This is a Tough, but Enjoyable Hobby

[67chevellemalibu2]

I have never had so many issues with animals before I got into saltwater. Been doing this since Mar 18. I have a 125 gal Fish only Tank. I have lost so many fish, I lost count. No I don’t quarantine and that’s my decision.
I have had dogs, cats, bearded dragons, birds.
Currently have a Sun Conure that will probably out live me and my wife, a cat and bearded dragon that I have never had issues with.
Some don’t eat, starve themselves to death, some eat, swim all around and you find them dead the next day. I read about so much disease in fish, picky eaters, aggression.
I do enjoy immensely the fish and invertebrates that have survived in my tank. Hopefully I will never have a major crash, because if I do I will probably be done with this hobby.

 

[LowLi]

i didnt qt for awhile got away with it for a few months then lost all my fish 700$+ in fish lol still on fallow till next year :/

still wont quarantine will be paying the premium to have lfs qt for me.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

100% agree, for me the difficulty is part of the enjoyment. Yes, I know I am odd, but the challenge is what keeps me going as I like playing chess with Mother Nature (even though she is much better than me).

I strongly recommend getting a QT or seeing if your LFS will do it for you.

I also recommend never buying a fish the day you first see it. If you want it, ask the LFS to hold it for you (most will hold it up to a week) and stop in a couple times and watch it eat and see how it behaves. This will also give you some time to see if any diseases present themselves before you take it home.

 

[brwaldbaum]

I lost several hundred dollars in fish when I started. Once I stopped quarantining with copper, all my problems went away.

 

[davocean]

It is your prerogative I guess, but if you'd like to be more successful in keeping animals alive, there are many here that would like to help you.
Most of us that have been in this hobby a while like to keep it enjoyable and positive for ourselves and others as best as we can.

 

[laverda]

I have not seen a LFS do a full QT. It just is not practical for them to really do it properly. Each QT would need to be a separate tank a few feet away from any others and not share any components. Imagine QTing fish for just 10 customers and assuming they all got fish in one week. Reality says all the tanks are going to be placed next to each other. That rules out eliminating airborn pathogens. It also means splashes of water are going to easily get from one tank to another allowing more potential problems. Then a forgetful or lazy employee uses a net or container to fish out your long awaited “QTed” fish and now it is contaminated. The cost in floor space and employee time would quadruple the cost of the fish if not more. Most LFS do not even have the room to keep their captive bread live stock separate from wild caught fish. Since they ideally have never been exposed to any pathogens, they have no resistance. Making them very susceptible.
If your LFS is claiming to QT a fish for you , I would ask to see their QT system. Look at the plumbing is rack tank isolated? Most LFS have 3 salt water systems. One for corals and inverts, one for fish and one for treatment of suspect fish and possibly new arrivals.

 

[laverda]

I lost several hundred dollars in fish when I started. Once I stopped quarantining with copper, all my problems went away.

Copper is a toxin to many fish even at low levels and to all fish at higher levels. There are lots of other ways to QT your fish. Personally I just keep an eye on them in a separate tank with hyposalinity for 2 months typically. If need be I will then treat as needed. I have never used copper. I have many fish that I have had for a long time. I have 2 that i have had over 20 years, living in 3 different tanks during that time. Probable another 6 I have had for 15 plus’s years. The youngest fish I have would be about 2-3 years as they only have a 2-3 year life expantacy.

 

[Coralreefer1]

Unfortunately for me, the main reason for me losing fish is they jump out of my tank.

 

[joec]

The quickest way to exit the hobby very frustrated , is not to quarantine. Even if you quarantine, things can still go wrong. The objective of quarantine is to try to limit things going wrong. Once you get a quarantine procedure down, it's easy, it just takes time.

I had 130G tank in 1987 and 88. After two major die offs I was so bummed, I broke it down and said no more. It's no fun watching every animal in your tank die in 36 hours, it sucks bad. I just got back into the hobby a year ago and pledged to do it the right way this time. If you are looking for immediate gratification, this is not the hobby for you. It's not a sprint, its a marathon. Also, research, research, research before you even consider getting a tank, this hobby is one giant biochemistry experiment, you need to be prepared

 

[davocean]

One thing to also keep in mind is QT is not just for disease, but also it's a great way to get fish eating w/out competition, and shy or finicky fish will benefit greatly from this.

 

[Bryce M.]

Unfortunately for me, the main reason for me losing fish is they jump out of my tank.

Make a custom cover

 

[Fin]

I know of one LFS that QTs every incoming fish and has been doing so for 2-3 years now. Coral Fever in Raceland, LA. The QT system and procedure was set up by Humblefish, so you know it is right. They are; however, in a small town 3 hours away from me. When it comes time to stock my tank, I will gladly make the trip and pay the extra amount, to be as assured as I can be, that I won't be introducing a scourge to my tank.

 

[goodtimes]

@67chevellemalibu2 just wondering if you bought your fish from a lfs or online?

 

[saltyhog]

I know of one LFS that QTs every incoming fish and has been doing so for 2-3 years now. Coral Fever in Raceland, LA. The QT system and procedure was set up by Humblefish, so you know it is right. They are; however, in a small town 3 hours away from me. When it comes time to stock my tank, I will gladly make the trip and pay the extra amount, to be as assured as I can be, that I won't be introducing a scourge to my tank.

Man, I'm jealous. There is nothing like this available anywhere near me.....as I Google Maps to see how far it is from Conway, AR to Raceland, LA!

 

[67chevellemalibu2]

@67chevellemalibu2 just wondering if you bought your fish from a lfs or online?

From both. Only have a Christmas Wrasse that has survived from Liveaquaria. I am done with them.

 

[67chevellemalibu2]

I know of one LFS that QTs every incoming fish and has been doing so for 2-3 years now. Coral Fever in Raceland, LA. The QT system and procedure was set up by Humblefish, so you know it is right. They are; however, in a small town 3 hours away from me. When it comes time to stock my tank, I will gladly make the trip and pay the extra amount, to be as assured as I can be, that I won't be introducing a scourge to my tank.

I would pay more for that. You don’t even get any guarantee whatsoever from an LFS. Even store credit would be acceptable.

 

[cracker]

I have several well cycled observation, Q/T tankthat I will observe a fish for a long time to see any signs , otherwise I don't treat .

 

[mattzang]

I would pay more for that. You don’t even get any guarantee whatsoever from an LFS. Even store credit would be acceptable.

fwiw if you're absolutely set on not QTing, I reached out to the guy who did cherryfish and gave a few talks at MACNA about QTing fish, i asked him if he did any sales and he does some sort of giant aquarium setup and QT service, but I assume it was way out of the price range of the average person. he recommended diver's den as they do some level of QT.

I think tsmcorals also does a legit QT and I believe piecesoftheocean does some semblance of QT. Not sure how extensive they are.

maybe try doing captive bred fish only? even then, i bet there's still disease along that supply chain

 

[Bryce M.]

For the most part my friend's LFS qts for me anyways since he knows me (saves me time) and unique corals gives some really nice and healthy corals. Other than those places that I trust, I QT

 

[Jesterrace]

i didnt qt for awhile got away with it for a few months then lost all my fish 700$+ in fish lol still on fallow till next year :/

still wont quarantine will be paying the premium to have lfs qt for me.

That is terrible, I don't do traditional QT either (I let my LFS do it), although my investment in fish is significantly less ($165 total). I figure at that price it's a toss up between the value of the fish and setting up a 20 gallon or larger QT tank (a 10 is just too small IMHO) and I simply don't have the space or time to maintain another tank.