I've been in the habit of running a temp over 80 and salting my qt tanks. What does everyone think on that?
To Salt QT or Not?
- Thread starter jandb
- Start date
Although temps in the 80s may help bring the ick cycle out (if ick are present), and the salt dispose of the emerging ick.
Temps in the 80s often make bacteria more virulent, and a little salinity is not often particularly detrimental to many bacteria.
So as a former microbiologist my question would be, what the prophylactic treatment is aimed at, if anything at all, or just theoretic?
If against ick, a rather simple malady to eliminate, yes.
If bacterial, often problematic to get rid of, maybe not.
I look at quarantine as a way to prepare the new fish for life in the tank, as opposed to just disease prevention.
Will the tank its going into be salted? Will the temp be similar?
Or will the difference cause stress (the most common disease threat) when finally released to the new tank?
Temps in the 80s often make bacteria more virulent, and a little salinity is not often particularly detrimental to many bacteria.
So as a former microbiologist my question would be, what the prophylactic treatment is aimed at, if anything at all, or just theoretic?
If against ick, a rather simple malady to eliminate, yes.
If bacterial, often problematic to get rid of, maybe not.
I look at quarantine as a way to prepare the new fish for life in the tank, as opposed to just disease prevention.
Will the tank its going into be salted? Will the temp be similar?
Or will the difference cause stress (the most common disease threat) when finally released to the new tank?
I would generally just follow the directions, without looking at it I believe it's 1 tablespoon/5 gallons.
That's a lot deeper than I got! I was just hoping to make the transition smoother. It seems like ich is the most prevalent offender of newly acquired fish. My other thought on temp was during ****ting I would imagine it will dip quite a bit then they'd be introduced into much warmer (80s) water.
I am expecting heros, pim, lima shovelnose and some others from Wetspot tomorrow. Just want to put them in the best situation possible. The qt tanks are cycled 20 and 25 gallons with sponge filters.
What do you think offers the best qt situation?
This what I do.
Although I agree the stress of transport and new tank is up there, I don't treat unless I have an idea of what I'm treating for.
I don't consider ick to be any more common that Lymph, or columnaris, and all 3 are treated (or not) differently.
When in quarantine, unless some disease symptoms appear, simply add water from the tank the fish are going into, in small amounts, every day with water changes.
When the Q tank is essentially totally turned over, and if no disease has appeared, that's when I add the fish to the main tank, which for me, takes 6 to 8 weeks to be sure. Longer, of course, if a disease appears.
Some diseases have fairly long incubation periods.
Sure if its ick, I'd raise the temp and add salt.
But if its columnaris I'd lower the temp, and add an antibiotic effective against gram negative bacteria.
If lymph, no treatment other than water changes and low stress is worth messing with.
I've had fish come in from Wet Spot (wild) and require no treatment at all.
Although I agree the stress of transport and new tank is up there, I don't treat unless I have an idea of what I'm treating for.
I don't consider ick to be any more common that Lymph, or columnaris, and all 3 are treated (or not) differently.
When in quarantine, unless some disease symptoms appear, simply add water from the tank the fish are going into, in small amounts, every day with water changes.
When the Q tank is essentially totally turned over, and if no disease has appeared, that's when I add the fish to the main tank, which for me, takes 6 to 8 weeks to be sure. Longer, of course, if a disease appears.
Some diseases have fairly long incubation periods.
Sure if its ick, I'd raise the temp and add salt.
But if its columnaris I'd lower the temp, and add an antibiotic effective against gram negative bacteria.
If lymph, no treatment other than water changes and low stress is worth messing with.
I've had fish come in from Wet Spot (wild) and require no treatment at all.
Thanks Duanes. 76-78 and no salt it is. Here’s the other sticker. Do you drip acclimate or float the bag to get the temp right, net out and release?