10G Coral QT Setup Questions

[sternicus]

I just need help clarifying a few things that have been covered before, but dont seem to have a concise answer on.

If I add corals on day 1 to my coral QT tank, and then add corals on day 20, does this restart the QT process for the corals added on day 1?

Also, is a 10G large enough for a few SPS corals to be quaratined in?

I generally only buy from a few select large retailers online, my local LFS are not dependable.

 

[pwoody]

If I add corals on day 1 to my coral QT tank, and then add corals on day 20, does this restart the QT process for the corals added on day 1?

Yes.

Also, is a 10G large enough for a few SPS corals to be quaratined in?

Yes.

Realistically your QT can be any size you want (subject to animal welfare etc.) however you should remember that smaller volumes of water will become contaminated and depleted more quickly so you will require more frequent husbandry to keep on top of your parameters.

 

[sternicus]

Yes.


Yes.

Realistically your QT can be any size you want (subject to animal welfare etc.) however you should remember that smaller volumes of water will become contaminated and depleted more quickly so you will require more frequent husbandry to keep on top of your parameters.

Only issue is, when I asked this question before I got told to read the pinned article which says this:

“The good news here is that you don’t have to introduce the corals and inverts in batches. Each individual coral needs to be in the QT for 76 days. Adding another coral later doesn’t restart the clock for the first coral. “

So my question is, are people not buying coral for 76 days? That doesn’t seem accurate even for some of the most aggressive coral QT operations.

 

[sternicus]

Another quote from HotRocks in the QT forums:

If you are constantly adding new frags each individual frag carries it's own 76 day rule. But... But... If you add coral #2 on coral #1 75th day, you can still remove coral #1 day later. You need to rinse it very well with water from DT. If there are free swimming tomites being released from coral #2 you risk transferring them with coral #1 in a single water droplet. Make sense.

 

[pwoody]

Only issue is, when I asked this question before I got told to read the pinned article which says this:

“The good news here is that you don’t have to introduce the corals and inverts in batches. Each individual coral needs to be in the QT for 76 days. Adding another coral later doesn’t restart the clock for the first coral. “

So my question is, are people not buying coral for 76 days? That doesn’t seem accurate even for some of the most aggressive coral QT operations.

Why would it not reset the timer?
In my opinion - and as you have seen it is debated - thinking logically provides us the answer.
We QT for 10 days (example) and the reason is to monitor for pests and health and possibly follow a dipping procedure.
If you introduce another coral halfway through or even on the final day, you are potentially introducing something into the QT along with the new coral.
You may have inadvertently contaminated the coral you then move on before realising there is a problem.
In my eyes, they’re delicate and expensive and not worth risking over a few more days or weeks in QT.

 

[sternicus]

Why would it not reset the timer?
In my opinion - and as you have seen it is debated - thinking logically provides us the answer.
We QT for 10 days (example) and the reason is to monitor for pests and health and possibly follow a dipping procedure.
If you introduce another coral halfway through or even on the final day, you are potentially introducing something into the QT along with the new coral.
You may have inadvertently contaminated the coral you then move on before realising there is a problem.
In my eyes, they’re delicate and expensive and not worth risking over a few more days or weeks in QT.

So you only buy coral every 76 days? That seems unreasonable to me if that’s the process. I don’t see others following that procedure so I am asking if I should not follow the pinned article?

 

[pwoody]

So you only buy coral every 76 days? That seems unreasonable to me if that’s the process. I don’t see others following that procedure so I am asking if I should not follow the pinned article?

I didn’t say what process I follow, however, if I were ever to recommend anything to anyone it would be such to provide the best advice for the health of the animal NOT the enjoyment and impatience of the user.
Ultimately you should not be comparing to other people on every matter. This is one of them, it is best to decide WHY you are QT’ing, and just ensure you reach the goal you have set.
Realistically I see people buying corals and putting them straight in the DT. I also see people with pests that could have been avoided.

Just depends how intense and strict you want your own personally QT process to be. If you don’t want to wait 76d and only have one coral at a time then I would say you need to rethink your QT procedure.
But that is just my view on the timer resetting.
Alternatively wait and buy several at once.

