworms, flake, frozen it doesn't care. In fact, it rarely sifts the substrate as evidenced by the filth I have on the bottom of my tank :rollyeyes:

Lotus99 · 01/08/2007, 09:17 PM

Our stocking list isn't complete yet, but we do have some fish we definitely want. Of these, which would you recommend as a first fish (will do full quarantine):

Bangaii cardinals
Ocellaris clowns
Orchid dottyback

bertoni · 01/08/2007, 11:16 PM

Those are all reasonable choices.

ralphie16 · 01/09/2007, 08:24 AM

the bangaii are delicate fish. they spook easily and will not eat if stressed by other fish. i would put this species in first so it can establish itself peacefully.

01/08/2007, 12:52 AM	#1
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	Quarantine dilemma, what would you do? OK, so the quarantine tank is set up. It's currently seeding with a piece of LR, which will come out before any fish go in. It is barebottom. Our first planned fish is a sand sifting goby (not sure which, depends on what the store has/can get). I understand they're more prone to ich than some other fish. My dilemma is whether I should put sand in the quarantine and put the fish in there, or put it the fish straight in the display tank (where there's sand), and remove him if he gets ich (or something else). There are no other fish, so the worst that can happen is that we have to tear the tank down to get him out to treat him. What would you do? __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

01/08/2007, 01:08 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The goby should be fine without sand. If the fish has ich, the tank will be infected with ich. That's not an issue if you're willing to wait eight weeks before buying other fish. Pulling apart the tank would be a lot of work. I'd go with the quarantine, but either way is feasible. I would add some PVC tubes or the like to the quarantine tank, for hiding places. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/08/2007, 02:00 AM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I agree. Most die from jumping and/or starvation. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/08/2007, 03:15 AM	#5
AllenFord_SC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ridgeland, SC Posts: 703	I second Bertoni on placing some pipes in the QT for hiding. New fish are very skittish and pipes or even LR can help relax them. __________________ We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl..... Roger Waters, Pink Floyd Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Mixed, 55 Gallon sump, 35 gallon fuge

01/08/2007, 07:21 AM	#6
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	Just to check. What media are you using to "seed" your QT tank with your LR? Sponge filter? __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef

01/08/2007, 01:26 AM	#3
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	If it were me I'd rethink the first fish being a sandsifter. They usually do better with well established sandbeds. Just a thought. I'd try something else first so the pod population can get built up and add a sandsifter later on. They also arent usually as hardy as some other fish for a first addition IMO. kass

01/08/2007, 07:27 AM	#7
billr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 269	Tubes me in too.

01/08/2007, 08:24 AM	#8
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	Thanks for the advice all. I was planning on putting some tubes in there, or possibly a plastic cave. I think I have both. I have an Emperor filter on the Q tank (with bio-wheel). I was assuming that would work for bio-filtration. Any thoughts? It's a 10g Q tank. I was hoping to get a goby that eats prepared food from the LFS (if they have one), but will rethink which fish to get first. It's still a couple of weeks until I get the first fish, so there's time to think or change things around in the Q tank. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

01/08/2007, 09:43 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Actually blennies and gobies are fairly ich-resistent, just as an FYI: do qt, however. It's tangs, angels, and rabbits which are very ich-prone. Usually if a blenny or goby gets ich, the tank is absolutely infested with the parasite, the fish is sick from other causes, or the water quality is very low. But a strictly sand-sifting fish is not for a brand new tank. A yellow watchman goby will eat pellet food quite handily, or anything else he can catch, plus sift a little sand. A diamond goby, a much more energetic sand-sifter, would have trouble making a living in a well-established 50g. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/08/2007, 10:22 AM	#10
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	I have a diamond watchman goby and it eats everything from the water column. Brine, blackworms, flake, frozen it doesn't care. In fact, it rarely sifts the substrate as evidenced by the filth I have on the bottom of my tank :rollyeyes:

01/08/2007, 09:17 PM	#11
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	Our stocking list isn't complete yet, but we do have some fish we definitely want. Of these, which would you recommend as a first fish (will do full quarantine): Bangaii cardinals Ocellaris clowns Orchid dottyback __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

01/08/2007, 11:16 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Those are all reasonable choices. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/09/2007, 08:24 AM	#13
ralphie16 Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,550	the bangaii are delicate fish. they spook easily and will not eat if stressed by other fish. i would put this species in first so it can establish itself peacefully.