Current Quarantine Protocol

[cba191]

just to be clear, your QT doesn't use Metronidazole?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

who makes a good powdered prazi? I can only find liquid.

Fritz Prazicleanse is one.

 

[cba191]

"
Day 34: Treatments Done

• Begin copper removal through water changes.
• Binding agents Cuprisorb may be used to hasten the removal process, but work best with ionic copper.
• Carbon is usually too slow or ineffective at removing copper and should not be relied upon without adequate monitoring.
• Confirm salinity and temperature of QT and DT are the same, add fish to DT. No acclimation is required if the two tanks match in these parameters."

How many days for the copper removal?

 

[christinna77]

So youre saying its safe to pop it back to the DT to keep its seed withiut any rinsing even though its been exposed to medication like prazipro and the same can be said for sponge filters?

No - I meant you don’t need to sterilize it for future uses in the QT. Many people think they need to strip and clean their QT after every run, but that is needed only in special cases.

You CAN reuse sponge in the DT, but you need to rinse it very well in clean seawater.

Considering we do at least 2 prazi doses, and sometimes more per batch, wouldn't the tank including the sponges need to be sterilized after each use? Otherwise, after 4-5 doses, prazi would basically become useless because the bacteria would break it down too fast. At least that's one of the big reasons I always sterilize mine.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Considering we do at least 2 prazi doses, and sometimes more per batch, wouldn't the tank including the sponges need to be sterilized after each use? Otherwise, after 4-5 doses, prazi would basically become useless because the bacteria would break it down too fast. At least that's one of the big reasons I always sterilize mine.

Yes - it depends on the spacing of the quarantine runs, but it can be an issue. The biggest issue is seen in tanks where prazi has been run 5+ times in quick succession. To avoid the prazi consuming bacteria, the entire tank needs to be sterilized.

Let’s say a person has a new batch of fish arriving in 30 days. That isn’t long enough to sterilize and reseed the bio media - best to reuse the old media. On the other hand, if the next batch isn’t going to be coming in for 2 or 3 months, then putting it back into the DT will be fine until it is needed.

 

[cba191]

Yes - it depends on the spacing of the quarantine runs, but it can be an issue. The biggest issue is seen in tanks where prazi has been run 5+ times in quick succession. To avoid the prazi consuming bacteria, the entire tank needs to be sterilized.

Let’s say a person has a new batch of fish arriving in 30 days. That isn’t long enough to sterilize and reseed the bio media - best to reuse the old media. On the other hand, if the next batch isn’t going to be coming in for 2 or 3 months, then putting it back into the DT will be fine until it is needed.

what about the copper?

Also, do you need something to help mix in the prazicleanse?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

what about the copper?

Also, do you need something to help mix in the prazicleanse?

Just rinsing well with seawater will remove enough copper.

For getting prazi into the water - using a baby brine shrimp net or other fine material (even pantyhose will work) and then rinsing/pushing the powder through that into the tank is an option. There are some fine nylon mesh available online that works as well as baby brine shrimp nets.

 

[mpatterson42]

I have a 10 gallon tank that I'm currently using to do a PraziPro treatment. I have an HOB filter with cycled media balls from my display tank sump and also cycled rubble rock from my display tank in a basket in the tank. I also have an airstone in the tank. 2 days into my second round of PraziPro the water got very cloudy. How should I treat this? If I was doing copper it wouldn't be a big deal to match the copper level and do a water change, but do I do the same thing with PraziPro? Should I mix half the dose of PraziPro into 5 gallons of new saltwater and do a 5 gallon water change? Does PraziPro dissipate over time?

 

[huthain]

I have a 10 gallon tank that I'm currently using to do a PraziPro treatment. I have an HOB filter with cycled media balls from my display tank sump and also cycled rubble rock from my display tank in a basket in the tank. I also have an airstone in the tank. 2 days into my second round of PraziPro the water got very cloudy. How should I treat this? If I was doing copper it wouldn't be a big deal to match the copper level and do a water change, but do I do the same thing with PraziPro? Should I mix half the dose of PraziPro into 5 gallons of new saltwater and do a 5 gallon water change? Does PraziPro dissipate over time?

