Aerosol transmission in coral quarantine

[Kayvon]

I'm starting a new coral quarantine tank right next to my display tank. Will I have to worry about AEFW or any other coral infections getting into my display tank? The system will be fishless.

 

[ebushrow]

They claim that the tanks need to be between 15 and 20 feet apart for a DT and qt......I really think this only applies to fish IMO.....since we don't treat bacterial or fungal ailments in coral I think you are good!

 

[puffy127]

Will your display be fishless too or just the qt will be fishless?

 

[Kayvon]

Just the QT will be fishless.

 

[puffy127]

Then you can still get aerosol transmission of ich or velvet. Ich can come in with your corals through transfer of water and/or tomonts encysted onto frag plugs (and maybe on the corals). Any free swimmers in the water that you transferred can get aerosolized and infect your fish in the DT. Then when the theronts hatch (up to 72 days) and become free swimming, they may become aerosolized and infect the fish in your DT. I think the same is true with velvet, although the life cycle is slightly different.

 

[Kayvon]

Fish disease can transmit, but what about coral diseases? Can flatworms be transmitted at any stage in their life cycles?

 

[puffy127]

Not sure. The main study we know about was for velvet:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aerosol-transmission.190292/