Are freshwayer dips effective for new fish?

[Revv65]

I've checked many resources for this. I've read both sides and pros and cons. Reason for asking is I do not have a good saltwater QT tank....yet. Yes I know it causes more stress on newly acquired fishes. Yes I also know that saltwater borne "bugs" can't tolerate freshwater for very long. Please share your personal opinions on this.
If I want to ad fish in the near future, that this maybe an option for the near future.
Thanks in advance. Rich

 

[fishywishy]

Freshwater dips are effective for certain diseases, but they wont cure any problems, just delay them.

So i wouldn’t do a freshwater dip, its just going to cause them unnecessary stress and not solve any problems.

 

[Revv65]

Freshwater dips are effective for certain diseases, but they wont cure any problems, just delay them.

So i wouldn’t do a freshwater dip, its just going to cause them unnecessary stress and not solve any problems.

That's been the general outlook so far. Agreed that it it's not a cure but can dips be beneficial when adding new fish? Especially if a QT tank isn't an option.

 

[mrpontiac80]

That's been the general outlook so far. Agreed that it it's not a cure but can dips be beneficial when adding new fish? Especially if a QT tank isn't an option.

My opinion from just some dude on the internet….

If you notice anything that looks like flukes https://humble.fish/community/threads/flukes.7/ then yes a freshwater dip can offer almost instant relief. 5 min of aerated freshwater and you will see them fall off. They will look like sesame seeds. The fish will likely freak out and may even “play dead at first.

On the flip side, anything else and I don’t think it’s going to help at all really. IF I was getting a new fish and not able to qt, I would at bare minimum do a Safety Stop Rapid Quarantine bath. It’s a 2 part bath consisting of methylene blue and formalin. Costs about 5 bucks. Again it’s not qt, but it’s something. https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/s...Cyq6Aggc-Jp7kqVPOfoWCRQ6XbjtCY8yyaATkBHu3j4wj

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

can dips be beneficial when adding new fish?

The short answer is no. The long answer is fishywishy's or mr.pontiacs reply.

 

[Revv65]

My opinion from just some dude on the internet….

If you notice anything that looks like flukes https://humble.fish/community/threads/flukes.7/ then yes a freshwater dip can offer almost instant relief. 5 min of aerated freshwater and you will see them fall off. They will look like sesame seeds. The fish will likely freak out and may even “play dead at first.

On the flip side, anything else and I don’t think it’s going to help at all really. IF I was getting a new fish and not able to qt, I would at bare minimum do a Safety Stop Rapid Quarantine bath. It’s a 2 part bath consisting of methylene blue and formalin. Costs about 5 bucks. Again it’s not qt, but it’s something. https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/s...Cyq6Aggc-Jp7kqVPOfoWCRQ6XbjtCY8yyaATkBHu3j4wj

Thank you. That does sound better than putting unneeded stress on an already stressed fish. I have used methylene blue in the past with my FW fish.

 

[Spare time]

That's been the general outlook so far. Agreed that it it's not a cure but can dips be beneficial when adding new fish? Especially if a QT tank isn't an option.

Buy pre-quarantined fish.

 

[Devaji]

Buy pre-quarantined fish.

that what I did for both my 2 new tanks. its a slower process but sure is nice not having to QT myself or just dont do it at all like it did for the last 15+ years.

some nice QT vendors out there these days.

 

[Fish Fan]

I've checked many resources for this. I've read both sides and pros and cons. Reason for asking is I do not have a good saltwater QT tank....yet. Yes I know it causes more stress on newly acquired fishes. Yes I also know that saltwater borne "bugs" can't tolerate freshwater for very long. Please share your personal opinions on this.
If I want to ad fish in the near future, that this maybe an option for the near future.
Thanks in advance. Rich

Hello!

First, please don't let any of us (well meaning reefers) misguide you here!!! I would wait for those with the "Fish Medic" badge to reply ;-)

#fishmedic

I don't claim to be an expert here, but I may have some insight ;-)

To be clear, are you trying to QT fish specifically (not corals (you mentioned "bugs")).

If so, a freshwater dip, is a temporary Band-Aid, it's not a cure.

If you do decide to do a Freshwater dip, do it in dechlorinated tap water or RO water of the same temp of your fish's water. I don't think a fish should be freshwater dipped in RODI water, it's just too harsh.

A QT tank shouldn't be terribly stressful to *most* fish - though there are some exceptions. I've had really good luck setting up a very simple fish QT tank and following the R2R approved protocol found here:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

I hope that helps!

 

[Revv65]

Hello!

First, please don't let any of us (well meaning reefers) misguide you here!!! I would wait for those with the "Fish Medic" badge to reply ;-)

#fishmedic

I don't claim to be an expert here, but I may have some insight ;-)

To be clear, are you trying to QT fish specifically (not corals (you mentioned "bugs")).

If so, a freshwater dip, is a temporary Band-Aid, it's not a cure.

If you do decide to do a Freshwater dip, do it in dechlorinated tap water or RO water of the same temp of your fish's water. I don't think a fish should be freshwater dipped in RODI water, it's just too harsh.

A QT tank shouldn't be terribly stressful to *most* fish - though there are some exceptions. I've had really good luck setting up a very simple fish QT tank and following the R2R approved protocol found here:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

I hope that helps!

Yes and thank you. I have a fish only tank and freshwater dips would of course be prepared freshwater and not RO. I have had a bad string of luck with skin flukes and uromena back to back from my LFS. I thought maybe freshwater dips prior would've prevented this. Looks like I will be setting up a QT tank.

 

[Revv65]

Buy pre-quarantined fish.

Trust me....that will happen in the future. My mistake cost me almost all of my fish. Hopefully on th upswing now.

 

[MnFish1]

Freshwater dips will temporarily reduce flukes. However, if you follow a proper quarantine with copper and Prazipro - as recommended here, that would be the better idea. Freshwater dips are fairly stressful for the fish and to do it 'routinely' during an already stressful time period (ie moving into a tank) does not seem prudent to me personally

 

[Fish Fan]

Freshwater dips will temporarily reduce flukes. However, if you follow a proper quarantine with copper and Prazipro - as recommended here, that would be the better idea. Freshwater dips are fairly stressful for the fish and to do it 'routinely' during an already stressful time period (ie moving into a tank) does not seem prudent to me personally

Thank you for your help and reply here!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I've checked many resources for this. I've read both sides and pros and cons. Reason for asking is I do not have a good saltwater QT tank....yet. Yes I know it causes more stress on newly acquired fishes. Yes I also know that saltwater borne "bugs" can't tolerate freshwater for very long. Please share your personal opinions on this.
If I want to ad fish in the near future, that this maybe an option for the near future.
Thanks in advance. Rich

FW dips never cure a fish of any disease, at most they just buy you some time. I only use dips now as a diagnostic tool - I examine to dip water after the dip with a microscope to try and identify any parasites that are present.

Never ever dip a fish that was just shipped to you overnight, the combined stress is too great.

 

[Fish Fan]

FW dips never cure a fish of any disease, at most they just buy you some time. I only use dips now as a diagnostic tool - I examine to dip water after the dip with a microscope to try and identify any parasites that are present.

Never ever dip a fish that was just shipped to you overnight, the combined stress is too great.

Thank you for your help here too!