Quarantine tank procedures

[MarlinHooker]

Ok, I tried posting this to an already existing thread but that one was pretty deeply involved in another discussion which is not at the heart of my current issue so I'll try on a separate thread ...

I'm setting up a 150 mixed reef system. I have a 29g QT setup planned as well. What I'm trying to understand are the top level, in the appropriate sequence, steps to establishing my DT by first running all my new aquisition fish through quarantine? What's the appropriate process for setting up my QT & DT at the same time?

I'll outline what I think would work and then maybe folks can fill in holes or reorder steps or add or delete ...

Assumptions: no bio filter or any other media from someone else's tank or the LFS will be used as I can't verify their history ...

Step1: Set up DT to begin cycle including some filter material in sump for later use in QT; at the same time set up QT at salinity equal to LFS and purchase a couple of hardy initial fish. What is a reasonable # of small fish for a 29g QT?

Step 2: While DT is cycling carefully monitor QT water parameters & do water changes as necessary to keep ammonia at zero. Slowly raise salinity over time to evenutally match DT in final week of quarantine. [Anyone recommend a freshwater bath sometime during quarantine? If so, specify techniques you employ.] Is there any such thing as "bacteria in a bag" you can buy to have a 'ready made colony'?

Step 3: Once DT tank has cycled add small cuc. One week later, assuming everything is ok & stable, transfer fish into DT.

Step 4: Replace QT water with fresh saltwater at appropriate LFS sality. Take filter material which has been in DT sump this whole time, which should now contain a useful bacteria colony and put in your QT filter.

Step 5: Add your next couple of small fish from your LFS to your QT and quarantine for 4 weeks. Monitor water quality & do water changes as necessary but should be less since you now have an established biofilter.

Step 6: Follow same salitity & freshwater dip protocols as before

Step 7: After 4-6 months if everything has gone well begin to add invertebrates. No quarantine necessary since as far as I can tell there are no known parasites WRT inverts that we need to worry about?

Step 8: After several more months with no issues the addition of Zoas, soft corals, LPS & SPS can begin (in that order). While quarantine is not strickly req'd for corals, some sort of dipping protocol will need to be followed to eliminate known pests, parasites & hitchhikers. The QT will be used for this but will need to be cleaned afetr each application so a 2nd piece of filter material may want to be cultivated in the DT sump so that the QT can be reestablished quickly for new introductions vice waiting for a few weesk to get a new bacteria culture

So, let's hear it ... what do you all think?

[reidcrandall]

Step1: Set up DT to begin cycle including some filter material in sump for later use in QT; at the same time set up QT at salinity equal to LFS and purchase a couple of hardy initial fish. What is a reasonable # of small fish for a 29g QT?
This is fine, but I would set up the QT to the same parameters as your tank, not the LFS. As far as small fish, you can do 2-3 after the tank cycles... and by small, I mean 1-2" MAX. I am currently QTing a 4" regal angel and a 1" juvenile majestic angel in a 29. I do large water changes every day.

Don't put fish into your QT until the display is fully cycled and stable.

Step 2: While DT is cycling carefully monitor QT water parameters & do water changes as necessary to keep ammonia at zero. Slowly raise salinity over time to evenutally match DT in final week of quarantine. [Anyone recommend a freshwater bath sometime during quarantine? If so, specify techniques you employ.] Is there any such thing as "bacteria in a bag" you can buy to have a 'ready made colony'?
If you are doing a QT tank, I wouldn't do a freshwater bath, because that will just add more stress. You will have time in the QT to observe the fish, and if there are any problems, you can treat them accordingly. There are bacterial cultures you can use to jump start the biological process, but I have not used them, so I can't comment on their effectiveness.

As stated above, you can acclimate new arrivals over the course of a couple of hours to your parameters. There is no need to change the params this slowly, unless you are treating with hyposalinity.

Step 3: Once DT tank has cycled add small cuc. One week later, assuming everything is ok & stable, transfer fish into DT.
I don't know that I would add a cuc first, as they are more susceptible to swings in parameters, and if they die, they can release a toxin that can throw off a new tank. I would add snails first.

Step 4: Replace QT water with fresh saltwater at appropriate LFS sality. Take filter material which has been in DT sump this whole time, which should now contain a useful bacteria colony and put in your QT filter.
Be sure to clean filter material and then allow new bacterial cultures to grow between QT sessions.

Step 5: Add your next couple of small fish from your LFS to your QT and quarantine for 4 weeks. Monitor water quality & do water changes as necessary but should be less since you now have an established biofilter.
Good.

