Why I hate quarantine...

[Freenow54]

I used to quarantine all fish ( after my first disaster, about 4 years into the hobby) . I had minimal losses. Mostly with wrasses. They are difficult shippers.
Now with Dr Reef, I put away the quarantine equipment away.

Please elaborate This might bring an uneasy truce between the 2 camps and I would already argue reduced stress

 

[mfinn]

Please elaborate This might bring an uneasy truce between the 2 camps and I would already argue reduced stress

Nothing really to say except at first I didn't quarantine my fish. Then one day I brought home a new fish. Then having a velvet outbreak and wiping out the tank. I did use over the counter in tank remedies from the store but lost everything.
Learned about how to quarantine, and lived it ever since.
Fast forward a couple decades.
Checked out Dr Reefs, read the reviews, read what he did on his website, gave him a try. Although the first batch stayed in a observation tank for a couple weeks. Now they go right in the display out of the bag.

What I do, just just that. It's what I do.
I see how polarized the 2 sides are and what each side does is their own biz.

 

[Freenow54]

wont let me like so just saying thanks

 

[AlyciaMarie]

I just ordered a new batch of fish to add to my 180, and it got me to thinking about the good old days...before I started quarantining my fish... I got to thinking about why I hate quarantining so much...

I hate it because I'm not patient. Let's face it...who wants to watch them swim around in pvc fixtures and a tank that's occupying space that is out of place (I don't have a place to keep a qt setup all the time...how I envy those of you with fish rooms...so every time I buy new fish, out comes the equipment...). A proper qt requires weeks of observation for disease or parasites, but it also involves the task of getting the new guys eating whatever you serve your display so that when they go in there, they're already used to your husbandry.

I hate it because it means work. There's the doubling of most husbandry tasks bc if we are to properly qt, then feedings, water changes, etc. get done on your qt as well as the display. Additionally, checking levels becomes a mandatory task throughout the procedure, and your checking levels that are not usually necessary to check in your display unless there's a problem (ammonia, nitrites, ph, etc.). If you discover a disease or some kind of problem, then you've got the added issue of medication. So qt involves work...

I hate it because it's absolutely necessary. In my reminiscing, I remember the way I learned this lesson... As an impulsive, overly anxious reefer, I made the mistake of not quarantining new additions. Sometimes I got away with it, but in the end, not quarantining cost me most of the fish in my tank. About two years ago, I lost 16 fish in less than 2 weeks bc I introduced a sick wrasse into my system (he looked healthy during acclimation...don't trust it...). One by one, my previous livestock reaped the consequences of my foolish, impulsive mistake. It wiped everything out. So, despite the frustration that may be involved. Despite the fact that we're all impatient, and all of us want to see that new fish in the display, please learn from another's mistake and always quarantine...I know I will.

With a lot of quarantine (or lack thereof) horror stories, it feels like they mostly revolve around losing lots of livestock, but does the size of your tanks and/or the amount of fish have anything to do with the importance and necessity of quarantine? It feels like people who have nano tanks or tanks with very few fish choose to opt out of QT more than those with bigger tanks/more fish.

Disclaimer: I'm not endorsing this, just curious what others think.

 

[Freenow54]

With a lot of quarantine (or lack thereof) horror stories, it feels like they mostly revolve around losing lots of livestock, but does the size of your tanks and/or the amount of fish have anything to do with the importance and necessity of quarantine? It feels like people who have nano tanks or tanks with very few fish choose to opt out of QT more than those with bigger tanks/more fish.

Disclaimer: I'm not endorsing this, just curious what others think.

I added 7 fish at once from a very cautious LFS with one owner which I think is important or to have a dedicated Thorough fish room Manager . He even made me wait before he would sell me one of the seven. Bearing in mind I had none at this point QT was a mute point at the time which I now know is incorrect. However I got lucky . Now however I want to add more since I lost four due to aggression and one from a bad batch of food . My tank is a 100 with 40 Sump. Tough spot to be in have been holding of for months since I did lose one in QT I believe from stress. I do not feel its fair to the fish to treat them like Guinee pigs