As a side note, no, 76 is much longer than I would do.

 

[pwoody]

As an additional note; I always QT 2-4wk depending on what I’m introducing and whether it need medicating and dipping.
If I find any pests or diseases, the timer resets once I have finished the process of fixing the issue.

 

[sternicus]

I didn’t say what process I follow, however, if I were ever to recommend anything to anyone it would be such to provide the best advice for the health of the animal NOT the enjoyment and impatience of the user.
Ultimately you should not be comparing to other people on every matter. This is one of them, it is best to decide WHY you are QT’ing, and just ensure you reach the goal you have set.
Realistically I see people buying corals and putting them straight in the DT. I also see people with pests that could have been avoided.

Just depends how intense and strict you want your own personally QT process to be. If you don’t want to wait 76d and only have one coral at a time then I would say you need to rethink your QT procedure.
But that is just my view on the timer resetting.
Alternatively wait and buy several at once.

As a side note, no, 76 is much longer than I would do.

We don’t have the go down the patience route. That’s an unneeded area to explore. I guess it’s just very confusing being linked articles, pinned to this forum about quarantining and being told other things. I have had a rank before and skipped it all together, but wanted a better process. I don’t know anyone personally that does a QT for corals so I am asking for guidance from those that do.

I would be shocked to find out people with 200+ corals in a tank waited 45-76 days in between each purchase, but I am willing to concede that is common if others chime in that they do that for their process.

 

[Fish Fan]

So you only buy coral every 76 days? That seems unreasonable to me if that’s the process. I don’t see others following that procedure so I am asking if I should not follow the pinned article?

Yes. If you're really concerned with minimizing pests if your DT, all corals (and everything wet (snails, crabs, shrimp, fish, etc.) needs to be quarantined, for 45 days is I think the shortest, but I go 60 days or longer.

If you add a coral, then add another coral 10 days later, that restarts your QT clock.

As mentioned, it depends on how strict you're trying to be here.

How do you plan on setting up your QT tank? In my experience, a newly started tank is not a great idea for SPS, which would do better in a fully mature QT tank. QT'ing corals, in my opinion, is almost like having a second full blown reef tank.

I guess it’s just very confusing being linked articles, pinned to this forum about quarantining and being told other things.

Because QT'ing is not an agreed upon thing. It means different things to different people, and people do it differently.

But, just using common sense, and if you're really trying to do it "right", it just makes sense that a new addition would restart your QT clock. I don't think anyone would argue this when talking about fish QT, why would it be different for inverts?

 

[pwoody]

We don’t have the go down the patience route. That’s an unneeded area to explore. I guess it’s just very confusing being linked articles, pinned to this forum about quarantining and being told other things. I have had a rank before and skipped it all together, but wanted a better process. I don’t know anyone personally that does a QT for corals so I am asking for guidance from those that do.

I would be shocked to find out people with 200+ corals in a tank waited 45-76 days in between each purchase, but I am willing to concede that is common if others chime in that they do that for their process.

The patience issue is not a dig, it is a fact, people can be impatient and they just put fish and corals straight in without QT’ing.

Like I said, I don’t do 76d and I think that may be excessive but I haven’t researched it enough.
I would have to assume given the use of the word ‘tomites’ they were referring to the introduction of something like ich…and you need a fallow period for that to die out fully in all stages of life.
If ich is what you are QT’ing to avoid then I would 100% recommend the full period people recommend for that. I believe it is between 6 and 11 weeks depending on temperature.
Would need more reading around that though.

So back to what I suggested, you need to consider why you personally are QT’ing. Your own personal QT process should reflect what your goals are.

 

[Fish Fan]

The patience issue is not a dig, it is a fact, people can be impatient and they just put fish and corals straight in without QT’ing.

Like I said, I don’t do 76d and I think that may be excessive but I haven’t researched it enough.
I would have to assume given the use of the word ‘tomites’ they were referring to the introduction of something like ich…and you need a fallow period for that to die out fully in all stages of life.
If ich is what you are QT’ing to avoid then I would 100% recommend the full period people recommend for that. I believe it is between 6 and 11 weeks depending on temperature.
Would need more reading around that though.

