I am planning my first reef tank, and plan on introducing 4 or 5 fish, but honestly have no space for a quarantine tank in my house. So,what's the best way to avoid any type of illnes in my tank without a quarantine? Just I freshwater dip or just drip acclimate and hope for the best?
How to introduce fish without quarantine
- Thread starter BitFix
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jabberwock
2500 Club Member
Go slow, try to provide optimal stability, minimize stress
symon_say
Active Member
I don't think there is any safe route this way, you won't have problems most of the time, and probably never, thing is you never know when that last fish you introduce to the tank will bring something that kills all the other fish.
Tried several times, and 3 of 4 I didn't have any problems but that last time was really the last, I won't do that never again.
A QT don't need to be big a small 10 gl tank should work for most fish if they're small, and you don't have to run the QT all the time, just keep a hob sponge on your sump (cleaner it regularly), and you have a ready to go QT all the time.
SPR1968
No, it wasn’t expensive dear....
Reef Squad
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I think a lot of this depends we’re you source the fish from otherwise your asking for trouble
I have never quarantined, but I’m assured by my LFS, here in the UK, that all fishes are medicated/rested as necessary by the wholesalers before being shipped to the LFS
I read a lot about QT, and it’s a good idea, unless like me your confident of your sources.
I have never quarantined, but I’m assured by my LFS, here in the UK, that all fishes are medicated/rested as necessary by the wholesalers before being shipped to the LFS
I read a lot about QT, and it’s a good idea, unless like me your confident of your sources.
Jvesche20
Valuable Member
I made the mistake of doing this and I lost 3 fish from ich. You can make a cheap QT. For the tank it’s self just go to the store and get a plastic tub that you store stuff in. I did that for a while till someone on Craigslist was giving away a free 55 gallon tank. Snagged that so fast. When you least expect it your fish will have a disease and destroy some fish. Currently letting my tank sit for 76 days till I can add them back. It sucks!
I don’t think I’m going to quarantine most of my fish, but that’s because my LFS is essentially going to do the quarantine for me. If I purchase something from anywhere else, I’ll likely set up a QT though.
You can also read up on threads from Paul B regarding the way he deals with his fish. I *think* the crux of it is to feed them live food to keep their built up immunity/gut bacteria healthy. (Way over-simplification I think).
You can also read up on threads from Paul B regarding the way he deals with his fish. I *think* the crux of it is to feed them live food to keep their built up immunity/gut bacteria healthy. (Way over-simplification I think).
kkiel02
Active Member
I’d just buy from someone that will quarantine them for you or ask your lfs if they will do it or maybe if you are lucky they will let you setup a little QT in the back for a small fee.
I really wish the wholesalers would do it so then they are shipping healthier fish but it gets expensive and what’s to say the disease/parasite isn’t in the tank they are shipping it to.
I really wish the wholesalers would do it so then they are shipping healthier fish but it gets expensive and what’s to say the disease/parasite isn’t in the tank they are shipping it to.
FDAWG
Active Member
IMO: If you don't quarantine, then you will learn a valuable lesson on "Why quarantining is important" Many moons ago, I wasn't QT'ing any of my fish and I was getting lucky with healthy specimens until one day my luck ran dry and a $12 Lawn Mower Blenny took $500+ worth of fish within a 2 week period. It was an expensive lesson to learn but I learned the hard way.
jabberwock
2500 Club Member
How big of a tank are you planning on setting up?
Don't get me wrong, I've read enough horror storys about people loosing fish because of ich and want to avoid it at any cost, but I just don't have the space, I think I'll steal Jvesche20's idea and use a plastic tub, because when my tanks is stocked it's way easier to store it.
Dilan Patel
2500 Club Member
I use the fish quarentine dip its methlyn blue and i forgot the name of the green one.
There are plenty of folks who don't quarantine for whatever reason. The lfs I buy from treats each tank with meds. He also writes the arrival date of each fish on the glass and I try to buy fish that have been in his store for several weeks. This way I know they are hardy and healthy enough to survive in an aquarium. Perhaps you can find such lfs nearby? Fish stress is a huge contributing factor in ich showing up, so I am extremely patient between adding each new livestock (1-2 months) to give existing livestock and tank bioload plenty of time to acclimate to any new arrival.
when acclimating, try to get the salinity as close as possible to ur tank level while bag sits in sump/tank. I use turkey baster every 5 mins. Throw out the water fish came in, don't dump that into the tank.
when acclimating, try to get the salinity as close as possible to ur tank level while bag sits in sump/tank. I use turkey baster every 5 mins. Throw out the water fish came in, don't dump that into the tank.
I believe people should qt all their fish. Not because loosing fish is expensive but it's your responsibility. As a fish owner you have the responsibility of giving your fish a healthy life.
Ime dipping is good but not good enough. Something might get though and end up wiping your tank. I highly recommend a qt.
Ime dipping is good but not good enough. Something might get though and end up wiping your tank. I highly recommend a qt.
Last edited:
Dilan Patel
2500 Club Member
This is from my own experience. I don't quarantine fish/coral/ anything. If you do not quarantine everything that goes into your tank including coral and invertebrates, quarantine the fish is not effective enough. I know this is a very touchy subject I would explain but do not want to derail the thread 
. A stated above I use safety stop which is a "quick quarantine method" which all it is is two seperate baths and you dip the fish like you would coral super easy and effective . I find I have very good success ever since using it and you can use the dip for multiple fish at a time. After that I will either get an acclimation box and set the new fish in there if I see there could be an issue if not then I will just dump the fish in. I feed very heavy and that allows me to keep my fish fat and happy. Don't get me wrong I do have ick in my tanks but I manage it allowing my fish to get nutritious meals several times a day. I am able to add new fish and have a low chnace of them showing a disease. I find if you can lessen the stress on the fish the more success you will have. I really hope this helps!
. A stated above I use safety stop which is a "quick quarantine method" which all it is is two seperate baths and you dip the fish like you would coral super easy and effective . I find I have very good success ever since using it and you can use the dip for multiple fish at a time. After that I will either get an acclimation box and set the new fish in there if I see there could be an issue if not then I will just dump the fish in. I feed very heavy and that allows me to keep my fish fat and happy. Don't get me wrong I do have ick in my tanks but I manage it allowing my fish to get nutritious meals several times a day. I am able to add new fish and have a low chnace of them showing a disease. I find if you can lessen the stress on the fish the more success you will have. I really hope this helps!
I’d like to hear more about this process. Maybe create a new thread? What’s the chemicals you use called?This is from my own experience. I don't quarantine fish/coral/ anything. If you do not quarantine everything that goes into your tank including coral and invertebrates, quarantine the fish is not effective enough. I know this is a very touchy subject I would explain but do not want to derail the thread
I’d like to hear more about this process. Maybe create a new thread? What’s the chemicals you use called?This is from my own experience. I don't quarantine fish/coral/ anything. If you do not quarantine everything that goes into your tank including coral and invertebrates, quarantine the fish is not effective enough. I know this is a very touchy subject I would explain but do not want to derail the thread
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
This article might be helpful for anyone that trusts sources or thinks their LFS is quarantining their fish for them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/lfs-fish-“treatment”-the-“sudden”-need-for-quarantine.308/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/lfs-fish-“treatment”-the-“sudden”-need-for-quarantine.308/
JasonK84
I want more!!!
Get an old biocube 14 or 16. They can go on any table top and have all the lights and filtration built in. As mentioned before it doesn't have to be set up 24/7. Can be set up and tore down and put away when not needed. You will be glad you did.
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