Pest Prevention Procedures

[goody]

My newish mixed reef tank build of 1.5 years is starting to fill in and look really good. I've been to this point and beyond with some of my past tanks thriving. Unfortunately, some of those tanks I would end up breaking down due to a pest of some sort. I've dealt with mojano and aptasia outbreaks, blue clove polyps, bubble algae, AEFW, and red bugs to name a few. I'm looking to avoid introducing any of these or other pests that often lead to tank breakdowns or even taking a hiatus from the hobby.
Whether it's a coral from a frag swap, lfs, or online purchase, I would love to hear procedures and precautions fellow reefers take to avoid these pests. If you dip, what products do you use? Do you quarantine? If so, how long? Do you examine closely under a microscope, cut the frag off the plug or take other measures? Looking forward to hearing what's been successful for you.

 

[BryanM]

I dip in revive, thats pretty much it.

 

[Fish Fan]

I do my best to quarantine everything "wet" as best as I can. This means that I have extra tanks going to QT new corals, motile inverts and fish. I dip corals and try to remove the plug where possible. If a see anything squirely in the QT tank, they get dipped again. I'm not saying my way is the best way, and I'm not saying I'm 100% successful in eliminating every pest, but I do my best to try.

Good luck!

 

[goody]

I do my best to quarantine everything "wet" as best as I can. This means that I have extra tanks going to QT new corals, motile inverts and fish. I dip corals and try to remove the plug where possible. If a see anything squirely in the QT tank, they get dipped again. I'm not saying my way is the best way, and I'm not saying I'm 100% successful in eliminating every pest, but I do my best to try.

Good luck!

I would imagine it varies, but on average, how long do you leave it in the QT? Are the extra tanks for the different livestock (fish, invert, coral) or are they based on purchase date so you're not possibly infecting a coral, for example, that is already in the QT process?

 

[goody]

I dip in revive, thats pretty much it.

Currently, I dip in either revive or Bayer, possibly hydrogen peroxide if there is visible algae, but I will probably give Exodus dip a try from Reef Moonshiners since I'm using this method on my tank.

 

[Fish Fan]

I would imagine it varies, but on average, how long do you leave it in the QT? Are the extra tanks for the different livestock (fish, invert, coral) or are they based on purchase date so you're not possibly infecting a coral, for example, that is already in the QT process?

For most, it's a little personal or what you've learned and have trusted before. When I first started doing this, I thought (from research) that 60 days was the magic number for starving out fish parasites, and because I'm a glutton, I decided that 90days of QT would be my goal.....

I don't think that's true anymore. From those that are much more of an expert on this subject than I am, 45 days is thought to be the magic number. And given that I'm, well, me, I now shoot for 60 days. The 60 days is out of an abundance of caution, and because sometimes life gets in the way, and I leave livestock in QT a little longer.

Again, I don't claim to be a expert here, and I would welcome other member's thoughts.

Certainly, your milage may vary :)

Again, best of luck!

 

[BryanM]

For most, it's a little personal or what you've learned and have trusted before. When I first started doing this, I thought (from research) that 60 days was the magic number for starving out fish parasites, and because I'm a glutton, I decided that 90days of QT would be my goal.....

I don't think that's true anymore. From those that are much more of an expert on this subject than I am, 45 days is thought to be the magic number. And given that I'm, well, me, I now shoot for 60 days. The 60 days is out of an abundance of caution, and because sometimes life gets in the way, and I leave livestock in QT a little longer.

Again, I don't claim to be a expert here, and I would welcome other member's thoughts.

Certainly, your milage may vary :)

Again, best of luck!

Yeah, and I have never qt’d fish.

I may learn to regret this at some point, but I do focus on tank raised or already qt’d fish almost all of the time.

 

[Fish Fan]

Yeah, and I have never qt’d fish.

I may learn to regret this at some point, but I do focus on tank raised or already qt’d fish almost all of the time.

Friend, most - like 95% I'd estimate - do not QT anything. As I recall, I think you source your fish through Dr. Reefs, which is a viable option verses not QT'ing at all.

I am not trying to make myself out as an expert on preventing fish and coral pathogens; I'm not! But I have been plagued before with any number of issues and illnesses, and I'm trying my best to at least keep those issues in check at this point going forward.

Fingers crossed for all of us!

Thanks for your reply here :)

 

[goody]

For most, it's a little personal or what you've learned and have trusted before. When I first started doing this, I thought (from research) that 60 days was the magic number for starving out fish parasites, and because I'm a glutton, I decided that 90days of QT would be my goal.....

I don't think that's true anymore. From those that are much more of an expert on this subject than I am, 45 days is thought to be the magic number. And given that I'm, well, me, I now shoot for 60 days. The 60 days is out of an abundance of caution, and because sometimes life gets in the way, and I leave livestock in QT a little longer.

Again, I don't claim to be a expert here, and I would welcome other member's thoughts.

Certainly, your milage may vary :)

Again, best of luck!

I appreciate the response. I am part of that possible 95% who do not QT fish and I know that I'm risking losing all my fish and a possible restart or follow tank.

Most of the procedures I was looking for are mainly when introducing coral, simply because I add a lot more frags than I do fish, and these are the reasons I have had to restart a tank or take a break.