Quarantine Advice

[JohnNYC]

I have 1 main planted tank that has been up for 1 1/2 years. At the beginning of this month I set up a 10 gallon quarantine tank. It has a sponge filter, some PVC pipes in case they want to hide. It is heated to 76', same as the main tank. I added beneficial bacteria when I set it up, I used a bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only.

On March 5th I added 12 Galaxy Raspboras, they are very tiny. I've been testing daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate using ACO test strips. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate have been at 0 until Tuesday night. On Tuesday night I could see a very slight change in color for ammonia. If I gave it a number it was <.25 ppm, certainly less than the .5 ppm color. I also tested with API liquid test kit and detected less than .5 ppm. I know it's not 100% accurate, but it was definitely less .5 ppm. I didn't feed them that night. It was late, so last night, the 13th, I tested again and had the same results and did a 25% water change. This morning I tested with the strips and there was a slight color change for ammonia, meaning slightly more than 0 ppm. I fed them a little this morning. My plan is to feed daily, continue testing and do water changes if needed. In a perfect world I would quarantine for a month assuming they seem healthy. The fish are active, they are shy fish but move well, and they eat.

Now to my question. I am going away next Sunday, March 24th, for 5 nights. Assuming the fish continue to look healthy. Should I leave them in the QT with an auto feeder set for once a day? Leave them in the QT with no auto feeder? Move them to the main tank where there are plenty of plants and it is lightly stocked?

I expect to get the ACO auto feeder on the 18th, so I'll have a chance to make sure it is not feeding too much. I leave early on the 24th and get back late on 29th. So I couldn't do a WC until the 30th. My main tank has 5 neon tetras and 4 albino corys.

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 8:30 AM, JohnNYC said:

I have 1 main planted tank that has been up for 1 1/2 years. At the beginning of this month I set up a 10 gallon quarantine tank. It has a sponge filter, some PVC pipes in case they want to hide. It is heated to 76', same as the main tank. I added beneficial bacteria when I set it up, I used a bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only.

On March 5th I added 12 Galaxy Raspboras, they are very tiny. I've been testing daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate using ACO test strips. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate have been at 0 until Tuesday night. On Tuesday night I could see a very slight change in color for ammonia. If I gave it a number it was <.25 ppm, certainly less than the .5 ppm color. I also tested with API liquid test kit and detected less than .5 ppm. I know it's not 100% accurate, but it was definitely less .5 ppm. I didn't feed them that night. It was late, so last night, the 13th, I tested again and had the same results and did a 25% water change. This morning I tested with the strips and there was a slight color change for ammonia, meaning slightly more than 0 ppm. I fed them a little this morning. My plan is to feed daily, continue testing and do water changes if needed. In a perfect world I would quarantine for a month assuming they seem healthy. The fish are active, they are shy fish but move well, and they eat.

Now to my question. I am going away next Sunday, March 24th, for 5 nights. Assuming the fish continue to look healthy. Should I leave them in the QT with an auto feeder set for once a day? Leave them in the QT with no auto feeder? Move them to the main tank where there are plenty of plants and it is lightly stocked?

I expect to get the ACO auto feeder on the 18th, so I'll have a chance to make sure it is not feeding too much. I leave early on the 24th and get back late on 29th. So I couldn't do a WC until the 30th. My main tank has 5 neon tetras and 4 albino corys.

I am assuming that the fish are not sick, but there for bacteria and ammonia reasons for the cycle correct? If not sick, then I would add them to main tank so they can be fed and it will save the risk of them in the tank with possibly ammonia. What size tank is the main one exactly @JohnNYC?

[JohnNYC]

On 3/14/2024 at 8:39 AM, Whitecloud09 said:

I am assuming that the fish are not sick, but there for bacteria and ammonia reasons for the cycle correct? If not sick, then I would add them to main tank so they can be fed and it will save the risk of them in the tank with possibly ammonia. What size tank is the main one exactly @JohnNYC?

The main tank is a 20 long. It's got a good amount of plants, 5 neon tetras and 4 albino corys. 

My intention when I went to the LFS was to get more neon, but they were out. In a month or so I'll add more neon tetras when they get them in. I feel like 5 is not enough. But I'll no vacation planned and hopefully the QT will be more established.

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 10:32 AM, JohnNYC said:

The main tank is a 20 long. It's got a good amount of plants, 5 neon tetras and 4 albino corys. 

My intention when I went to the LFS was to get more neon, but they were out. In a month or so I'll add more neon tetras when they get them in. I feel like 5 is not enough. But I'll no vacation planned and hopefully the QT will be more established.

Ok, what do you mean by, “but I’ll no vacation planned”? Was that a typo there? Yes I have 5WCMMs in a 10g I have, I had six, then one mysteriously disappeared and now I have to get more.

