quarantine

[Gizmo]

I've had a reef for 3 years this november, Never treated for anything other than Cyano and thats cause of crappy tap water.
I use a red filtered flashlight to look for critters I dont want, maybe once a week, but usually, unless something looks horribly out of place, I let my reef live like a reef.

[Bob I]

The only fish I ever lost were fish I quarantined. I do NOT quarantine any more.

[Ruth]

To be honest I have heard of more fatalities and horror stories from quarentine than I have heard from fish etc. intoduced into the display. I do know that a fish that is stressed stands a far better chance in my display that is stable and has good water quality maintained on a daily basis.
Even with that said I still know I should quarentine.

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by outtafocus

I dont understand the use of the daily 20% water change.
What purpose does this serve? ....

I believe there was an ammonia spike and both fish died within 2days.
....

You just answered your own question.
Doing a daily 20% water change helps keep ammonia levels in check.

Cheers,

[outtafocus]

With an established bacterial culture in your filter media, an ammonia spike will never happen.
The only reason I had an ammonia spike was that I was so worried about the Ich that I forgot all about the nitrogen cycle.

[Johnny Reefer]

I'm talkin' about a QT tank that is used only when it's needed.
In other words, it sits cleaned, empty and idle when it is not used.
Thus, when I get it going for QT I get ammonia spikes immediately.
Having said that, I would think the same thing might happen to an established QT tank, depending on its size and the number and size of specimens put in for quarantine.

[scuglass]

many peopel keep spare sponges in there sumps which populate with bacterian then when the qt is needed u just pop one of those in the filter and u already have the backteria to help reduce these level s and no cycle .

[BMW Rider]

Originally Posted by scuglass

many peopel keep spare sponges in there sumps which populate with bacterian then when the qt is needed u just pop one of those in the filter and u already have the backteria to help reduce these level s and no cycle .

That's exactly how I keep mine ready. I usually try to fill the QT with half new water and the other half from my tank. I like to plan my purchases and have the QT tank set up a few days or a week ahead to help avoid amonia spikes.

[outtafocus]

I had my current QT setup a week before I bought my fish. I had a bunch of live rock rubble from my sump in the QT for bacteria and even a few pods.

Heres another question which I never really have got a straight answer for: Does any one quarentine shrimps and crabs? What about snails?

If your dealer tank has aiptasia, and you buy a frag, could you potentially get aiptasia even with out any sign of them on the frag?

[scuglass]

heres a good thread on qting fish http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1