Quarantine Practices

[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

[Craigdillman]

Also what do you think about a mandarin going throughout this process

[asylumdown]

Originally Posted by Craigdillman

Also what do you think about a mandarin going throughout this process

They're tricky, but they're tricky fish in general. I'm 2 for 2 on failures with them now, but the first one I think was beyond the point of no return when I got it, it never ate, or even swam more than was necessary to keep itself in one spot and didn't survive a week, the second one came through the transfer just fine, at least as well as any other fish. I didn't treat the second one with prazipro though as it was suggested that doing so might have prevented the first one from eating. However, the second one ate from day one.

However, it just bit it in my display. I have no idea why. It went from active and feeding one day, to dead the next morning. It was only in the display a few days.

[asylumdown]

Yah, it's a really labour intensive process. The most sweat equity needed of any of the treatment methods. Just like tank maintenance, you're more likely to do it 'right' if you make it as easy and quick to do as possible. I'm not sure I'd love the fish I was treating much if I had to clean 30 gallon tanks 4 times in 12 days.

The other good thing about the TT method is that you really think hard about all those fish you see in the store and go 'oooooo' over. Knowing that your'e committed for 12 days of work is a strong deterrent to impulse purchasing.

[Myka]

Why don't you guys just bleach the water and then dechlorinate? You don't have to throw the water out when you do tank transfers.

[Craigdillman]

Yea I don't mind putting in the work after this ich ordeal and I've learned a lot with these fish in hypo so I'm prepared to do all the work before hand so the acutal process is easier when it comes time to do it

I have lots of heaters, 3 air stones, 2 hob filters and a few crappy powerheads I'll just look to pick up some 15ish gallon tanks