question on new fish

[reefNewbie]

I was wondering, I dont have a QT and ordered two fish today online. Should i a) put them in my main tank and hope for the best, or b) dip each fish ina formalin 3 bath then put into my main tank? thanks!

 

[CAT]

I would q-tank them, especially if they're mail order. Never know what kind of stresses they've had.

 

[danmhippo]

Q-tank does not need to be so sophisticated. Old tank water in a clean trashcan. A powerhead, A strip light if you prefer, and a heater. Sponge filter optional if the water to fish ratio is high.

It's easier than you think.

 

[reefNewbie]

it sounds easy, but im just worried thats going to cause more stress because a system like that is so unstable. Something like my main tank where top off water is automatically added is much more stable and stress free for the fish. That is why I was thinking of my two options rather than qt.

 

[AllenF]

Here is what I did.

I dont belive in medicating fish.

I purchases a 10G (20 gallon would be fine to).

I set it up with a small carbon filter and a powerhead. Filled the bottomwith crushed coral. 100W heater and a glasss top (no light).

I use this as a mixing facility for my water changes which I am planning on incresasing to 1x per month to 2x per month.

So my water can be perfectly matched in Temp, PH and SG for over 2 full weeks before going into my display.

It pulls double duty as a quarantine tank. When I get a new fish, I qt him in there for a month, and skip 1 water change. When he goes into the display I go ahead and do a water change (if no sign of dz ever presented itself).

if they fish had ANY distress...I flush the water out of the 10gallon and start over...I let it run "fallow" for another month before re-initiating water changes (or I used the "bucket method" if my parameters cause me concern).

The tank will also pull triple duty as a hospital quarantine tank if the need should ever arise (of couse NO WATER will then be brought over to the display for well over 5-6 weeks of running fallow if that ever happens).

This gives me a good "bang for my buck" for the $ I forked out on the components of a second tank (which wasnt much). Plus It gives me a back up heater in that I can yank out and move to the display if I ever suspect any problems with my current 200W heater.

 

[Anonymous]

Very off topic here, I know:

This gives me a good "bang for my buck" for the $ I forked out on the components of a second tank (which wasnt much). Plus It gives me a back up heater in that I can yank out and move to the display if I ever suspect any problems with my current 200W heater.

I use two small heaters rather than one large one. The odds that both fail at the same time is pretty astronomical, and if only one fails on or off it won't change the temperature drastically.

I agree with QTing any MO fish. If you're worried about topoff just cover the tank so there's very little evaporation. IMO, dim lights, if any at all, should be used.

 

[reefNewbie]

the two new fish are a yellow tang and a flame angel. Do you still think they should be QT together in a 10 gallon tank? Because i do pretty much have everything to run a 10 gallon QT and might do that, but Im just thinking that they will end up with ich anyways do to the fact of being confined to a 10 gallon tank, especiallly the yellow tang. Granted i did ask for the smallest of both these fish, so they are not going to be large. So i would have to keep them in there for 4 weeks then? how often should i feed so as not to screw up their water and how frequent water changes?

 

[CAT]

if you have lots of fake plants, low lighting and a few 3" pvc pipes so the fish feel safe, you should be fine. I'd only keep them in for 2 weeks max, unless you see problems. I use Seachem 'Ammonia Alert" in my q-tank - it's a yellow disc that will change color if it detects ammonia, or test every day.

I'd only feed every other day and siphon any leftover food/detritus asap. Also, a 10 gal is a good size for quick water changes if needed.

I think you're doing the right thing since the tang is a likely candidate for ich. :wink:

Good luck