My understanding isnit dissipates after 3 days if I'm not mistaken so you should be able to do a water change, I think its recommended to do a water change after each round anyways

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have a 10 gallon tank that I'm currently using to do a PraziPro treatment. I have an HOB filter with cycled media balls from my display tank sump and also cycled rubble rock from my display tank in a basket in the tank. I also have an airstone in the tank. 2 days into my second round of PraziPro the water got very cloudy. How should I treat this? If I was doing copper it wouldn't be a big deal to match the copper level and do a water change, but do I do the same thing with PraziPro? Should I mix half the dose of PraziPro into 5 gallons of new saltwater and do a 5 gallon water change? Does PraziPro dissipate over time?

The cloudy water after using Prazipro is pretty common. It isn't from the praziquantel itself, it is from the solvent used (a glycol). The solvent feeds heterotrophic bacteria that causes cloudy water and low dissolved oxygen levels. You always need to use good aeration when dosing Prazipro - not just water circulation, but bubbles that break the water's surface. A protein skimmer or a good air stone does that.

I prefer not to run prazi and copper at the same time unless the fish show signs of both protozoans and flukes at the same time. Because protozoans kill much faster than flukes, it is best to treat with copper and then with prazi.

Prazi is only active for 1 to 3 days. Its greatest activity is within the first four hours of a dose. Prazi doesn't kill fluke eggs, so you need multiple doses.

Here is a primer for dosing prazi:

Dosing Praziquantel (PZQ)

Using Praziquantel (PZQ) to treat flukes Overview In the early 1990’s, a researcher at the New York Aquarium published a paper on using Praziquantel (PZQ) to help control flukes, a parasitic flatworm. Also known as monogenean trematodes, these fish parasites can cause significant mortality in...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[mpatterson42]

The cloudy water after using Prazipro is pretty common. It isn't from the praziquantel itself, it is from the solvent used (a glycol). The solvent feeds heterotrophic bacteria that causes cloudy water and low dissolved oxygen levels. You always need to use good aeration when dosing Prazipro - not just water circulation, but bubbles that break the water's surface. A protein skimmer or a good air stone does that.

I prefer not to run prazi and copper at the same time unless the fish show signs of both protozoans and flukes at the same time. Because protozoans kill much faster than flukes, it is best to treat with copper and then with prazi.

Prazi is only active for 1 to 3 days. Its greatest activity is within the first four hours of a dose. Prazi doesn't kill fluke eggs, so you need multiple doses.

Here is a primer for dosing prazi:

Dosing Praziquantel (PZQ)

Using Praziquantel (PZQ) to treat flukes Overview In the early 1990’s, a researcher at the New York Aquarium published a paper on using Praziquantel (PZQ) to help control flukes, a parasitic flatworm. Also known as monogenean trematodes, these fish parasites can cause significant mortality in...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks, I'm just running prazi, not prazi and copper, and I've had an airstone in the tank the whole time. I just didn't see the same cloudiness on the first round and wasn't sure what to do when it showed up during the second round.

 

[huthain]

@Jay Hemdal wanted to say a big thank you, you gave me the confidence to start QT yesterday. Appreciate your patience and responding to the tons of questions I had. Here's so eye candy from QT today

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks, I'm just running prazi, not prazi and copper, and I've had an airstone in the tank the whole time. I just didn't see the same cloudiness on the first round and wasn't sure what to do when it showed up during the second round.

It is from a combination of the solvent in the first and second dose that can cause a bacterial bloom. It's very similar to dosing carbon in a tank.

I usually advocate for a 30% water change prior to second or third treatments.

 

[reefnoob9]

2026 Quarantine Procedures

Jay Hemdal
David Scarborough

Introduction
Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired marine fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these parasites before adding the fish to your display tank. This process may not fully control Brooklynella, Uronema, viruses or internal parasites. Those issues however, make up a proportionally much smaller number of disease cases in marine fish.

