[bigbubbacain]

I've become thoroughly disgusted with the fish stores in my area. I've given everyone the benefit of the doubt and I've purchased fish from all of them: the small "Mom & Pop" pet shop types, as well as the larger places that are slick, glossy and laid out like a BMW dealership. I keep winding up with sick fish when the rest of the fish I already own are perfectly healthy. Whenever I ask someone from these stores for help with my sick fish, their first response is usually: "bring us a sample of your water so we can test it". Lately (after losing a Flame Angel, Eiblii Angel, Six Line Wrasse, Bi Color Blenny, and a total of 5 Green Chromis Damsels all at different times from different causes), I've now taken to asking these various store employees directly: "do you quarantine your fish when they first arrive?" I've gotten answers ranging from "um, let me ask my manager", to "we don't have enough space to do that", to "our fish don't stay around in the shop long enough". I'm about at the point now where I'm ready to start buying from one of the online services. I'm looking for recommendations. Do any of you fellow reefbuilders use an online retailer for saltwater fish that you are happy with? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Bubba

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I think its up to us to do our own quarantine at home. I am amazed at the people who dont do this.

[sarha]

quarintine at home is a must also if you find a fish you like put a deposit on it and come back 2 weeks later to pick it up if they won't hold it for you find a different store.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

There an lfs here that will take the fish and bring it back to health if its sick....even if you didt buy it there. Imagine that.

[bigbubbacain]

NATIVEVAMAN: you replied "I am amazed at the people who dont do this." Well, forgive me, but I did post in the "newbie" forum and not the "expert" forum. Please, do tell. You're obviously more enlightened than rest of us newbies, so how long do YOU quarantine your fish?

[sarha]

2 weeks to a month a month is better

[ry77]

I don't think you guy's should be so cocky, we all have our beginer moments, but NATIVAMAN you have 9 posts and bigbubbacain only has three and two of those are in this thread, so technically your more of an expert than he.

[bigbubbacain]

Didn't mean to sound cocky. Don't get me wrong, please. I'm very appreciative for all replies.

Thanks to all.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

WOW......it appears that I may have ruffled some feathers.......that was not my intention.....please believe that my next mistake will be far from my first

[Reticentregret]

Goodness dont get crazy now. The point is lesson learned buy a small biocube or something and quarantine in that before adding to your tank or something. or setup a quarantine however you want. but yeah most stores have constantly moving stock and little space to quarantine. if your looking for an expensive fish with a gaurantee go to
liveaquaria.com even then not a garantee.. wanna pay the extra for a wild net caught you usually get healthy ones too but they are a little more fiesty with the others. You can't just assume your fish is healty never assume anything with your tank. too much gets invested to gamble.

[Brians125]

I order fish from Web search or [url]www.saltwaterfish.com.... BUT still qaurntee all your fish/coral's/invert's for 6 week's just to make sure their healthy...Dont get me wrong I shop at pet store's but I still quarantine every thing..
G/L Brian

[bigbubbacain]

NATIVEVAMAN: I honestly believe you didn't intend to ruffle feathers. When I replied before, I "shot from the hip" because I'm frantic and I need a direct response to my dilemma. I hope you're not offended by my initial response because I was not offfended by yours.

*moving right along*

Now that I realize quarantining is such a big deal, I have purchase a 10 gal. tank for this purpose. Has quarantining always been part of the saltwater hobby? I honestly had no idea what to expect and a friend of mine twisted my arm to get me into this.

[ry77]

not a good hobby to just jump into(theres a lot to know) hence reefbuilders) I've never had to quarintine a fish, sorry I couldnt be of more help

[jvharding]

Unfortunately Buying any saltwater live stock is a gamble, because you never know what you are introducing to your tank. Quarantines are great. You can also do dips before introducing items. I have introduced healthy fish from the LFS looking good in the acclimation. After releasing to the tank go bellie up! Right after the release.

