Quarantine
From The Aquarium Wiki
Contents |
What is it?
Quarantine is a procedure where new livestock are kept in a physically separate aquarium system for a temporary period to adjust and inspect for disease and unwanted hitchhikers. The separate system is often a single tank referred to as a Quarantine Tank.
Benefits
- Feed without competition. Transportation stresses often mean fish are reluctant to eat.
- Regain health without harassment. Territorial fish may harass newcomers.
- Prevent spread of disease, parasites and pathogens to existing livestock
- Prophylactic treatment
- Spot unwanted hitchhikers
- Acclimate to destination tank
What to quarantine
- Ideally anything that may harbor disease, unwanted microorganisms or animals
- fish
- invertebrates
- coral
- live rock
- even empty shells (may have worms or small animals hiding inside)
Setup
- filtration
- bare bottom
- hiding places
- cover sides
Protocol
- separate tools and equipment
- keeps lights off first day
- time frame (2 * 4 weeks)
- inspection
- new animal = reset time frame
- if disease is found sterilize equip
Alternatives
- obtain livestock from a reputable store
- obtain livestock from a other hobbyists
