Do you Quarantine your corals? If so, how?

khanb31 · 07/16/2008, 07:49 PM

Hello hello,

I just recently got a bit of ich in my display from a coral i brought in. specifically monti. SO, whilest my fish are in the QT for 6 weeks, I can setup a QT for my corals. I know a QT for the fish is standard and makes EVERYTHING easier, however I just never heard of a QT for corals.

How does everyone go about doing this? Are there dips available? How long should I have them in there? What type of lights are OK for a QT for corals?

Thoughts? Suggestions? PICS?!?!?!

Thanks a bunch,

Jim

MMM33732 · 07/16/2008, 08:02 PM

I never QT corals, But I do dip any zoas or stony corals. There are a few commercial iodine dips out there made specifically for corals. Just follow the instructions on any of them.

unbreakable · 07/16/2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MMM33732
I never QT corals, But I do dip any zoas or stony corals. There are a few commercial iodine dips out there made specifically for corals. Just follow the instructions on any of them.

can all corals be dipped in iodine? softies, zoanthids, LPS?

MMM33732 · 07/16/2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nietzsche
can all corals be dipped in iodine? softies, zoanthids, LPS?

Yes all corals can be dipped (soft and stony), but I'm not talking about straight iodine or anything, I'm referring to the coral specific iodine dips that are commercially available. I believe there is a home made recipe out there using Lugol's iodine for a dip if you don't want to buy a commercial product. I just don't personally trust dips that aren't formulated by an experienced company. Anyways, do a search and I'm sure you'll find it.

khanb31 · 07/16/2008, 08:59 PM

Why specifically iodine? Why not just fresh RO/DI dips? Do those work as well?

Slakker · 07/16/2008, 09:30 PM

I quarantine all corals for 4 weeks to reduce the likelihood of transferring parasites or pests to my other inhabitants. No sense in getting all of your fish sick by adding a coral that has a few Ich tomonts encysted on the rock/plug, or introducing flatworms/pyram snails/red bugs/others into your tank to wreak havoc on your previously healthy and happy inhabitants.

khanb31 · 07/17/2008, 12:24 AM

alright, well what does your setup look like? is it just as basic as a fish QT? Do you do anything to help prevent or kill unknown parasites?

tedca · 07/17/2008, 06:54 AM

IÂ´m eager to see some pics of a sps QT!
Anyone have ideas of how to build a 40liter/10g QT? What lightsourse to use and so on..

unbreakable · 07/17/2008, 07:04 AM

i have TMPCC that ive had but never used it. it says touse 1 ml per 200ml of saltwater (in its own container seperate from the tank) and dip it for 10-15 min

abulgin · 07/17/2008, 07:17 AM

I don't QT corals and similarly dip them in a bath of system water and an iodine product called MediCoral from Brightwell Aquatics. Once the dip is finished, I swirl them vigorously upside down to knock off any trapped debris, etc. I know this isn't a guaranty, but I don't have room for both a fish QT and a coral QT. I know that some people dip in freshwater instead of system water.

To the person that asked about dipping corals in RO/DI water . . . you should never dip anything in RO/DI water--always use pH adjusted, dechlorinated tap water. RO/DI water is totally demineralized, totally saturated with CO2. Not good for animals.

Amoore311 · 07/17/2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

i have TMPCC that ive had but never used it

I know some people swear by this stuff. TMPCC is serious stuff to be dipping corals in. Just be careful with the dosage.

I don't dip softies in anything but Fresh water, if I dip them at all. I usually visually inspect the piece I'm getting first. If it's coming from someone I don't know then it gets Flat Worm exit and a fresh water dip.

If its coming from a tank I know then it just gets Flatworm exit if I don't see anything visually.

discocarp · 07/17/2008, 07:23 AM

I qtank corals for 2 months. That's 2 months after the LAST addition. I usually add corals in batches. The qtank is basically a full reef setup, but with no fish.

I've qt'd corals in as simple a setup as a bare tank with a single small piece of liverock w/ lights, heater, and powerheads. It doesn't take much.

tedca · 07/17/2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by discocarp

I've qt'd corals in as simple a setup as a bare tank with a single small piece of liverock w/ lights, heater, and powerheads. It doesn't take much.

Any suggestions of light setup for a small tank? Will pc lightning be enough for QT, just for survival not growth?
Will be using a 40x30x30cm tank

I also dip my sps in TMPCC but that only knocks the aefw out it does not effect the eggs.
Du you guys also remove the fragstone to prevent eggs to follow, or just check it with a magnification glass?

discocarp · 07/17/2008, 08:48 AM

I've qt'd sps for 2 months under 2 pcs. Use a shallow tank. They WILL brown out with that lighting, but that's the only issue (and they color back up fine in the display tank). It helps to put the sps on a rack higher in the tank (closer to the lights).

I don't usually remove the plug or rock. I just inspect frequently during the quarantine period. I'm mostly doing lps these days (hurricane charley wiped out my sps and I switched to mostly lps), so others will be able to give better advice on exact sps procedures.

khanb31 · 07/17/2008, 05:46 PM

Man its too bad most people dont really deal with the QT for the corals. Im kind of surprised.

I got ich from two frags of montipora (no rock or plugs too....). I gave them a system water flush and a good scrubbing with a toothbrush. I was pretty ****ed about it when i saw my two clowns had spots and thats why im asking about the whole QT for corals.

I guess Ill just have to have myself a QT for corals and ALOT of patience.

Ill check out those dips as well.