So back to what I suggested, you need to consider why you personally are QT’ing. Your own personal QT process should reflect what your goals are.

I think the "magic number" from those in the know is 45 days to be safe, but I go longer, like 60 days.

 

[sternicus]

Yes. If you're really concerned with minimizing pests if your DT, all corals (and everything wet (snails, crabs, shrimp, fish, etc.) needs to be quarantined, for 45 days is I think the shortest, but I go 60 days or longer.

If you add a coral, then add another coral 10 days later, that restarts your QT clock.

As mentioned, it depends on how strict you're trying to be here.

How do you plan on setting up your QT tank? In my experience, a newly started tank is not a great idea for SPS, which would do better in a fully mature QT tank. QT'ing corals, in my opinion, is almost like having a second full blown reef tank.


Because QT'ing is not an agreed upon thing. It means different things to different people, and people do it differently.

But, just using common sense, and if you're really trying to do it "right", it just makes sense that a new addition would restart your QT clock. I don't think anyone would argue this when talking about fish QT, why would it be different for inverts?

Not sure. I guess I am reading into the pinned article too much. I will take this into consideration. I do no think a lot of people actually do QT corals but was looking into as a possibility.

 

[Fish Fan]

Not sure. I guess I am reading into the pinned article too much. I will take this into consideration. I do no think a lot of people actually do QT corals but was looking into as a possibility.

No, most do not. Again, it depends on how strict you want to be with your biosecurity. I do QT corals and everything I add, you are welcome to what you wish, and I certainly wish you best of luck.

 

[pwoody]

Not sure. I guess I am reading into the pinned article too much. I will take this into consideration. I do no think a lot of people actually do QT corals but was looking into as a possibility.

I would have to disagree. Of all the reefers I personally know I’d guess around 80% of them QT corals. A couple of them do have very large aquariums and given the cost of not only the build but stocking it, and the potential if things go wrong, they very much follow a very strict regimen and never deviate.
But then again I have read on forums - as I say - where people don’t bother.
Its just whether you want to avoid or minimise the risk of threats to your slice of beauty :)

 

[sck90]

The clock does not restart when you add a new coral or invert in the qt. This is different from a fish qt. The reason is that ich tomonts (or velvet encysted stage) cannot tansfer from a coral to another. When a coral has been in the qt for 45 days (I personally do 30), just dip it, rince it with fresh saltwater or dt tank water, and it is good to go in the dt.

 

[sternicus]

The clock does not restart when you add a new coral or invert in the qt. This is different from a fish qt. The reason is that ich tomonts (or velvet encysted stage) cannot tansfer from a coral to another. When a coral has been in the qt for 45 days (I personally do 30), just dip it, rince it with fresh saltwater or dt tank water, and it is good to go in the dt.

Did you read the posters above? Your thoughts directly go against their posts lol

This is why I am confused!

 

[pwoody]

The clock does not restart when you add a new coral or invert in the qt. This is different from a fish qt. The reason is that ich tomonts (or velvet encysted stage) cannot tansfer from a coral to another. When a coral has been in the qt for 45 days (I personally do 30), just dip it, rince it with fresh saltwater or dt tank water, and it is good to go in the dt.

For ich only or all diseases and pests?
I’m curious as it sounds like you’re suggesting the clock does not restart even if you are considering other potential coral health issues that may arise through diseases or pests.
I’m curious to learn that’s why I’m asking :)

 

[sck90]

For ich only or all diseases and pests?
I’m curious as it sounds like you’re suggesting the clock does not restart even if you are considering other potential coral health issues that may arise through diseases or pests.
I’m curious to learn that’s why I’m asking :)

The qt to which OP is refering is the qt related to fish disease. If you are talking about coral pests, then it doesnt make sense to wait 45 or 72 or 350 days, because pests can still be there after. For coral pests, you have to carefully observe corals in the qt (no specific period) and dip them.

 

[sternicus]

The qt to which OP is refering is the qt related to fish disease. If you are talking about coral pests, then it doesnt make sense to wait 45 or 72 or 350 days, because pests can still be there after. For coral pests, you have to carefully observe corals in the qt (no specific period) and dip them.

No I am more concerned with coral pests (AEFW, red bugs, nudi)