How to speed up coral/invert quarantine

[fishywishy]

I quarantine all new corals and invertebrates for 76 days to make sure I don’t introduce anything into my tank, but the long wait time is getting frustrating. I came across this Thread that says if you raise the tank temperature to 80.6°F and use a UV sterilizer, you can shorten the wait time to 45 days. I’m just wondering if this is true.

 

[Euphyllia97]

If you run at 81F, indeed 45 days should be enough. To be safe I would go for 60. UV will kill the free swimming stage of parasites but doesn’t take care of the encysted stages. I don’t think there is enough evidence to decrease fallow period/QT time based on UV use. But running at 81F for 60 days is already a good reduction in time :)

 

[ILikeFish!]

@Jay Hemdal @MnFish1 @vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

I quarantine all new corals and invertebrates for 76 days to make sure I don’t introduce anything into my tank, but the long wait time is getting frustrating. I came across this Thread that says if you raise the tank temperature to 80.6°F and use a UV sterilizer, you can shorten the wait time to 45 days. I’m just wondering if this is true.

Higher temperatures are most common method to shorten life cycle but not always 100 percent

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I quarantine all new corals and invertebrates for 76 days to make sure I don’t introduce anything into my tank, but the long wait time is getting frustrating. I came across this Thread that says if you raise the tank temperature to 80.6°F and use a UV sterilizer, you can shorten the wait time to 45 days. I’m just wondering if this is true.

Many corals don't like that high of a temperature. What I do is this: if the invertebrates and corals came from a tank with no active disease, then an observation period of 30 days works fine. If the source tank condition is unknown, then 60 days at 78 degrees works well.

Remember that another very important reason to isolate corals is so that they don't introduce coral pests into your system. Again though, if you hold them in a fish free system, away from your main coral collection, you can usually see coral pests within 30 days or so.

 

[MnFish1]

I agree with @Jay Hemdal I think most responses have been related to fish QT. I would not 'speedup' usual protocols - JMO

 

[fishywishy]

Many corals don't like that high of a temperature. What I do is this: if the invertebrates and corals came from a tank with no active disease, then an observation period of 30 days works fine. If the source tank condition is unknown, then 60 days at 78 degrees works well.

Remember that another very important reason to isolate corals is so that they don't introduce coral pests into your system. Again though, if you hold them in a fish free system, away from your main coral collection, you can usually see coral pests within 30 days or so.

Thanks for the reply. Would the 45 day at high temperatures work for just inverts and no corals if corals can’t handle the high temps?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the reply. Would the 45 day at high temperatures work for just inverts and no corals if corals can’t handle the high temps?

Yes, above 81 or 82 can reduce the time to as low as 45 days, but I only recommend doing that if there are specific circumstances that require going for a shorter time. If it is just impatience (grin) I suggest going for 60 days.

 

[fishywishy]

Yes, above 81 or 82 can reduce the time to as low as 45 days, but I only recommend doing that if there are specific circumstances that require going for a shorter time. If it is just impatience (grin) I suggest going for 60 days.

60 days at 81-82 or at normal temps?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

60 days at 81-82 or at normal temps?

Normal temps are fine - 78 f