Does it make sense to keep a small fish only tank for quarantining?

ToTaLCHaoS13 · 11/21/2006, 04:00 PM

I have struggled with a couple fish purchases lately and am looking for a solution. My last two have not survived thier quarantine period and I don't know why. My fear is the Q-tank is not working properly for some unidentified reason, so I am thinking of setting up a 30gal fish-only tank which will always have at least some green chromis in it. Thoughts?

Also, since this is just a simple tank I plan on only having PCV for the fish to hide in and no substrate. There will be no protein skimmer or refugium either...

Qwiv · 11/21/2006, 04:04 PM

How is your quarantine tank set-up? You might have just got 2 bad fish. What kind of fish were they?

ToTaLCHaoS13 · 11/21/2006, 04:06 PM

that is my other concern. One was a Copperband Butterfly and the other a Sohal tang.

My hope would be that in the suggested setup the chomis would act as "control" subjects...

bureau13 · 11/21/2006, 04:41 PM

If you medicate the tank, preventatively or otherwise, you will be constantly medicating the chromis. If/when they die, you'll be wondering if something is going wrong, or the stress of it all finally got them. Or, they just started picking each other off like they eventually do anyway!

jds

Qwiv · 11/21/2006, 05:20 PM

No, a fish only tank won't help you with those two fish. First, the copperband is a difficult fish to keep in general and doesn't do well in a steril quatantine tank. They are finicky eaters and need to put in a q tank that will meet there needs. Live rock with lots of growth/life. Some aptasia is a good idea. Lots of hiding places.

The tang is most likely starved when you get them, unless you got it from a LFS that has been keeping him well fed. You also need a large quarantine tank for the tang. Your description says you have a 90 gal which is to small for a Sohal tang anyways (they get to 16" long and need at least a 180 gal.), so I can probably guess your quantine tank is WAY to small for him. Small specimins will be even more stressed and starved.

My advise, don't buy another Sohal tang until you get a much larger tank. I am assuming you are getting the copperband to deal with aptasia. Set-up a temp tank around 40 gal. Rubbermaids work good. Fill it with some of the live rock that is covered in aptasia from your tank and keep him well fed with arctipods or cyclopeeze. If you can't do that, you will need to throwing him in your tank and take your chances.

11/21/2006, 04:00 PM	#1
ToTaLCHaoS13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cartersville, GA Posts: 379	Does it make sense to keep a small fish only tank for quarantining? I have struggled with a couple fish purchases lately and am looking for a solution. My last two have not survived thier quarantine period and I don't know why. My fear is the Q-tank is not working properly for some unidentified reason, so I am thinking of setting up a 30gal fish-only tank which will always have at least some green chromis in it. Thoughts? Also, since this is just a simple tank I plan on only having PCV for the fish to hide in and no substrate. There will be no protein skimmer or refugium either...

11/21/2006, 04:04 PM	#2
Qwiv Persistant Perspective Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Belmont, CA Posts: 2,168	How is your quarantine tank set-up? You might have just got 2 bad fish. What kind of fish were they? __________________ If I knew keeping fish would be so hard, I would of had kids by now. Current Tank Info: 50Cube + 250DD + Nano

11/21/2006, 05:20 PM	#5
Qwiv Persistant Perspective Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Belmont, CA Posts: 2,168	No, a fish only tank won't help you with those two fish. First, the copperband is a difficult fish to keep in general and doesn't do well in a steril quatantine tank. They are finicky eaters and need to put in a q tank that will meet there needs. Live rock with lots of growth/life. Some aptasia is a good idea. Lots of hiding places. The tang is most likely starved when you get them, unless you got it from a LFS that has been keeping him well fed. You also need a large quarantine tank for the tang. Your description says you have a 90 gal which is to small for a Sohal tang anyways (they get to 16" long and need at least a 180 gal.), so I can probably guess your quantine tank is WAY to small for him. Small specimins will be even more stressed and starved. My advise, don't buy another Sohal tang until you get a much larger tank. I am assuming you are getting the copperband to deal with aptasia. Set-up a temp tank around 40 gal. Rubbermaids work good. Fill it with some of the live rock that is covered in aptasia from your tank and keep him well fed with arctipods or cyclopeeze. If you can't do that, you will need to throwing him in your tank and take your chances. __________________ If I knew keeping fish would be so hard, I would of had kids by now. Current Tank Info: 50Cube + 250DD + Nano

11/21/2006, 04:06 PM	#3
ToTaLCHaoS13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cartersville, GA Posts: 379	that is my other concern. One was a Copperband Butterfly and the other a Sohal tang. My hope would be that in the suggested setup the chomis would act as "control" subjects...

11/21/2006, 04:41 PM	#4
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	If you medicate the tank, preventatively or otherwise, you will be constantly medicating the chromis. If/when they die, you'll be wondering if something is going wrong, or the stress of it all finally got them. Or, they just started picking each other off like they eventually do anyway! jds