who runs a qurantine tank?

[Dyncaus]

ok, i wanna know who runs quarantines and who doesn't and how many fish you have lost, etc, etc. i tried my luck with fish without quarantining, and lost all my fish, now i tried using a quarantine, and they got sick while in the quarantine, but then i tried to treat with copper and the fish still died. i am thinking i must have the worst luck with fish. just wanna see how everyone else does. thanks

[RobertG]

Interesting I want to set one up also. Will follow this thread. Please keep it going.

Robert

[technomex]

I have a 20 set up in my utility. I always qtine my new fish for at least 2 wks. I learned my lesson watching several ich outbreaks in my main tank.

[Dyncaus]

ok, i made a poll for this thread as well, hopefully we'll get more than 2 responses

[dan]

i never have used one. i'v been in this hobby for 25 years and i allways study a fish before i buy it. looking to see how they act and how they look. at times putting the fish on hold and going to the store to see how it's doing for two or three days. after taking it home i will float it 2 to 4 hours and add a little of my water in the bag every 15 to 30 min. than take the fish out of the bag NOT putting any of the water from the bag into the tank.

[omoreno]

Being new to the hobby, I don't have one. Been saying that I will set one up, but just haven't done it. . Was thinking of a 10gal. I have been pretty lucky from what i understand. Course been staying to the hardier fish. Thanks Dyncaus for the thread, gonna watch this one pretty close, as I to am in a position making a decision.

[ryanrichter]

I have had a fish only tank for about fifteen years. A reef tank for about 8 months. I have never used a quarantine tank. I choose VERY carefully, the LFS that I purchase from. I also study the fish hard before purchase. Many times the fish will stress harder moving from one tank to another which could lead to ich as well.

[Andrew]

After loosing many fish in the past (several years ago), I quarantine everything for at least two weeks. I picked up a 10 gallon, hood and heater, for about $40, which to me is a worthwhile investment to keep parasites from entering my main tank.

Copper levels must be maintained at .15 mg/l to be effective, which often requires testing several times per day. I have found certain parasite controls such as coppersafe to be ineffective, at least on the strain(s) my past fish exhibited.

Andrew

[wkopplin]

I am setting one up for my system. I would not be without one. Too risky IMO. I am setting it up to keep at a low salinity, with blacked out sides and back to reduce stress and low light. Will have several plastic plants that are very brushy to provide some cover. I will also have a 10 gallon freshwater dip tank. That should prevent any unwanted pests from entering the tank. Minimum quarrantine is 2 weeks, but most will be three.

[manny]

I had a q-tank setup for the month that i had to quarantine my damsel and psuedochromis. I spent 50 bucks for all the medicine and everything and dosed a TON of copper and I'm suprised they both didn't die but it got rid of the ich. Spent more money than the fish costed but it was worth it I guess since those were my first fish. The hardest thing for me was keeping ammonia down during the whole thing. I guess you gotta have a powerfilter on their for awhile and some liverock. It was too much of a hassle for me so from now on I'd rather just buy from places that quarantine their fish.

[Dyncaus]

Andrew, what kind of copper are you using? I tried cupramine and it says to keep it at .5 mg/L and that keeping it under that could let the parasite build an immunity.

Manny, what places around town have you found to have healthy fish that are quarantined? Those are the kinds of places I want to check out.

[Dyncaus]

Heres another interesting question, I have noticed that some brands of copper use mg/L and some use p.p.m.. Now with copper, does 1 mg/L = 1 p.p.m as it does with other liquids? Because this could lead to different dosages being recommended by different brands yet still being the same when converted. However, if they are the same, then I suppose the differences in dosage is dependent upon how the solution is made. Assuming this, and testing using the same test kit, and recieveing the same levels, then the amount of copper in the tank should be the same, therefore making the recommended "dosage levels" comparable to each other? Ok, now I think I just confused myself...

[manny]

CB Pets is the only place I know of around here that quarantines their fish