Nem and invert QT?

[SquidOnALeash]

Ok I’m going to be winded here and I’m sorry.
I’m finally getting back into the hobby and am cycling my tank at the moment. Now I want to do things “right” or at least closer to “right” and that means QT. I know that anemones (as well as cleaning crew) need about 80 days in a fishless system to be officially considered QT’d. Well would just letting my display house my nems and a couple cleanup crew be an option?
Just run the tank fish free for 80 days and time it so my first fish additions are finishing their qt in a small little 10g using the 80/20 method around the 80 day mark and then just pop the fish in the display and everything has been though a full QT. Does it work like that or did it just make that much sense in my head?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Ok I’m going to be winded here and I’m sorry.
I’m finally getting back into the hobby and am cycling my tank at the moment. Now I want to do things “right” or at least closer to “right” and that means QT. I know that anemones (as well as cleaning crew) need about 80 days in a fishless system to be officially considered QT’d. Well would just letting my display house my nems and a couple cleanup crew be an option?
Just run the tank fish free for 80 days and time it so my first fish additions are finishing their qt in a small little 10g using the 80/20 method around the 80 day mark and then just pop the fish in the display and everything has been though a full QT. Does it work like that or did it just make that much sense in my head?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There are two aspects for quarantining / isolating invertebrates; 1) to avoid them carrying fish diseases into your tank, and 2) avoid them carrying coral pests into your tank.

The 80 day value you mentioned is longer than is needed. The absolute longest "fallow" time was for marine ich, in a laboratory, in cool water. They found that the resting stage could remain infective for 76 days. That researcher then went on to say that under real world conditions, the needed time is less. 60 days is plenty of time, even 45 days works if the water temperature is above 81 F.

Unless the corals/invertebrates are coming from a tank with infected fish, I find that 30 days isolation is good. I watch the corals during that time to try to ensure they are not carrying any coral pests.

Here are some resources for you:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/current-quarantine-protocol.825055/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/45-day-fallow-periods.805213/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/biosecurity.812/