Options

1) Full quarantine process. 64 days including a 14-day observation period.

2) Two weeks copper (for velvet) followed by 30 days hyposalinity (for ich, flukes, Brooklynella and black ich). 45 days, with 5 days at the end to return from hyposalinity.

3) Combining copper and prazi to reduce the treatment time from 64 days to around 35 days. There is increased stress on the fish for doing this in some cases.


Quarantine tank Requirements:
Tank must be large enough to comfortably handle the number and size of fish for up to 9 weeks.

Tank should have a filtration system that has completed the nitrogen cycle. Canisters, HOB overflow filters, or appropriately sized sponge filters are acceptable.

• The tank should offer clear lateral viewing of the fish, bins and opaque containers that only allow for "top down" viewing are not a good idea to use, since careful observation of the fish is very important.
• The filtration system must not use carbon or other absorbing/adsorbing filtrants (e.g. Polyfilter) that might absorb copper or medication. NO calcareous rock LIVE or DEAD.
• Bare bottom should be used. A saucer with non-calcareous sand can be utilized for wrasses, gobies, blennies or other species which are overly stressed by the bare bottom. Painting the underside of the tank black can also help
• Heater/thermometer
• Removable structure, e.g. PVC pipe may be used to provide hiding places for the fish.
• Ambient light will often be adequate for the QT tank. Avoid using bright reef lights.
• A means to maintain oxygen levels should be available. Air stones and sponge filters are usually adequate. Powerheads may create too much current and they do not aerate well.
• A lid should be used to prevent the fish from jumping out of the tank.
• Set salinity level and temperature to the same levels as in your Display Tank.

1) Full Quarantine Process

Days 1 – 2: Observation - let the fish settle in and determine proper diet.

• Set QT temperature to 78 - 79 degrees F.
• Adjust the salinity to match the value that the fish will be arriving in (if known).
• Acclimate the new fish to the QT:
  • If not done in step above, measure salinity of the water in which the fish arrived.
  • Adjust salinity in QT to within 2 ppt of the salinity of the water in which the fish arrived.
  • Acclimate the fish to the QT gradually over 45 minutes Use aeration. Additonal acclimation information is here: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/acclimation-methods.903/
• Observe the fish for any symptoms which might influence the treatment(s) you should administer.
• Determine if the fish are eating adequately to proceed.

Day 2: Begin Copper Treatment

• Add Coppersafe or copper power to the QT to achieve a concentration of 2.25 ppm over the course of 24 hours. This can be done in two doses 12 hours apart or multiple smaller doses if you prefer. Coppersafe will not be effective until a concentration over 2.0 ppm is present. A target of 2.25 ppm will allow for fluctuations without the risk of falling below the 2.0 ppm threshold. Hanna Copper checker is the most accurate test to use.
• Never use ammonia removing products or other reducing agents (dechlorinator) when dosing copper. Most products bind copper with an amine to reduce toxicity to the fish. Reducing agents risk breaking that bond, releasing free copper that can harm the fish.
• Feed and top off tank water normally.

Days 3 – 32: Continue Copper Treatment

• Monitor copper ppm regularly. If the copper level remains steady day to day, you can test less often, but if the concentration falls below 2.0 ppm, you may need to extend the 30-day count for the copper treatment.
• Monitor water quality parameters as you would for your display tank.
• If the copper or ammonia levels ever exceed guidelines, be prepared to administer water changes (pre dosed with copper) to correct the problem.

Day 34: Copper Done

• Begin copper removal through water changes.
• Binding agents Cuprisorb may be used to hasten the removal process, but work best with ionic copper.
• Carbon is usually too slow or ineffective at removing copper and should not be relied upon without adequate monitoring.