07/16/2008, 07:49 PM	#1
khanb31 SLim Jim Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Near Ohare, Des Plaines 60016 Posts: 1,096	Do you Quarantine your corals? If so, how? Hello hello, I just recently got a bit of ich in my display from a coral i brought in. specifically monti. SO, whilest my fish are in the QT for 6 weeks, I can setup a QT for my corals. I know a QT for the fish is standard and makes EVERYTHING easier, however I just never heard of a QT for corals. How does everyone go about doing this? Are there dips available? How long should I have them in there? What type of lights are OK for a QT for corals? Thoughts? Suggestions? PICS?!?!?! Thanks a bunch, Jim __________________ I got the fish down pat....but those corals are tricky! Current Tank Info: DIY 120 Gallon 68"L x 30"W x 15.5"T Starfire Rimless - 75 Gal Sump, K2 Cone skimmer, 20gal Coral QT, 10 gal Fish QT, 8 bulb T5 Tek Fixture - 3 ATI Blue+, 3 ATI Blue Special, 2 Fiji Purple, 12 cool white/12 Royal Blue 3W LED's.

07/16/2008, 08:59 PM	#5
khanb31 SLim Jim Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Near Ohare, Des Plaines 60016 Posts: 1,096	Why specifically iodine? Why not just fresh RO/DI dips? Do those work as well? __________________ I got the fish down pat....but those corals are tricky! Current Tank Info: DIY 120 Gallon 68"L x 30"W x 15.5"T Starfire Rimless - 75 Gal Sump, K2 Cone skimmer, 20gal Coral QT, 10 gal Fish QT, 8 bulb T5 Tek Fixture - 3 ATI Blue+, 3 ATI Blue Special, 2 Fiji Purple, 12 cool white/12 Royal Blue 3W LED's.

07/16/2008, 09:30 PM	#6
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	I quarantine all corals for 4 weeks to reduce the likelihood of transferring parasites or pests to my other inhabitants. No sense in getting all of your fish sick by adding a coral that has a few Ich tomonts encysted on the rock/plug, or introducing flatworms/pyram snails/red bugs/others into your tank to wreak havoc on your previously healthy and happy inhabitants. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

07/17/2008, 12:24 AM	#7
khanb31 SLim Jim Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Near Ohare, Des Plaines 60016 Posts: 1,096	alright, well what does your setup look like? is it just as basic as a fish QT? Do you do anything to help prevent or kill unknown parasites? __________________ I got the fish down pat....but those corals are tricky! Current Tank Info: DIY 120 Gallon 68"L x 30"W x 15.5"T Starfire Rimless - 75 Gal Sump, K2 Cone skimmer, 20gal Coral QT, 10 gal Fish QT, 8 bulb T5 Tek Fixture - 3 ATI Blue+, 3 ATI Blue Special, 2 Fiji Purple, 12 cool white/12 Royal Blue 3W LED's.

07/17/2008, 06:54 AM	#8
tedca Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 21	IÂ´m eager to see some pics of a sps QT! Anyone have ideas of how to build a 40liter/10g QT? What lightsourse to use and so on.. __________________ My 200gallon SPStank http://www.saltvattensguiden.se/forumet/showthread.php?t=24684&page=8

07/16/2008, 08:02 PM	#2
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	I never QT corals, But I do dip any zoas or stony corals. There are a few commercial iodine dips out there made specifically for corals. Just follow the instructions on any of them.

07/17/2008, 07:04 AM	#9
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	i have TMPCC that ive had but never used it. it says touse 1 ml per 200ml of saltwater (in its own container seperate from the tank) and dip it for 10-15 min __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

07/17/2008, 07:17 AM	#10
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	I don't QT corals and similarly dip them in a bath of system water and an iodine product called MediCoral from Brightwell Aquatics. Once the dip is finished, I swirl them vigorously upside down to knock off any trapped debris, etc. I know this isn't a guaranty, but I don't have room for both a fish QT and a coral QT. I know that some people dip in freshwater instead of system water. To the person that asked about dipping corals in RO/DI water . . . you should never dip anything in RO/DI water--always use pH adjusted, dechlorinated tap water. RO/DI water is totally demineralized, totally saturated with CO2. Not good for animals.

07/17/2008, 07:23 AM	#12
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	I qtank corals for 2 months. That's 2 months after the LAST addition. I usually add corals in batches. The qtank is basically a full reef setup, but with no fish. I've qt'd corals in as simple a setup as a bare tank with a single small piece of liverock w/ lights, heater, and powerheads. It doesn't take much.

07/17/2008, 08:48 AM	#14
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	I've qt'd sps for 2 months under 2 pcs. Use a shallow tank. They WILL brown out with that lighting, but that's the only issue (and they color back up fine in the display tank). It helps to put the sps on a rack higher in the tank (closer to the lights). I don't usually remove the plug or rock. I just inspect frequently during the quarantine period. I'm mostly doing lps these days (hurricane charley wiped out my sps and I switched to mostly lps), so others will be able to give better advice on exact sps procedures.

07/17/2008, 05:46 PM	#15
khanb31 SLim Jim Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Near Ohare, Des Plaines 60016 Posts: 1,096	Man its too bad most people dont really deal with the QT for the corals. Im kind of surprised. I got ich from two frags of montipora (no rock or plugs too....). I gave them a system water flush and a good scrubbing with a toothbrush. I was pretty ****ed about it when i saw my two clowns had spots and thats why im asking about the whole QT for corals. I guess Ill just have to have myself a QT for corals and ALOT of patience. Ill check out those dips as well. __________________ I got the fish down pat....but those corals are tricky! Current Tank Info: DIY 120 Gallon 68"L x 30"W x 15.5"T Starfire Rimless - 75 Gal Sump, K2 Cone skimmer, 20gal Coral QT, 10 gal Fish QT, 8 bulb T5 Tek Fixture - 3 ATI Blue+, 3 ATI Blue Special, 2 Fiji Purple, 12 cool white/12 Royal Blue 3W LED's.