Q for everyone are you FOR or AGAINST QT

[Gtinnel]

Are we talking about fish specifically or corals and inverts too. I haven't always but now I do quarantine all fish that go into my tank. For corals and inverts I would like to quarantine, but I don't.

 

[WVNed]

I have never felt the need to do it. If you do then you should. The element of keepers skill and experience never enters into these discussions.
If you asked me is it necessary for me to be successful I would say no.
I am not against it though. You should do what you think you need to do.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Are we talking about fish specifically or corals and inverts too. I haven't always but now I do quarantine all fish that go into my tank. For corals and inverts I would like to quarantine, but I don't.

Just fish not counting coral and inverts.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

The internet says qt everyone reads qt, so says qt it depends on how you do your thing I've never qt anything yet ever, but also I stock fish first and only add top quality fish to my systems that are established, but to each his own.

It can't be a bad idea to QT! I always have a low amount of fish in my systems, im all about the corals!

 

[Blumy]

I can see the merit especially if buying online. But in 6 years, I’ve never had a problem with my LFS so I don’t.

 

[kenchilada]

Quarantined all fish in my 220G per humblefish methods. I have not lost a single fish that made it into the display.

I successfully treated a swallowtail angel that had velvet. She is happily in my display today. Also treated several fish with intestinal worms, several bacterial infections, etc.


Here’s when the velvet started…

And here she is fully cured, after many H2O2 dips and tank transfers…

So obviously I am FOR quarantine, because if this fish went into my display I would have lost it all.

The worst part is having to quarantine inverts and coral, but it’s worth it.

Quarantine is a lot of work and expense though. It’s gut wrenching when things go wrong. I’m glad I did it.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the poll and given input so far, its really interesting seeing everyone's different viewpoints!

 

[JumboShrimp]

The more money I have invested in my DT tank in terms of expensive fish-- e.g., adult French Emperor, adult Emperor Angel, adult Clown Trigger-- the less interested I am in risking a wipe-out by failing to QT the next addition.

 

[WVNed]

I just keep a few extra hardy fish. That way I don't have to QT.

That is about 1/2 of them

 

[tweeter]

It's no fun to get a new fish, and ad it to your tank of beautiful fish, and then BAM....New fish has ich! Then they all die!! And you have to start all over, but before you do that, you to wait to let all those nasty little boogers in your tank (parasites) die! It's heartbreaking, not to mention, very expensive!

 

[tweeter]

I can see the merit especially if buying online. But in 6 years, I’ve never had a problem with my LFS so I don’t.

My first and only encounter of ich came from my LFS.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I've decided that, on this forum, I'll keep my cycling and QT thoughts to myself.

 

[Logical_Plan]

I am a new reefer.

Going full quarantine in the system I am building. Medication for fish and 76 days fishless for corals and inverts.

I like how it slows down the pacing if new additions to my main system. Gives me time to see how parameters change and monitor nutrient consumption.

Hopefully, QT keeps things slow enough that I can learn system balance with small changes and avoid some big swings and potential over reactions.

Also, by running QT from the start, I get to learn with hardy fish and corals, so hopefully I have the experiences necessary for reasonable success as I buy more expensive livestock.

That said, I am a bit concerned that it limits some biodiversity. I am also concerned that a mistake can undo the hard work of QT.

I've made my choice though and QT from the start it is. Always easy to do less in the future if I want to change, but it seems QT is the current highest path to success in a new system.

I also think that with more aquaculture fish coming into the hobby that people with healthy wild systems might struggle in the short term with captive bred fish. But in 20 years if captive breeding continues to grow, QT may become less necessary.

 

[BVF]

I QT. After learning the hard way…

 

[mike89t]

I learned the hard way on my old display tank from 15 years ago. I did quarantine back then but one time I got worried that an expensive wrasse I purchased on a group buy would do better in the DT vs quarantine. So I broke my quarantine protocol short after a week and ended up infecting my Display tank. A lot of people from that group buy ended up losing most of their fish to Ich. I actually found the old thread the other day and read through it. I was the first to spot Ich on my fish and then everyone else started their battle as well. It's an interesting read:

How is everyones fish doing from the group buy - Reef Central Online Community

How is everyones fish doing from the group buy Arizona - Fish & Reef Aquarium Group (FRAG)

www.reefcentral.com

I now use Jay's quarantine protocol and have successfully ran 4 fish through quarantine on my new setup.

Start up of my QT

I’ve been out of the hobby for a decade and a lot has changed. One thing that I always did back in the day was to place my fish in a QT before they were allowed into the DT. I’ll be following the latest QT advice provided by Jay...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Gtinnel]

I've decided that, on this forum, I'll keep my cycling and QT thoughts to myself.

I assume that means you don't quarantine

 

[attiland]

For QT but against medication if not necessary. I am same feeling about all preventative medication for any animals or human.

 

[Jacaine]

After losing over 2K in live stock between 2 different tanks. 1 was hit with ick, the other velvet. I have set up more of a observation tank. I don't treat meds unless I see something.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Bump for more poll respondents

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Of course, I advocate for a full, proper quarantine! For me, it is more about protecting existing inhabitants from new disease. Do I lose fish during quarantine? Yes, but unless I make a mistake, I don't lose fish BECAUSE of quarantine, there is a huge difference.

Most of you know, but we keep our current basic quarantine on the first page of this thread:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2023 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed quarantine process can effectively eliminate these parasites before...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay Hemdal