How long to QT? - Fish for the Planted Aquarium

Borntofish · 11-22-2009, 06:53 AM

Hi All,
Just purchased some new kids for the family. Currently have them in a 20 gal QT tank. Was wondering how long I should keep them there before moving them to main tank? I got a great deal on a pair of electric blue rams (50% off), bolivan rams and shorline sharks. The female electric blue is already showing signs of ich, good times!

Diana K · 11-22-2009, 07:41 AM

I follow this schedule for quarantine:

1) Match Q-tank water to store water for TDS, GH and KH. Drip acclimate.
2) If the fish in the store showed any sign of disease or parasites (or neighboring fish in other tanks) run a UV sterilizer for a week. Then turn it off. Allow diseases and parasites to show themselves.
3) Treat for internal parasites. Especially bottom feeders like Loaches and cats.
4) If any problem shows up target the treatment to that specific disease or parasite.

5) While the fish are in the quarantine tank do enough water changes to slowly alter the water chemistry until the fish are in the same water (TDS, GH and KH) as the main tank. This may take a month or more if the fish came from a hard water source and I am moving them into a tank with softer water.

6) After all the treatments have been cleared from the water keep the fish in the Q-tank for a month. If they are healthy for that month, move them to the main tank. If any other problem comes up, treat and re-set the clock for another month.

I have not had Ich, or any other disease show up in my main tanks following this procedure. I have dealt with Ich and Flex in the quarantine tanks once in a while. The acclimation procedure works really well. Very slow changes in the water chemistry are the easiest for the fish to handle.

Cliff Mayes · 11-22-2009, 07:42 AM

Most folk use a waiting period of two weeks because most diseases seem to have a gestation period of two weeks (14 Days) of so.

Apparently, according to a lot of sources, Ich is available in all tanks simply waiting for conditions to be compatible for rapid growth and weakened hosts so due to the fast moving conditions in the supply chain of fishes a lot of fish come to the Hobbyist in a much weakened state.

I have used a heightened temperature to defeat Ich but a lot of folk have successfully used the various remedies available in the trade. Ich moves very fast so it is useful to keep the remedy of choice, up to date and on hand, just in case. Fish and any pet is not cheap, either money wise or emotionally, and do not get sick on a schedule, so being prepared is good insurance.

There are probably a lot of more appropriate folk available to respond but as I said Ich moves fast so the quicker you get going the better!

gheitman · 11-22-2009, 07:45 AM

I would recommend leaving the fish in the quarantine tank for at least 3 weeks after you have treated the ich and it is no longer visible.

TAB · 11-22-2009, 12:14 PM

with salt I use to do 6 weeks min. fresh I tend to do 2-3 weeks.

MotionInsilver · 11-23-2009, 06:59 AM

as long as possible- I've done 6 months before as they were wild caught specimens

ICH has few life stages so once they got ICH its best to Qt them for as long as possible to ensure that the ICH doesn't return. Because few meds will only kill one stage of ich not others...

Ovrkill · 11-23-2009, 07:14 AM

One thing that I was told by the LFS is that if a fish does show signs of Ich to increase the heat, O2 and to add aquarium salt.

Personally I haven't had a fish with Ich yet (knocks on wood) but I was told that in nature when a fish is ill they will swim towards the shore line where there is increased warmth and O2 available and that if it works in nature why wouldn't it work in the aquarium? Cant hurt if you also use meds right?

Six · 11-23-2009, 05:42 PM

3-4 weeks.

The fish got ich because it's stressed. No stress = no ich.

sure there's a million opinions on the subject of ich, but frankly, it is not going to be an issue for you if you meet the requirements of the fish. if you arent sure what those are thats when the problems occur.
I'd say 3-4 weeks is enough time to learn.

GL

JanS · 11-24-2009, 04:22 AM

First off, good for you to quarantine! It's such an important step that far too many skip.

I usually go for at least a month just to be sure. It usually winds up to be longer than that since I hate to stress them by moving them again, but you should be safe at around a month, providing they aren't showing any signs of illness at that time.