Quarantine Practices

[hillegom]

Originally Posted by asylumdown

I have a tank transfer set up in my basement. I've lost fish to hypo, and lost fish to copper, but I've never lost a fish to the tank transfer. I do it prophylactically with every fish that comes in, and I dose Prazipro for two of the 3 days transfers.

+ 1
I have been down that route as well, so tank transfer is all I do now

http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/3daytransfer.html

[Craigdillman]

So you think if i picked up another 30 gallon or 20 gallon that would work?

Or is 30 gallon over kill and i could just get 2 20 gallons ?

or get a 20 gallon and only fill the 30 gallon with 20 gallons of water?



Also how many fish would you do at one time with this method? 3-4 at a time i assume?

[hillegom]

If the fish are small, I have used two 5 gal pails. (20 liters)
Again, it depends on the size of fish. You would not put a 4" tang into a 5 gal pail.
On the last day in the "tank" I feed a lot, and before bedtime, I put a black plastic bag over the tank. Then in the morning when its still dark in the tank I transfer.

[Craigdillman]

Ah ok, well i think i will set up a couple tanks either 2 20gallons or 2 29 gallons

[Myka]

Chloroquine phosphate is another good medication to consider instead of hypo or copper.

[asylumdown]

I've been happy with my 15 gallon tanks for the transfer because:

a) they almost fit in my laundry room sink and are super easy to clean out

b) they don't take up a lot of space. I have both of them in the place I used to have my 40 gallon QT tank

c) 5 gallons doesn't give you much room for error in terms of feeding and ammonia control, 15 gallons is a little more forgiving.

and d) saves a bunch o' money on salt. You'd go through twice as much salt doing a transfer protocol using 30 gallon tanks.

I don't buy large fish as a general rule (I'd rather they get large in my tank!), but I did do the TT protocol on a medium sized copper band and two smaller fish at the same time and 15 gallons didn't seem to be a problem for them. Having a smaller footprint seemed to make it easier for the CBB to figure out how to eat prepared food, is it wasn't so dispersed.

[Craigdillman]

Yea thats a good idea thats what i was worried about 30 gallons is a lot of WCs

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by hillegom

+ 1
I have been down that route as well, so tank transfer is all I do now

http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/3daytransfer.html

Hmmm, you've caught my interest with this. I have used the hypo method with good success. But the downside is that it takes a long time, usually about 2 - 3 months the way I do it. And you always need a mature QT running and ready.

The TT method seems a lot faster. And I have a lot of those old 5g salt pails available. Instead of using new fresh SW mix, any problems with just using some stored DT water from a water change? As I said, I have a lot of those salt buckets, so can easily do that. What about filtration, or is 3 days not enough time to worry about that? As the final step before the DT, I can transfer them to my QT to observe them a bit longer.

[Craigdillman]

Yea I'll be getting a pair of 20 gallons for the tt method when I get back from my trip and sell the current 55 qt

[hillegom]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Hmmm, you've caught my interest with this. I have used the hypo method with good success. But the downside is that it takes a long time, usually about 2 - 3 months the way I do it. And you always need a mature QT running and ready.

The TT method seems a lot faster. And I have a lot of those old 5g salt pails available. Instead of using new fresh SW mix, any problems with just using some stored DT water from a water change? As I said, I have a lot of those salt buckets, so can easily do that. What about filtration, or is 3 days not enough time to worry about that? As the final step before the DT, I can transfer them to my QT to observe them a bit longer.

I use water from the display, the first time, the fish have to be acclimated.
For me, I see a win win because I am also changing the DT water.
I feed minimal for two days then a lot the last night. Before going to bed I put a black plastic bag over the pail (I have aeration in the pail) and remove it just before I transfer
I don't put them into QT after, just into DT. I don't use filtration. The first two pails the fish are in, usually gets prazipro treatments.