The Quarantine Protocol: Your Best Defense

The single most effective way to prevent a disease outbreak in your aquarium is to implement a strict Quarantine (QT) Procedure. By isolating new arrivals, you can observe them for signs of illness and treat them in a controlled environment without risking the health of your established fish.

Why Quarantine?

1. Isolation: Prevents parasites, bacteria, and viruses from entering the main tank.
2. Observation: Allows you to ensure new fish are eating well and behaving normally.
3. Cheaper Treatment: Medicating a small 10-gallon QT tank is much less expensive than dosing a 100-gallon display.
4. No Risk to Inverts/Plants: Many medications are toxic to snails, shrimp, and plants. QT tanks are typically kept bare for safety.

Setting Up a Quarantine Tank

A QT tank does not need to be fancy or permanent. A simple setup includes:

• Tank: A 10-gallon or 20-gallon tank is usually sufficient for most community fish.
• Filtration: A simple sponge filter is ideal. Crucial: Always keep a spare sponge filter running in your main tank's sump or filter so it's instantly ''seeded'' with beneficial bacteria when you need it.
• Heater: Maintain the same temperature as your display tank.
• Hiding Spots: Use PVC pipe elbows or large plastic plants. Avoid rocks or wood that catch waste and are hard to clean.
• No Substrate: Keep the bottom bare. This makes it easy to spot parasites like Ich or check for abnormalities in waste.

The 4-Week Protocol

1. Acclimatization: Drip-acclimate new fish into the QT tank. Never pour the bag water into your tank.
2. Observation (Weeks 1-2): Watch for heavy breathing, white spots, scratching, or loss of appetite.
3. Proactive Treatment (Optional): Many professional keepers use a ''Med Trio'' (Anti-parasitic, Antibacterial, and Anti-fungal) proactively to ensure the fish are 100% clean.
4. Final Check (Weeks 3-4): If the fish are active, healthy, and eating for at least 30 days, they are ready for the main display.

If You Spot a Disease

If a fish shows signs of illness in quarantine:

• Identify the disease and treat accordingly.
• The ''Quarantine Clock'' resets. The 30-day period begins only after the symptoms have cleared and treatment is finished.

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Pro-Tip: Dedicated Equipment

Always have a dedicated net, siphon, and bucket for your QT tank. Never use tools from the QT tank in your display tank without sterilizing them first with a bleach solution or high-concentration salt dip.