Qt

[JTL]

I am getting ready to order some fish. I have a 20L breeder cycled to be used as a qt. It has sand, live rock and I built a nice internal overflow with 3 chambers which makes it an aio. At one point in the not too distant past I was going to keep it up and running with a few corals and a couple of fish. Now I don't think I want another tank. I am going to pick up a couple of 5 g tanks at Petco to use for ttm. They are kind of small so I may need to get my fish in a couple of stages. I am thinking of a royal gramma, midas blenny, either a flame angel or coral beauty and one or two yet to be named small fish.

As I think through this process I wonder others do. If someone is in the qt camp do they really set up a qt and get it up and running to qt say one fish? Maybe just do the ttm and treat with prazipro and hope that took care of any problems? Would be interested to hear comments and opinions.

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by JTL

I am getting ready to order some fish. I have a 20L breeder cycled to be used as a qt. It has sand, live rock and I built a nice internal overflow with 3 chambers which makes it an aio. .

Most would advise no sand, LR, carbon or media because they absorb medications and can house diseases. After I treat a fish(s), I empty the QT completely, clean it and then let it sit around until I need it again. You don't need to cycle a QT as long as you run water from your display tank which you can get while you do a water change. Also, you can add the sponges that will be going in your hang on the back filtration in your main sump which will automatically mean your GT will be cycled when you need it. Make sure you never place filters BACK into your main system after they have been in used in the GT. Throw it out and get a new one to place back in your main system for the next time you need to use your QT.

Simple water from your display tank, filter with sponge that you can clean regularly, and a heater is all you need for a QT.

Also, have some 2" to 4" PVC plumbing pieces in there so your fish can hide. You also do not need lights, the ambient room lighting is enough.

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

Most would advise no sand, LR, carbon or media because they absorb medications and can house diseases. After I treat a fish(s), I empty the QT completely, clean it and then let it sit around until I need it again. You don't need to cycle a QT as long as you run water from your display tank which you can get while you do a water change. Also, you can add the sponges that will be going in your hang on the back filtration in your main sump which will automatically mean your GT will be cycled when you need it. Make sure you never place filters BACK into your main system after they have been in used in the GT. Throw it out and get a new one to place back in your main system for the next time you need to use your QT.

Simple water from your display tank, filter with sponge that you can clean regularly, and a heater is all you need for a QT.

Also, have some 2" to 4" PVC plumbing pieces in there so your fish can hide. You also do not need lights, the ambient room lighting is enough.

+1 get rid of the sand. You could have a rock or two in there if you wanted (I do in my QT) The idea for QT is to have a sterile environment and one that meds won't be impacted by... I.E. sand and rock, sand more so than rock. PVC pieces are always recommended for hiding spots to make the fish feel secure.

[JTL]

The sand was because I was going to keep it as a 24/7 tank. Still a lot of work if you are only adding a single fish. Two 5 gallons, one 20 gallon anyway you get it. How big is your qt? Imo this is why so many people do not qt.

[billdogg]

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

Most would advise no sand, LR, carbon or media because they absorb medications and can house diseases. After I treat a fish(s), I empty the QT completely, clean it and then let it sit around until I need it again. You don't need to cycle a QT as long as you run water from your display tank which you can get while you do a water change. Also, you can add the sponges that will be going in your hang on the back filtration in your main sump which will automatically mean your GT will be cycled when you need it. Make sure you never place filters BACK into your main system after they have been in used in the GT. Throw it out and get a new one to place back in your main system for the next time you need to use your QT.

Simple water from your display tank, filter with sponge that you can clean regularly, and a heater is all you need for a QT.

Also, have some 2" to 4" PVC plumbing pieces in there so your fish can hide. You also do not need lights, the ambient room lighting is enough.

^^^This^^^

I use a old 20g tank for the QT, and a few 5g buckets for TTM. No sand or rocks. I use a old HOB filter for circulation. It sits around empty for sometimes months at a time until it is needed for another new addition.

[JTL]

So no reason to use 5g glass aquariums. I figured the glass gives a little more visibility. Do you even care about seeding in the HOB?

