Putting fish in QT

[Frizza]

My QT tank is only 9 to 10 gallons and I want to put my fish in their for around a month. The reason is that I have noticed that my tangs have white spot I assume that this has appeared when some new corals where added to the tank but unfortunately and my fault entirely where only in the quarantine tank for 3 weeks. It's just typical but thats life I suppose and I my plan is to ensure that the main display is cleared up rather than getting progressively worse.
So, the problem I have is that all of the fish will need to be removed and placed in the QT. Now I have 4 fish (two clowns and two tangs) the tangs are each around 3" in length and the clowns are around 2" in length. I am worried that the QT is too small or do you think that for a period of 4 to 6 weeks they will be ok?

The next problem of course is to catch them without taking apart the whole system! The fish always eat well so I may try a trap first.

[geekdafied]

The clowns will be fine in the QT but the tangs will not be. You need to go to walmart or somewhere similar and pick up large plastic container. They are usually $10-$20 for a 40g. You will need to break down your tank for 2 reasons... 1.To get the fish out a heck of a lot easier, 2. The fish need water from your display tank so there is less stress moving them. Then fill your display back up with new saltwater.

Im using a 20H for 2 clowns and a coral beauty right now.

[Tangster]

First off its to late now to remove them from the main system all systems have ich or will have ich if thats the cause of the white spots you see ? Now just 1 month is not long enough to quarantine a fish many diseases and other pathogen's take up to 3 months to show themselves .. Most take at least 6 to 8 weeks on average

[Frizza]

All of the fish in my tank are around 18 months old, none of them are new. The only additions to the tank are corals and of course the rocks they came on. I understand that the crypts can be brought into a system via pretty much anything.

Anyway the plan is as follows....
I want to put all of the fish in another tank which will be bare bottom and no rocks, reduce the salinity rather than using a copper treatment as well as bumping the temperature between 80-82. I understand that this should kill off the crypts within a few weeks but leave the fish in the tank for 4 or more weeks to be safe. The main tank's temperature could also be increased to the same level to speed up the life cycle of the cysts. In theory they will hatch in search for host and as there are no fish they should all die!

Well that's the plan anyway!

[Tangster]

If you have them in the tank now why take them out ? If its just ich thats not a big deal soak the food in a good marine vitamin and raise the temps a bit.. Did you quarantine the rocks or corals ? It's been over 35 yards since I messed with a Q/T for fish not worth the trouble I think and never a problem with disease or death. Now with Montipora nudies and acro eating worms and bugs and the new ones I see daily that eat leathers and soft corals I will use a coral Q/T from now on at home as we do here at the shop where we aqua culture corals. All you will do is stress then even more and that may send the tangs over the edge..If a a secondary infection sets in then in a tank that size its as easy to just treat the whole system,m with a good antibiotic the infection is what kills them not simple ich.

[Frizza]

Thanks Tangster, you always seem to provide good advice when I have a question or problem

Since you mentioned last time about quarantining corals when I had a question about my montis that's what I've been doing. The last one I added to the tank (slipper coral) I had in QT for around 3 weeks or so. Basically I lost track of time and put it in earlier than I wanted, doh!

Anyway, I think I will do what you suggest (with the food) and see how it goes. What sort of marine vitamins would you recommend?

Cheers again.

[Tangster]

We use the REEF Pluse By Sea Chem for soaking the flaked food just put enough in a cup to just cover ther flakes and allow them to soak the liquid up then feed works like a charm. If you can't find it ? let me no we ship it out all the time

[BaxterS80]

We soak our corals in Tropic Marin Pro-Coral Cure as a preventive measure before introducting them into our tank. I am with Tangster, trying to pull one of your fish out of the tank, especially one with lots of rock, is very stressful, and can cause greater problems. Our Yellow belly hippo tang will get a spot here and there. We soak our food in vitamin C and Garlic regularly and have had no problems.

[jimw369]

I have had 3 QT going at one time. Different fish, different meds, hyposalinity. 10-20 gal tanks are cheap and I use the little fluval 2 canister filters that go directly in the water. They circulate the water in a 10 gal very well and also keep some the fish crap cleaned up so you are not messing with ugly looking water every day or 2.

Originally Posted by Frizza

My QT tank is only 9 to 10 gallons and I want to put my fish in their for around a month. The reason is that I have noticed that my tangs have white spot I assume that this has appeared when some new corals where added to the tank but unfortunately and my fault entirely where only in the quarantine tank for 3 weeks. It's just typical but thats life I suppose and I my plan is to ensure that the main display is cleared up rather than getting progressively worse.
So, the problem I have is that all of the fish will need to be removed and placed in the QT. Now I have 4 fish (two clowns and two tangs) the tangs are each around 3" in length and the clowns are around 2" in length. I am worried that the QT is too small or do you think that for a period of 4 to 6 weeks they will be ok?

The next problem of course is to catch them without taking apart the whole system! The fish always eat well so I may try a trap first.