Effective aquarium health management involves proper care and sound husbandry practices. While many hobbyists devote their time and energy on their main display aquariums, very few invest in a quarantine tank. Regrettably, resources spent on creating and maintaining a beautiful and healthy aquarium can be undermined with the introduction of disease-causing organisms. Prevent costly losses by having a quarantine tank ready for any unexpected event.
Is a
quarantine
tank really
necessary
to have? |
A: Similar to insurance, the immediate need for a quarantine tank may not seem evident. Quarantine tanks offer peace of mind and a means to prevent and treat illnesses without compromising the main |
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aquarium system. Quarantine tanks are particularly important in reef aquariums where the removal or treatment of sick fish is difficult. |
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WHAT IS A QUARANTINE TANK?
A quarantine tank is an independent, supplementary aquarium used to temporarily house any aquarium inhabitant. Similar to conventional aquarium setups, a quarantine tank incorporates
lighting,
heaters, and
filtration to maintain proper conditions for its temporary inhabitants. Its principle purpose is to isolate livestock before they are introduced into the main aquarium. As a fundamental husbandry practice, quarantine tanks offer hobbyists a means to ensure quality care for individuals as well as the entire aquarium community.
WHY QUARANTINE FISH?
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SETTING UP
A QUARANTINE TANK
An aquarium kit like the
Eclipse System 12 makes a great quarantine tank. Since it already includes a filtration system, set up is fast and easy. Generally, a quarantine tank should be about 10 to 20 gallons but a 29-gallon aquarium, or larger, is preferable for larger fish. In addition to the aquarium, you will also need the following items for your quarantine tank:
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Fish kept in quarantine are usually newly acquired fish. However, quarantine tanks can also be used to house any particular fish of interest and keep them under careful observation. Quarantine tanks allow hobbyists to perform thorough physical and behavioral examinations. Detailed visual examination of coloration, fin development, and eye clarity offers great insight into the general health of the fish. Careful examination over an extended period also allows hobbyists to detect any potential parasites or disease symptoms.
During quarantine, hobbyists can also monitor feeding behavior to make sure new arrivals are eating and are accepting prepared foods. More importantly, this observation period allows new arrivals to acclimate and recover from the stress of transport. These cautionary steps ensure optimum health of new fish and the prevention of potential illness in the main aquarium. A minimum quarantine period of at least two to three weeks is recommended for new arrivals.
WHY QUARANTINE CORALS?
All new aquarium inhabitants including corals should be quarantined. As more hobbyists enjoy the engaging hobby of reef keeping, numerous pests and parasites have also made their presence in home aquariums.
Pests affecting the reef aquarium hobby include certain Red Bugs, Nudibranchs, Flatworms, Snails, and Limpets. The best remedy for these pests is to prevent introduction into your aquarium. Follow proper quarantine procedures to keep your reef aquarium free of pests and pathogens. Quarantining also helps reduce transport stress and allows corals to acclimate to water chemistry and lighting conditions found in your main system. Be sure to quarantine all new corals until they are free of any unwanted organisms and demonstrate good expansion and vigor.
HOSPITAL TANKS FOR FISH
(TREATMENT TANKS)
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THE IMPORTANCE OF
A QUARANTINE TANK
Quarantining is a vital practice that should be employed by all aquarists. However, less than 5% of all aquarium owners use quarantine tanks. Most hobbyists don't have a quarantine tank because of perceived expense and maintenance. However, a quarantine tank doesn't need to be large or expensive. Its benefits will pay for itself many times over. Get into the practice of using a quarantine tank and you will find it difficult to imagine continuing your hobby without one. For optimum health, the quarantine tank and equipment should be disinfected between uses. A mild (2-5%) chlorine bleach solution works great as a disinfectant. Make sure all traces of chlorine are removed before re-use. Drying also kills many but not all aquatic pathogens. |
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When quarantine tanks are used to medicate sick fish, it is sometimes called a "hospital" or treatment tank. Removing sick fish from the main population and treating them in a hospital tank has many benefits. The most significant benefit is the prevention of unnecessary medication. Many
medications have strong antibiotic properties and may have the undesired effect of harming or compromising the health of non-target species. For example, ornamental invertebrates are sensitive to copper-based medications. These medications should never be used in any aquariums housing desirable invertebrates, especially reef aquariums.
Biological filtration can also be affected by medication. To minimize stress and potential harm to the entire aquarium system, it is prudent to treat only the affected individual in a hospital tank.
Limiting medication use to hospital tanks also means the need for less medication. Since hospital tanks are generally smaller than the main aquarium, you use less medication. Furthermore, using less medication allows better control and monitoring of dosage. By using hospital tanks for treatment, you not only spend less money on medication but also reduce the potential of overdosing. It is prudent to have two quarantine tanks if you keep corals and fish. Use one quarantine tank for corals and the other for fish. Exclusive use of the two quarantine tanks prevent unintentional harm to your corals especially if you use medications to treat sick fish. |
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PRODUCTS RELATED TO:
Fish Health & Nutrition
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