Quarantine Survey and call for QT pics.

[rroselavy]

Hey all,

I am setting up a QT for my prospective inhabitants (mostly corals), and I have a little survey for those that routinely QT. I know that it is reported that only 12-15% of Aquarists QT, but I suspect that on TR, the percentage is higher.

I've read the Reefreader QT articles, as well as a few over at wetwebmedia. Here are my questions, each followed with a description of my current plan:

1) What size is your QT?

I bought a 20g tall aquarium (roughly 24"x12"x16") I went this route over a 10g because the glass was thicker (I get very nervous with my children), while the tank does not exceed 24" for the light fixture I had on hand. I have a 10g on hand, so I could use that instead if advisable.

2) What light do you use for quarantining corals?

I have a (never-used) CurrentUSA Orbit fixture (PC, 24", 130w total) that I plan to use for QT corals. I am not sure if this is overkill for coral QT, or if I will have heat issues...but it is what I have on hand. The tank came with a simple strip light and a glass cover, but I am thinking that I will not make use of either.

3) What equipment do you use in your QT?

Other equipment will include 50w Jager heater, AquaClear 30 Powerfilter, and I could repurpose my Remora for this setup if advisable. I will also add a Maxijet of some sort for additional flow.

4) How large are your QT water changes, and where does the water come from?

I plan to run this as a BB, and use SW from my 55g display to change out water (at least 10% per week,)in the QT. The idea of using the DT water came from this wetwebmedia article by Scott Fellman. It seems to make sense, except that the DT WC water will have organics and other stuff we are trying to dilute in our DT. Any opinions?

5) How long do you QT for?

I plan to QT for at least 3-4 weeks. The length of the QT period seems to be highly debated, with a range of answers from 2-6 weeks. Of course, the period will be prolonged if pests are detected and treated for.

6) How many corals/fish/inverts do you QT together?

I've read that it is advised to QT only one specimen at a time, and to set up multiple QT tanks if one wishes to QT more than one at the same time. I understand the concern, but it hardly seems practical when people are getting several frags at a swap meet, or are trying to tock a tank without having it take 10 years.

7) How do you place your corals in the QT?

I plan to use eggcrate to build shelves to provide the optimum distance to the light, and to give easier access to siphon detritus and excess food off the bottom of the QT. Corals that require a sandbed will be placed in a small container of clean sand.

8) Do you perform any dips before/after the QT stage?

9) Is there anything I am forgetting?

I am sure I'll have more questions regarding medication, once I spot any nasty buggers. Looking for, and diagnosing parasites and disease is unfamiliar to me. I suppose this will become evident to me as I proceed.

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Thanks in advance for your answers and time to respond.

BTW: I would love to see pics of anyones QT setup if you could post them...

[lReef lKeeper]

1 ... any size tank will be OK for a QT tank. mine (dont use it very often) is a 29g.

2 ... i use either a strip light or a halide. strip light for fish and halide for corals. your light will be fine, just keep it off when not QTing anything to keep down algae.

3 ... i just use a heater and a power filter. i also have a smaller skimmer for that tank if i need to add it. i usually just add it for a couple of days after a WC.

4 ... when i QT ... i do about 50% WC every week.

5 ... i QT for at least 4 weeks, but in most cases i go for 6 weeks (unless something is wrong).

6 ... you can QT as many as you want to, but if you add something new, you will need to start anything that was already in QT all over at day 1.

7 ... what you are planning is exactly what i do.

8 ... i do a Seachem "reef dip" to EVERYTHING before AND after the QT period. just to be sure.

9 ... i keep a few ammonia charged (cycled) sponges in my sump for the power filter. this will ensure that you have the bacteria to take care of what the animals release.

[rroselavy]

Thanks Bobby for the super-quick reply!

Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper

3 ... i just use a heater and a power filter. i also have a smaller skimmer for that tank if i need to add it. i usually just add it for a couple of days after a WC.

I forgot to add a powerhead to my list to create some current... perhaps a Maxijet 400 or 600 or whatever I have laying around.

4 ... when i QT ... i do about 50% WC every week.

5 ... i QT for at least 4 weeks, but in most cases i go for 6 weeks (unless something is wrong).

Both duly noted. Is that new SW or SW from your DT?

6 ... you can QT as many as you want to, but if you add something new, you will need to start anything that was already in QT all over at day 1.

Makes perfect sense.

8 ... i do a Seachem "reef dip" to EVERYTHING before AND after the QT period. just to be sure.

I will look into that product.

9 ... i keep a few ammonia charged (cycled) sponges in my sump for the power filter. this will ensure that you have the bacteria to take care of what the animals release.

I was also planning that...sounds good.

[lReef lKeeper]

sorry, i should have said this ...

i take about 29 gallons of WC water from my DT ( i change 70 gal every 2 weeks) and use half one week to change out the QT tank and the other half the next week. so i always have water from the display to use for QT WC's. i turn the skimmer on for a few days afgter the QT WC to get out any organics that may be in there.

[Astrivian]

Do you all think a skimmer is critical for a QT? I tossed up the money for one skimmer already!

Also, is the reef dip safe for corals and fish?

[lReef lKeeper]

i just use the skimmer for 2 days after a WC, then it gets shut off. in case there is anything still suspended in the DT water when i drain it out of the tank. i only dip corals, but i will have to check and see about the fish. you can always just FW dip the fish for about 5-10 minutes.

[rroselavy]

The Scott Fellman article cautions not to FW dip inverts since their bodies cannot handle the osmotic stretching. The article is on corals, but I assume this also includes shrimp,crabs, urchins, et cetera. Correct?