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QUARANTINING INVERTEBRATES
As for invertebrates, there really is no set procedure for quarantine. Luckily, few inverts can
be considered carriers of pathogens. A simple 14 day quarantine without any chemotherapeutics is your best bet. It is important though, to fully quarantine all new corals, both stony
and soft, before introducing them into an established tank. With all the new epizootics occurring on the reef, there is a great chance of introducing these pathogens into your tank,
thereby wiping out your coral collection.
NOW WHAT?
O.K., your fish are through quarantine, and there are no new fish on the horizon. Now what?
Simply break down the tank. Rinse everything (except the sponge filter) out with warm
(NOT HOT OR BOILING) water into which a little bit of bleach has been added. (Please
wear eye protection and gloves when using bleach in this manner. Also realize that bleach
will eat some fabrics, and cause color loss in fabrics not intended for bleaching). The sponge
filter should be rinsed in HOT water, with no exposure to bleach (some sponge material
used in sponge filters reacts poorly to bleaching). Allow everything to dry, and put it away
until it is needed again.
So you see, setting up and using a quarantine tank is not difficult or complicated. Remember, it is better to control a disease in a smaller tank, treating beforehand, than it is to treat in
a large system. A little preventative medicine is your best bet.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The information and procedures contained within are based upon techniques (with minor
modifications) that have been used for many years at the public aquarium at which I work. I
am not saying that this article contains the final word on the subject. Far from it. However, it
does contain what I consider a practical quarantine procedure which any hobbyists can utilize to the benefit of their hobby. All opinions expressed herein are my own, and are based
upon my experiences with particular products and/or techniques.
Comments regarding this article are appreciated, and should be sent to [email protected]