Step 6: Follow same salitity & freshwater dip protocols as before
No need to freshwater dip after QT if you have treated the fish properly. You can if you wish, but it just adds stress.

Step 7: After 4-6 months if everything has gone well begin to add invertebrates. No quarantine necessary since as far as I can tell there are no known parasites WRT inverts that we need to worry about?
This is another issue all together. What kind of invertebrates are you planning to keep? I, personally, quarantine everything. Remember, even if the corals don't have coral parasites on them, they can still carry pathogens into your tank that can affect fish. Same for snails and crabs... everything.

Step 8: After several more months with no issues the addition of Zoas, soft corals, LPS & SPS can begin (in that order). While quarantine is not strickly req'd for corals, some sort of dipping protocol will need to be followed to eliminate known pests, parasites & hitchhikers. The QT will be used for this but will need to be cleaned afetr each application so a 2nd piece of filter material may want to be cultivated in the DT sump so that the QT can be reestablished quickly for new introductions vice waiting for a few weesk to get a new bacteria culture
Good.

[sfboarders]

Instead of throwing a filter media in the sump it's better if you can cycle it. What I do is throw a bunch of filter pad media in a 5 gallon bucket with powerhead and heater and add a shrimp/food (anything that will produce ammonia) to let it cycle. Once the cycle has completed than you can throw the filters in your QT and use it. You can get more nitrification bacteria this way and get away with less WC. The only time I do WC is to suck up extra food and poop.

Personally I wouldn't worry about salinity levels. Thats what acclimating is for.

[DolphinLVR]

Tagging along as I will be setting up a new tank and QT at the same time

[Boundless]

Can't you cycle the filter material with the DT when it cycles for the first time?

[reidcrandall]

Can't you cycle the filter material with the DT when it cycles for the first time?

You can, but you still need to allow the QT tank to cycle on its own. It will need to have time for the beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filtration.

[wooden_reefer]

If both QT and DT are new, you can cycle the medium for QT when you cycle for the DT.

If you "cycle the tank" for DT, you can still cycle the medium for QT. You place a HOT filter in the DT (sump or main) while the DT cycles, then you can use the medium in/with the HOT filter for QT.

[MarlinHooker]

Thanks. Everything makes sense except for the initial timing. If I don't get any fish until the DT has cycled so that I can have an established bio filter for the start of the QT, what do I do about my cycled DT during the 4 weeks it is 'empty' while my 1st batch of fish goes through quarantine? This is why I want to have my QT & DT up at the same time so when the DT is finished cycling my 1st batch of fish has completed quarantine & can be added to the DT. Then I can begin the QT all over again with some new arrivials while my DT is off and running with its first fish ...

This is really the issue I'm trying to solve: starting a new DT with the req't to quarantine everything first before it goes in the DT ...

[MarlinHooker]

Ok, what is a HOT filter is this the same as a HOB (hang on back) filter? thanks

[wooden_reefer]

Thanks. Everything makes sense except for the initial timing. If I don't get any fish until the DT has cycled so that I can have an established bio filter for the start of the QT, what do I do about my cycled DT during the 4 weeks it is 'empty' while my 1st batch of fish goes through quarantine? This is why I want to have my QT & DT up at the same time so when the DT is finished cycling my 1st batch of fish has completed quarantine & can be added to the DT. Then I can begin the QT all over again with some new arrivials while my DT is off and running with its first fish ...

This is really the issue I'm trying to solve: starting a new DT with the req't to quarantine everything first before it goes in the DT ...

It is good that you are thinking thru these issues.

It is better that the QT medium be cycled first, then in the middle of the QT the medium for DT is cycled. Yet, this is not essential.

Nitrification bacteria do not starve to death quickly after a cycle, but linger on for weeks. This is a little like human beings not dying at once of starvation. There is reserve.

Moreover, while the QT is in progress, if the medium in your DT was cycled at the same time, you can still maintain nitrification in the DT by adding a small source of ammonia in the DT periodically, like mock feeding of livestock that is not there yet.

[MarlinHooker]

Wooden reefer - thanks but I still think I'm having a little trouble wrapping my small military mind about the sequence & timing of events so .... would you mind just listing the steps you would take (in the proper sequence) if you were setting up your DT for the first time, along with a QT, and did not plan to use media from anyone else to help get started? Don't need all the tiny details, just the basic steps & I can probably fill in the specifics. Thanks