[bbleifus]

I was just going to post a question about a quarantine tank. If it is necessary. From the sounds of it it is a good idea. What does the typical quarantine tank consist of? I am doing research for a saltwater reef set up. Have not bought any thing yet. Is a nano cube make a good quarantine tank. What is the smallest quarantine you can use? Many questions please bare with me.

[darkwolf29a]

I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon for this topic...I love it.

Ok, so you should use a QT, but...what should be in it? Honestly, I'm thinking just a few gallons of tank water and then do some drips, etc.????

I have the acclimate fish document, but anything I'm supposed to have before starting that would be good.

Yes, I make checklists for EVERYTHING. LOL

[bbleifus]

I have been talking to the owners of the two lfs in my area and both of them treat there fish with copper while in the store. Will this affect my reef life?

[sarha]

i use a ten gallon tank with a hang on the back filter i have two clay pots and a little rock rubble on the bottom so the fish have something to hide in and feel a little more comforable the copper shouldn't be a problem as long as none of the water form your lfs or your qt makes it into your display tank!

[bbleifus]

I am looking at the Red Sea Max for my new system. Would it be possible to set up a small qt in the cabinet under the main tank? I could install a light in the cabinet etc. What do you guys think. My wife is really big on everything looking nice and I think I might have a hard time selling her on a second tank (i.e. qt)

[orestes19832003]

i've ordered from saltwaterfish.com and everything i got was happy and healthy.

[Dara]

If I special order something expensive, my lfs has explicit instructions not to take it out of the bag and put it in one of their tanks. They know if they do I'm not buying. They are better than most, they use a UV sterilizer on their system, but there are just too many fish and too many tanks all running off the same water for me to trust my main tank to them. Then when it gets home it goes into a QT. I keep a 10 gal and a 20 gal (for bigger fish). I learned the hard way by losing a 100 gal tank full of expensive butterfly fish and an agonizing week without sleep about the importance of quarantining all new fish. It's like playing Russian roulette with your tank.

[Wizarwar]

Hello All, I'm new to the marine tank hobby but I have had fresh tanks for quite some time. Like some here I neither have space or the budget to keep a QT up and running 24/7. I do have a LFS that I trust after having developed a relathionship with the owners and observing their techniques with fish keeping/handling. When I purchase a fish from them I always ask that they feed the tank, I don't want a fish that wont take food...most healthy fish will eat whether they are hungry or not. I always watch the fish for it's activity level and how it acts with it's tankmates, no meanies or lazies please. Lethergy is not a good sign. I check the fish for sores, any mild discolorations, smoothness etc. for signs of trauma or disease. Once home, I float the bag for 45 mins. adding my tank water @ a half cup at a time every 10 mins or so. I then pour the water(fish and all) through a net over a bowl till I've netted the fish. I release the fish and watch it for a few days. It has worked out for me ever since I have kept fish. I NEVER pour the water the fish came in...into my tank. Unless the fish has something already 'on board' it works out fine. I think it is imparative to have a store you trust and to examine your purchase thouroughly before buying/adding to your tank. I hope this helps! Mike.

[Proud Texan]

Thats good except the floating method is hard on fish and really not all that great drip acclimation is 100 times better other than that you method seems OK but a quarantine is very recommended you can go without it i guess... I dont have right now even though i plan on setting up one.

[pogodzib]

A quarantine tank can be done very cheaply. I've given price breakdowns in the past and I usually come up with everything costing under $50 if purchased new, or you should be able to find everything that you need at a garage sale for under $20. That is less than that cost of purchasing a single fish and can save a fortune with preventing lost livestock. Just remember, all it takes is one seemingly healthy fish to contaminate your whole tank.

[REEFMASTER]

I for one "DO NOT QUARANTINE" not because I do not want to it is because I cant, at least not during the summer months. I have a Large Tank in a small House, and a wife that says no more tanks in the house. My Garage is very hot during the summer, so I set up a QT tank during the winter months. No fish is bought when it gets hot! As for QT'ing Corals, I Coral dip and acclimate