[mynameisnobody]

I would discontinue feeding while you’re away. 5 days is no big deal without being fed. They’ll still eat stuff in the aquariums so I wouldn’t even think about it for 5 days. If the raspboras look healthy, I’d add them to the main tank. With that said, I have the patience of a monument with everything except quarantine. I’m always an itch away from tossing them in their new home. This has gone great and it also has gone terrible. What we do know is that your main aquarium is much more stable than the quarantine so I would add them a couple of days before you leave, so you can monitor them. Good luck 

Edited March 14 by mynameisnobody

[JohnNYC]

Thanks to both of you. Yeah, I had typos and bad grammar. I meant I have no vacation planned after this one on the 24th. So when I get back from vacation I could buy some neon tetras, put them in the QT, and observe them for as long as is needed.

It sounds like my best plan, assuming the galaxy raspboras continue to look healthy, is to add them to the main tank early next week.

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 1:16 PM, JohnNYC said:

Thanks to both of you. Yeah, I had typos and bad grammar. I meant I have no vacation planned after this one on the 24th. So when I get back from vacation I could buy some neon tetras, put them in the QT, and observe them for as long as is needed.

It sounds like my best plan, assuming the galaxy raspboras continue to look healthy, is to add them to the main tank early next week.

Oh ok I see now, yep should be 👍 good, hope everything goes well.

[Galabar]

I would stick with 30 days for quarantine.  They may still have an as yet unseen issue.  You could feed them right before you leave and they should be fine for 5 days.

Again, my approach would be to stick with 30 days of quarantine.

[Tony s]

On 3/14/2024 at 8:30 AM, JohnNYC said:

I am going away next Sunday, March 24th, for 5 nights

Third option. Do a water change before you go, leave them in quarantine for 5 days. And don’t feed them. They’ll be just fine. And the lack of food should help keep your ammonia low. This is what I’m planning on doing the next time I leave town. I have had inexperienced people try and help. That was a mistake on my part. Tanks were a complete mess when I got back. For the most part, fish will be fine for a week without food.

[JohnNYC]

On 3/14/2024 at 10:47 PM, Tony s said:

Third option. Do a water change before you go, leave them in quarantine for 5 days. And don’t feed them. They’ll be just fine. And the lack of food should help keep your ammonia low. This is what I’m planning on doing the next time I leave town. I have had inexperienced people try and help. That was a mistake on my part. Tanks were a complete mess when I got back. For the most part, fish will be fine for a week without food.

Are you doing this with a QT? My concern is them being 5 days in water with no food will be tough. On the other hand fish survive pretty long in shipment and they'll be well fed next week. Plus I don't risk my main tank with unexpected diseases. 

I guess as long as they can go without food, including food waste in the QT, then they'll be okay.

[mynameisnobody]

You’re overthinking the food aspect. Fish can go weeks without food. 

[JettsPapa]

I agree with the others who said not to feed while you're gone.  I'd much rather come home to hungry fish than the mess that could result from an auto-feeder malfunctioning and dumping all the food at once.

[JorgeO]

Absolutely. Particularly if the tank is well planted and matured, I've actually left a six Oto's and some livebearers alone in an 90l for a month and they were sleek and fat still upon returning. Water had dropped, sure, but otherwise fine. 

[Guppysnail]

On 3/14/2024 at 1:07 PM, mynameisnobody said:

would discontinue feeding while you’re away. 5 days is no big deal without being fed. They’ll still eat stuff in the aquariums so I wouldn’t even think about it for 5 days

I agree with this normally. Being a new tank that is not yet alive with micro life there will not be much grazing to be had. 
In a well planted well established tank I have gone for 3-4 weeks between feedings for my CPD groups to clean up out of control microfauna tanks.  
Having just purchased the CPD  and at the size I’m guessing they are the lack of microfauna and added commercial food may weaken them.

Using an autofeeder on a not fully cycled tank is asking for trouble.  
 

You are in a tough spot that requires a less than ideal judgment call either way you go.  
 

If you feel they are healthy add them to the main tank. If you have even a hint out doubt that even 1 is not acting quite right do not.

Another option which is a half way you can take a lot of plants moss preferably but any plants the bushier the better and add them from the main tank to the qt to get the microfauna to the qt so they have food for your absence 

[Whitecloud09]

Like @Tony s said, that he does a quick water change, leaves them, does not feed them, then come back and they are fine. Exactly what I do when long road-trips arise lol. I would not worry to much with UNDERFEEDING. They can go a long long time, no food, trust me, it is a tough decision  like @Guppysnail said but I say add them to main tank, no food for the time you are gone, don’t forget the water change at first before and when you come back (supposing this is not like a 1 month trip) they will be fine🙂

[JorgeO]

Another thing you can do is ask the LFS whether they've been medicated/dewormed and such. If so, you could just take the leap and add them straight away... 

[Galabar]

We are talking a QT period of March 5 to March 24, or around 19 days.  That's not bad.  So, I think you have several options (as stated above).