Day 35: Praziquantel Treatment #1

• Confirm copper has been removed adequately to drop the concentration to less than 1 ppm. Copper and Prazi should not be administered simultaneously unless there is suspicion of a severe fluke infection.
• Add Praziquantel to the QT per the dose on the label.
• Ensure the additional oxygenation source is working. This treatment will potentially reduce the oxygen levels within the QT to critical levels without additional air flow.
• Remove carbon or other chemical filtrants. Continuing running any protein skimmers, but don't collect the skimmate, let it run back into the tank. Additional information about dosing praziquantel is found in this file: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

Day 42, Day 49: Praziquantel Treatment #2, #3

• Add Prazi to the QT per the instructions on the label, 8 days apart. Spacing needed for these treatments is based on killing new flukes hatching from previously laid eggs. The time interval is not well known. A range of 7 to 9 days seems to give the best results.

Day 64: New Fish QT complete

Observe fish for 2 weeks after last prazi dose. Note: many public aquariums do not move fish out of quarantine unless they are in the middle of a full copper treatment. This vastly reduces the risk from Cryptocaryon or Amyloodinium. To use that method, substitute a copper treatment for this 2 week observation period, and move the fish out around day 10.

• Optional - conduct a 5-minute freshwater dip if the fish is of a species particularly susceptible to Neobenedenia flukes. If flukes are detected, reduce QT salinity to 50% and hold for an additional 35 days.
• Confirm salinity and temperature of QT and DT are the same, add fish to DT. No acclimation is required if the two tanks match in these parameters.

2) Modified Quarantine Process with Hyposalinity

This method is faster than the full process, but hyposalinity is less forgiving and some fish are sensitive to it. It does have the added benefit of helping to control Brooklynella in clownfish and black ich turbellarians in tangs.

Days 1 – 2: Observation - let the fish settle in and determine proper diet.

• Set QT temperature to 78 - 79 degrees F.
• Adjust the salinity to match the value that the fish will be arriving in (if known).
• Acclimate the new fish to the QT:
  • If not done in step above, measure salinity of the water in which the fish arrived.
  • Adjust salinity in QT to within 2 ppt of the salinity of the water in which the fish arrived.
  • Acclimate the fish to the QT gradually over 45 minutes Use aeration. Additonal acclimation information is here: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/acclimation-methods.903/
• Observe the fish for any symptoms which might influence the treatment(s) you should administer.
• Determine if the fish are eating adequately to proceed.

Day 2: Begin Copper Treatment

• Add Coppersafe or copper power to the QT to achieve a concentration of 2.25 ppm over the course of 24 hours. This can be done in two doses 12 hours apart or multiple smaller doses if you prefer. Coppersafe will not be effective until a concentration over 2.0 ppm is present. A target of 2.25 ppm will allow for fluctuations without the risk of falling below the 2.0 ppm threshold. Hanna Copper checker is the most accurate test to use.
• Never use ammonia removing products or other reducing agents (dechlorinator) when dosing copper. Most products bind copper with an amine to reduce toxicity to the fish. Reducing agents risk breaking that bond, releasing free copper that can harm the fish.
• Feed and top off tank water normally.

Days 3 – 16: Continue Copper Treatment

• Monitor copper ppm regularly. If the copper level remains steady day to day, you can test less often, but if the concentration falls below 2.0 ppm, you may need to extend the 14-day count for the copper treatment.
• Monitor water quality parameters as you would for your display tank.
• If the copper or ammonia levels ever exceed guidelines, be prepared to administer water changes (pre dosed with copper) to correct the problem.

Day 16: Copper Done, begin hyposalinity. Hold fish at a specific gravity of 1.009 for 30 days and then return to normal salinity over 3 to 5 days. Refer to this file for complete instructions:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hyposalinity.880546/

Day 47: Begin returning tank to normal salinity.

Day 50: Quarantine process completed.



3) Modified Quarantine Process with Overlapping Copper and Prazi

Note: Pure powdered prazi should be used as liquid Prazi products may cause more stress to the fish that is important to minimize since the fish are concurrently being dosed with copper.

Days 1 – 2: Observation - let the fish settle in and determine proper diet.

