Quarantine Tank? FW Dip? Is it all really necessary?

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I don't do it but I don't have a multi-thousand dollar tank.
I have lost many half my tank to ich before too, I guess I didn't learn.
It's your own risk.

 

Your info on the last part is not exactly correct, but correct info on that subject is not what this thread is about. I meant that you should focus on stopping the excessive fishing of small fish to produce fish meal instead of the smaller amount of fish caught for the trade. The over harvesting of fish used in fish meal is more detrimental to the ocean's ecosystem than the removal of a small % of reef fish. However, like everything else, I am sure the over harvesting of reef life forms will occur in the future. Blasting reefs and cyanide are a huge no no and I refuse to partake in anything that was obtained via those processes.

Anyway, I read what you wrote differently than how you meant it. You are 100% correct. A QT, if the space is there, should be in every home and greatly helps to identify, treat, and segregate new fish. As well as protecting your current ones.

 

As far as not having space I've been there as my old apt was 2 bedroom with under 700 sq ft of space and no patio, the kitchen had but 2 sections of counter both at or under 2ft each. My house is a mere 875sq feet with 2 bedrooms and once again a tiny kitchen.
But after the loss of fish and potential loss of my corals in the tank too, it's worth it to me to QT since it's that or keep loosing fish and at $20-30 each that adds up.
I had the 10gal to use for a QT so the cost was zero for me, but you can find kits for a 10 or 20 gal aquarium at WalMart for cheap or look in the classifieds or Craigslist for a used tank.

The additional steps I plan to take for all new fish is to FW dip them then treat in the QT as if they had something because if wild caught chances are they do even though they may just be a carrier. For corals I'll be dipping them as well, but am not sure about a QT since that'd take better lighting and cost more, but I do have a Nano tank with good lighting that might work for QT for them since there is less invested in it than in the other 2 larger tanks.

Just my $.o2

It does really come down to what you can live with I guess and your own personal opportunity costs (an economic term, meaning for every choice there is a trade off that by choosing one thing over another you loose the benefit/value the other choice had).

 

I dont have a QT and have not had any probelms in over 2 years and 2 seperate tanks. Ick doesnt scare me, I have had it and my fish beat it with garlic soaked food everytime. Velvet does scare me, and I probally should set up a QT some day, but like Curt said I probaly wont until something bad happens. As for coral I think you have to be more careful.

 

Ich doesn't scare me either I've had fish beat it with garlic in the food and a bit of Melafix....but the nasties the last fish came with (gill flukes) that is different because they didn't look sick and didn't act it till near death (if at all) and the other fish that died because of it were captive bred and probably more susceptible to the other stuff the wild caught ones brought in with it since they had no exposure to it before and therefore little to no immunity.

I'm happy that those who don't QT have had success and hope you continue to do so.

I never QT'd in all my years of FW and never had any major problems either just for a bit of Ich once or twice (but it was minor, just treated it @ the first signs and it went away).

 

Ya I have been lucky so far. I know I should set up a QT. Hopefuly I wont ever have too learn the hard way.

 

Neither of your fish have beaten ich. They've acquired an immunity, where they're still infected a small amount, likely on the gills, but not enough to severely hurt them or kill them.

 

I personally think that "not having the space" is not a good excuse or reason to not have a QT. Precautions should be taken & should be planned for. If you don't have the space for both your DT & a QT to hold at least your largest fish, then you are not prepared.

CoralQeuen, My plan was to have my QT under the DT, next to my sump, with it's own filter/equipment. I could probably just go with a HOB filter & a HOB skimmer.For the QT, I will be using my current 29g tall.

The bucket - I'm not so sure about. You would still need pump/skimmer just as with a tank. Not sure how well that would work. I would also suggest a decent light.

 

and I haven't beat chicken pox? what else do you call it? Sounds beaten to me.



I get why folks like these things... but anyone that says a QT and/or HT is a requirement and any reason for not having one = failure or ill prepared... well, your entire repertoire of advise just sank in my book.

Sounds real similar to folks (even in 3reef) who guarantee failure for tap water or for not having a sump, or not having a particular color back ground... good grief. The analogy I like are the folks who say (when referring to bike riders) "it's not if you drop it, but when". No, it's not you fortune teller. Put down your glass ball; it is cracked.

Your tank can hold a finite amount of fish. Once you're stocked you should have 0 reason for a QT ever again right? Or do you lose fish anyway that need to be replaced? Or do you just swap fish out for fun? Or are you going to misconstrue this into a HT?



I mean, IMO, if you have not read 94.65% of all threads on 3reef you're not prepared. So what. Meaningless.


I don't get why this is being made such a fuss. How many LFS QT each fish? Wait, how many did you say? Seriously? And we're worried about the end buyer, not the dealer? (another fun analogy in that one!).

PU-LEEZE. I am not single handedly making any sort of negative dent on any reef in the world. That'd be the LFS above me in this chain that hasn't QT'd anything ever.

Pick on the guy that burns a few ants with a magnifying glass, but let's leave the exterminator out of it! : That's what a lot of this sounds like to me.