 

 

[JohnNYC]

I wanted to give an update on this. My plan was to move the quarantine fish into the main tank on Thursday. But in the morning I noticed a dead fish, which I removed. I tested the water using ACO test strips. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, 6.5 ph, temp = 76'. When I got home from work I saw another dead fish and rechecked. The test results were the same except that maybe I detected a slight pink for nitrate. 

I am leaving them in QT tank. They've been fed every day, tested every day too. I'll do a 30% water change tomorrow morning and feed once tomorrow. I leave Sunday morning. The dead fish did not look bloated and I saw no white spots. They are small fish and I don't have the experience to detect much, but I looked for that. Hopefully I just had fish that died. But I don't want to harm my other fish. Since I'm away I can't really do treatment, unless someone can suggest a medicine I can leave in the tank for a week. I do have Maracyn, ParaCleanse and Ich-X as well as Aquarium salt.

[Whitecloud09]

You can do some aquarium salt while your gone @JohnNYC.

[JohnNYC]

On 3/22/2024 at 9:13 PM, Whitecloud09 said:

You can do some aquarium salt while your gone @JohnNYC.

Thank you. The instructions say to start with 1 tbsp per 3 gallons, I'll start with that and see how things are when I get back.

[JohnNYC]

I just wanted to give an update. I got home from being away for 5 nights and there have been no more deaths. I fed them and will do water testing later. I plan on a water change tomorrow but am going to replace the removed salted water with dechlorinated fresh water. Assuming the fish remain healthy, then I will add them to the main tank at the end of next week. The fish were shy as usual, but looked energetic. I'll see how quickly they eat. I have noticed that they won't eat with me by the tank, as opposed to my main tank where the neons eat as I feed them. 

[JohnNYC]

Well I’m slightly concerned. Earlier a fish was floating and looked dead, but when I opened the lid and went to gather him he swam off quickly. I checked a few times and a few hours later I saw the same thing. He did not looked bloated, although that me be hard to tell with a galaxy raspbora. I opened the lid and went to grab him with a paper towel and he darted off. It’s a bit concerning but I just have to monitor the situation. 

[JohnNYC]

Several times a fish would be lying on its side, floating at the top. But when I would go over to the fish it would wake up and swim off. Last night I did a water change and this time it was floating and did not swim off. I looked closer and it looked like pine coning. But it is so small that it is hard to tell. Nonetheless I removed the fish and threw it away. It was dead.

So this brings to 3 out of 12 galaxy raspboras being in QT. Is this to be expected, are some fish just a numbers game? During the month that they've been in QT I kept the tank at 76', raised it to 78' the other day. I only saw ammonia slightly rise above 0ppm for 2 days, a barely perceptible change with the test strips. I never saw nitrite above 0ppm. I saw a slight amount of nitrate. I've had no wild pH swings. I added aquarium salt 1 1/2 weeks ago, 1 tbsp per 3 gal. At this point I will continue with them in QT and do a few water changes with non-salted water.

Maybe it's my inexperience. Maybe the fish are not the highest quality, although the LFS is highly rated. In the future should I just treat new fish with salt? I'd like to go 2 weeks without a death before adding them to the main tank. 

[Whitecloud09]

On 4/2/2024 at 8:55 AM, JohnNYC said:

Several times a fish would be lying on its side, floating at the top. But when I would go over to the fish it would wake up and swim off. Last night I did a water change and this time it was floating and did not swim off. I looked closer and it looked like pine coning. But it is so small that it is hard to tell. Nonetheless I removed the fish and threw it away. It was dead.

So this brings to 3 out of 12 galaxy raspboras being in QT. Is this to be expected, are some fish just a numbers game? During the month that they've been in QT I kept the tank at 76', raised it to 78' the other day. I only saw ammonia slightly rise above 0ppm for 2 days, a barely perceptible change with the test strips. I never saw nitrite above 0ppm. I saw a slight amount of nitrate. I've had no wild pH swings. I added aquarium salt 1 1/2 weeks ago, 1 tbsp per 3 gal. At this point I will continue with them in QT and do a few water changes with non-salted water.

Maybe it's my inexperience. Maybe the fish are not the highest quality, although the LFS is highly rated. In the future should I just treat new fish with salt? I'd like to go 2 weeks without a death before adding them to the main tank. 

Could be low oxygen in the tank, do you have any good flow or an airstone, they will even sometimes yawn and that means hardly any oxygen @JohnNYC

[JohnNYC]

On 4/2/2024 at 9:15 PM, Whitecloud09 said:

Could be low oxygen in the tank, do you have any good flow or an airstone, they will even sometimes yawn and that means hardly any oxygen @JohnNYC

It's a 10 gallon tank with an ACO sponge filter and I have an airstone in the sponge filter. He wasn't gasping at all, literally no movement. Then it would swim off when I went to gather him. Except the last time, no movement at all. The other galaxy raspboras stay near the bottom and hide under the sponge filter.

On a positive note in my 20 long there's a baby albino corydora. I've seen them lay eggs a few times. But this is the first birth. I'm going to leave it in there because the other fish are the albino corydoras and 5 neon tetras.