• Set QT temperature to 78 - 79 degrees F.
• Adjust the salinity to match the value that the fish will be arriving in (if known).
• Acclimate the new fish to the QT:
  • If not done in step above, measure salinity of the water in which the fish arrived.
  • Adjust salinity in QT to within 2 ppt of the salinity of the water in which the fish arrived.
  • Acclimate the fish to the QT gradually over 45 minutes Use aeration. Additonal acclimation information is here: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/acclimation-methods.903/
• Observe the fish for any symptoms which might influence the treatment(s) you should administer.
• Determine if the fish are eating adequately to proceed.

Day 2: Begin Copper Treatment

• Add Coppersafe or copper power to the QT to achieve a concentration of 2.25 ppm over the course of 24 hours. This can be done in two doses 12 hours apart or multiple smaller doses if you prefer. Coppersafe will not be effective until a concentration over 2.0 ppm is present. A target of 2.25 ppm will allow for fluctuations without the risk of falling below the 2.0 ppm threshold. Hanna Copper checker is the most accurate test to use.
• Never use ammonia removing products or other reducing agents (dechlorinator) when dosing copper. Most products bind copper with an amine to reduce toxicity to the fish. Reducing agents risk breaking that bond, releasing free copper that can harm the fish.
• Feed and top off tank water normally.

Days 3 – 32: Continue Copper Treatment and start prazi treatment

• Monitor copper ppm regularly. If the copper level remains steady day to day, you can test less often, but if the concentration falls below 2.0 ppm, you may need to extend the 30-day count for the copper treatment.
• Monitor water quality parameters as you would for your display tank.
• If the copper or ammonia levels ever exceed guidelines, be prepared to administer water changes (pre dosed with copper) to correct the problem.
• On day 7: Add Praziquantel to the QT per the dose on the label.
• Ensure the additional oxygenation source is working. This treatment will potentially reduce the oxygen levels within the QT to critical levels without additional air flow.
• Remove carbon or other chemical filtrants. Continuing running any protein skimmers, but don't collect the skimmate, let it run back into the tank. Additional information about dosing praziquantel is found in this file: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/
• Second prazi dose on day 14 and a third dose on day 23. A 25% water change (treated with copper) should be made prior to each prazi dose.

Day 34: Treatments Done

• Begin copper removal through water changes.
• Binding agents Cuprisorb may be used to hasten the removal process, but work best with ionic copper.
• Carbon is usually too slow or ineffective at removing copper and should not be relied upon without adequate monitoring.
• Confirm salinity and temperature of QT and DT are the same, add fish to DT. No acclimation is required if the two tanks match in these parameters.

***********************************************

General Notes:

Do not use copper or hyposalinity on sharks, rays, some eels or flashlight fish.

Do not use ionic copper products, as these are harsher than amine-chelated products such as Copper Power of Coppersafe.

Wild caught clownfish are prone to Brooklynella, and may need metronidazole or formalin treatments. Other sensitivities towards medications are listed in this file:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-treatment-variations-by-species-and-medication.1078949/

All wild caught fish have a potentially high mortality rate from a variety of other reasons, just be aware that losing fish during this quarantine time can happen.

If the fish appear ill during any quarantine process, the issue needs to be diagnosed in case additional treatment is required. The Fish Medics on Reef2Reef can help you with that, or refer to this file for self-diagnosis:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/self-diagnosis-of-common-marine-fish-diseases.1141555/

@Jay Hemdal I noticed that for the 60-day full protocol you don't suggest changing out 25% of the water prior to each praziquantel dose whereas you do suggest that when they overlap in the faster version. Is this correct or did I misunderstand?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

@Jay Hemdal I noticed that for the 60-day full protocol you don't suggest changing out 25% of the water prior to each praziquantel dose whereas you do suggest that when they overlap in the faster version. Is this correct or did I misunderstand?

I’m not sure if it mentions it, but the water changes are more important when using prazi plus a solvent, like Prazipro. Pure prazi powder doesn’t require a water change.

At all times, water changes are needed if there is a quality issue like ammonia greater than 0.50