The importance of a Quarantine tank

Discussion in 'Beginner Discussions' started by Zoom, Jan 19, 2010.

  1. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,465
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    This is mostly for the beginners of the forum, but I think we can learn from one-another's mishaps. I by no means consider myself anymore more than a beginner, as I have only been keeping fish for a year, but I trust you will take my cautionary tale to memory.

    Starting out keeping fish can be daunting, and exciting. Without the proper care, and proper following of the basics, it can become a very dis-heartening hobby.

    I recently lost 2 thirds to 3 quarters of my community tank fundimentally due to a disease. I intially had Anchor Worms, which I was treating for, and when an outbreak of fungus started, I started treating for this as well in conjunction to to the Anchor Worm med. The combination of the meds resulted in the losses.

    I USE to follow a more "primitive" way of introducing fish to my community tank. The fish would arrive bagged, and over a course of 2 hours, I would slowly fill the bag with the current tank's water, and eventually release the fish into the tank. I NEVER kept the water from the pet stores, and generally discarded this.

    I believe strongly that the Anchor Worm was introduced to my tank through the introduction of an infected fish from a local LPS. (I cannot point any fingers at any LPS, because I use so many as my supplier)

    Guys, a simple R200.00 1foot quarantine tank set up with a sponge filter, and a 50w heater would have saved my fish's lives.

    We all spend hundreds, if not thousands on fish, and then complain when they die due to diseases we introduce.

    I will now have a QT tank set up next to my display tank for when new fish arrive. Fish will be quarantined for a space of 2 weeks and checked for ay diseases before introducting them to my community tank.

    I have also read that this is good practise with plants as well, and you would then possibly need to put a small light in the QT tank.

    The 50W heater will run on minimal electricity, and the sponge filter can be T'd off your main tank's air supply.

    Take it from someone who lost a lot, the QT tank is something you CANNOT negotiate on! I am a believer that a QT tank is as vital to fish keeping as a filter is in the main tank. (PERIOD!)
     
  2. Guest




  3. Linxie

    Linxie

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,821
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
    Thanks for this Zoom! I'm going to get myself a quarantine tank on pay day. It's very important to our fishies lives.

    Sorry you had to go through so much trouble before getting the Q tank though.
     
  4. Donny

    Donny

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    Messages:
    2,279
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Churchill Estate, Parow
    Good Advice Zoom .
     
  5. darryn

    darryn

    Joined:
    May 13, 2009
    Messages:
    645
    Likes Received:
    7
    Location:
    Pinehurst, Durbanville
    It as a pity the well sometimes learn these lessons all too late. Sorry for your loss Zoom.
    I am sure that you will be back up and running in no time.
     
  6. Sean J

    Sean J

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2009
    Messages:
    3,835
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    Randburg JHB
    Great advice Zoom... It's amazing how little mistakes are such incredible learning curves in this hobby.

    Put all the losses down to School fees. Don't worry, one day, we wont kill as many fish as we do now...
     
  7. neilh

    neilh

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    704
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    JHB/Roodepoort
    A QT tank doesn't guarantee cross contamination won't occur, there are other factors as well. Must see if I can find the thread on Simply Discus.

    Basically a guy had breeding stock of Discus in excess of 50 specimens in his fish room. He ordered new brood stock which came from the east which were put into QT. Disease was carried between nets and water change containers and he lost all his stock within a week. Hectic stuff
     
  8. Kat

    Kat

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2009
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Port Elizabeth
    thanks for the excellent advice Zoom :)
     
  9. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,465
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    I'm not saying it's foolproof... just saying it's a necessity!
     
  10. 10i

    10i catfish-a-holic

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2010
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    East London
    Thanks zoom, prevention really is better than cure. It's easy to forget about the basics sometimes.
     
  11. wito-zn

    wito-zn

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    Messages:
    527
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    DBZ
    So true Zoom. You just don't know when something is going to attack the tank. Is there a thread about a quarantine? If not lets start one for the newbies like us.
     
  12. Scaly

    Scaly Therapeutic

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2009
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Westdene JHB
    That is where my problem started...I ended up putting stock in my QT, then I had to setup another and so forth...drew the line at 9 tanks...but have cut back to 3, with a QT (Which I now have some guppys in... it's a vicious circle!) :)
     
  13. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,465
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    Yeah.. I ran into the same problem... QT tank became a NANO planted tank... MTS
     
  14. Scaly

    Scaly Therapeutic

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2009
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Westdene JHB
    Luckily my populations are stable and I don't foresee getting new fish anytime soon...touch wood;)

    The only tricky bit will be if any of my current population gets ill...but I do have a number of extras and am sure I can set something up in no time if needs be...just have to hide it form the missus...
     
  15. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,465
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    Then you are not a true aquarist..... you can NEVER not buy new fish soon!!
     
  16. veegal

    veegal

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2009
    Messages:
    2,215
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Cape Town
    When you run out of room for more tanks and your current tanks are full you HAVE to learn to control the urges when entering a LFS - for the sake of the fish. It also has a rather good effect on the thickness of your wallet as well :blink1::p

    A quarantine tank is ESSENTIAL and should not be ignored. You also ideally want a separate net and cleaning equipment which is used only on your QT, in order to not spread disease that way.
     
  17. Scaly

    Scaly Therapeutic

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2009
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Westdene JHB

    LOL!! I still have so many "themes" I want to try... but self-restraint is the order of the day here... as it is I can hardly resist all the classifieds that get posted...it's like a taxi, always room for one more...

    But for now I'll focus on brushing up on my aquatic flora...

    oh and then there is the missus (luv her to bits but she just don't understand :bigsmile:)
     
  18. P.A.T.

    P.A.T.

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    89
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    JHB; South Africa
    Zoom,

    Thank you for this great info. You realy are a true inspiration to many of us here. You are always willing to share info. Thank you once again for all your efforts.
     
  19. Filterboy

    Filterboy

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2010
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    i learnt the importance of a quarantine tank when my fish got white spot. i had a extra tank but did not have any filters or a heater. so everybody plz make sure you have a quarantine tank
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - importance Quarantine tank Forum Date
The importance of Quarantine Articles May 24, 2011
The Importance of Consistency General Discussions Apr 10, 2018
Importance of tank design and bracing! General Discussions Sep 22, 2016
Quarantine failure? Diseases Nov 4, 2021
Quarantine medication Diseases Aug 5, 2019
The Quarantine Process Beginner Discussions Sep 7, 2018
Should you do a general treatment of new fish in a quarantine tank? Beginner Discussions Jan 27, 2017

Share This Page