[billdogg]

nope. not a bit. Unless medicating the QT (prazipro) I just do preemptive water changes on it using water from my frag tank to keep ammonia from causing harm.

[JTL]

As long as we're on the topic. I am going to do the ttm and then prazipro. When do I add the prazipro or do I just do a dip? Anything else I absolutely need to do?

[Uncle99]

Just wondering why people want to use medication in the QT?
9 out of 10 fish suppliers stock is disease free so should we not medicate at the first signs of a problem?
Just asking cause only once in 10 years did I have to medicate...

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Just wondering why people want to use medication in the QT?
9 out of 10 fish suppliers stock is disease free so should we not medicate at the first signs of a problem?
Just asking cause only once in 10 years did I have to medicate...

You getting your fish in the GTA? I just picked up some clowns that got sick with Brooks.

[Uncle99]

Yup, where you shop man?
Als Scarborough, steeles, and dundas run good shops.

[Uncle99]

Then again, maybe I have been lucky!
Now you scare me...

[Subsea]

I have not quarantined in the last 25 yrs of my 45 years of reef keeping.

Probably because I never kept SPS with their issues of RTL caused by a mysterious virus or fungi.

A drop of water under your finger nail or a wet net or wet hands from another tank are possible sources of disease. I will pick ich as an example. With a three stage life cycle, only the free swimming stage is treatable. After the parasite stage in which ich burrows thru slime coat, the cocoon stage allows birth of free swimming parasite. Only in its free swimming stage is ich vulnerable. In treatment tank, copper kills ich and all bacteria. In display tank with no fish, free swimming gammets starve and die with no host. Conventional literature says 60 days maximum to kill these parasites without them residing on host for nourishment.

I had a reef tank with no additions for 18 months, then following a loss of electricity, ich appeared. I say ich can hibernate for a lot longer than scientific literature claims. For me, the real focus is on fish and coral health. Specifically, fish immune system do more to control tank diseases than stressing a fish with isolation in a strange tank and treating with chemicals. If you think being in a glass cage is not stressful, try a jail cell.

For complete probiotics and immune system boost to fish immune system, feed live gut bacteria from mussels, clams and oysters.

[Jekerry]

Where would you get live gut bacteria from oysters and such?

[Subsea]

Surprising enough, people who eat raw oysters may be boosting their own immune system by eating the whole gut cavity including bacteria.

I buy mussels for $.10 each from the seafood counter at HEB in Austin. About a dollar a week. Ask the store to break open a bag and sell you a few only. If the bi-vale shells shows any separation discard it.

[Jekerry]

I would happily eat the extra! So it is safe to feed my critters seafood from the grocery?

[JTL]

Originally Posted by Jekerry

I would happily eat the extra! So it is safe to feed my critters seafood from the grocery?

We put clam and scallop in a blender with mysis, flake and pellet. Mix with a little rodi and freeze into sticks. Whip them around in the water and my clowns love it.

[Subsea]

Originally Posted by JTL

We put clam and scallop in a blender with mysis, flake and pellet. Mix with a little rodi and freeze into sticks. Whip them around in the water and my clowns love it.

I made my frozen food like that for years. Now, because of the freshness of delivery, oysters, mussels and live clams from Chesapeake Bay are available at sea food counter.

While the frozen oyster cocktail is delicious and nutritious to fish, the diversity of live bacteria is lost. It is this diversity in live bacteria that promotes fish immune system response. It is well documented that in people intestinal gut cavity bacteria promote immune system responses but so much more. Mood stimulation has been linked to gut cavity bacteria influence. Reminds me of the tail wagging the dog. A micro invert biology friend used the term “microbial overlords”, to describe the role of bacteria in our reef tanks.

[JTL]

Yeah, but it can get a little over the top. I used to drink homemade probiotics for years but I still got cancer....twice.

[JTL]

I am still looking for some advice on when to use the prazipro during the qt stage. Put it in the qt for the prescribed time or use it as a dip in the ttm process? Also how many people to a formalin dip?