Live Rock In Quarantine?

[Myka]

This is how I do a QT.

Equipment:
~ Tank
~ Heater
~ Powerhead
~ AquaClear power filter
~ PVC pipes
~ Carbon
~ Seachem Prime
~ Seachem Ammonia Alert; and/or
~ Salicylate ammonia test kit (API is preferred, Elos and Salifert not compatible with Prime)


Use water from the display tank to fill up the quarantine tank (doesn't matter if the water is infected because apparently so is the fish, right? hehe). The filter floss media I use in the sump in my display tank fits into the AquaClear with a bit of trimming. I use the used media from the display tank to "seed" nitrifying bacteria to the QT. Use two pieces of media, one new one and one used one. Once a week replace the older one with a new piece.

If medications are being used I will dose the QT with Prime. Most medications will kill nitrifying bacteria so the seeded media is a moot point in the power filter - just use new media.

For Ich I don't medicate, I use hyposalinity so a refractometer is required. Google "marine ich hyposalinity" for more info on that.

The Prime is to de-toxify ammonia. The Ammonia Alert is to indicate if you need to add more Prime (or do a water change) to lower the ammonia. Ammonia is you biggest concern in a QT, and is why a person would be concerned about nitrifying bacteria. No nitrifying bacteria (due to "freshness" of tank or because of medications) and ammonia will be soon to come. You need to use a salicylate test kit to test for ammonia as the Nessler types will give you a "false" ammonia reading when using Prime. i like to use the Ammonia Alert (which I find is surprisingly accurate) in addition to daily testing for ammonia.

Use carbon in the power filter to remove medications when finished so you can monitor the fish's health post-medication for a week or two sans medication before re-introducing to display.

[MarkoD]

thanks for the great write up.... but im not going to be quarantining fish that are already in my tank.... im gonna be quarantining new fish before introducing them into my tank.

[Myka]

Oh, I read this part:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

i cant use water from the display tank because im afraid that theres ich still in the water (which is the reason for the QT)

...and thought you were treating fish with Ich from your display. Either way, quarantine before introduction or quarantine for treatment...the same steps apply. If you're worried about contaminating the quarantine tank with Ich because you recently had Ich in your display then use the Prime as I described above.