quaranteen question

[glenna]

For those who are not SICK of the whole topic, this is just a general question. Still new to the loach-keeping (but getting better, I think!).
Last month I had a month long ich-fest in my 29 gallon that has since cleared. My FAVORITE fish - a 3" clown loach lived through the whole process ( as did almost all of the others) and is thriving, but alone now. I have since added back the bog wood and lots of plants. I have a 29 gallon tank, penguin biowheel filter (for a 50 gallon tank), UV sterilizer and a lot af water movement by way of the air bubbler.Chemistry is very good I think: pH 7.2 and nil on ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. I do every other day testing and partial H2o changes to keep this balance.

I have set up my 75 gallon (soon to be loach tank if I ever get there) and it is almost stable from a cycling point of view. My approach has been small water change (10%) without gravel or sand vacuum to help the biofilter along without sacrificing the fish. All seem happy in there and will eat like horses if I let them! Anyway, treating for a month in my 29gal, and losing a couple of fishes that I really liked has me a bit paranoid about adding new fish.
About three weeks ago a got a ten gallon Qtank and it is cycling nicely. MAybe a bit slow but I do water changes to keep the two tiny fish that are in there from dealing with ammonia or NO2,NO3 toxicity. They are danos that seem very healthy.
My question is if there is a difference in Q time for various fish. Do loaches need more time in the Q time to make sure they do not have ich? Is it just standard that a conservative approach would be 6 to 8 weeks for ANY new fish that I add. It would break my heart to lose my loach at this point, or for him to get sick because of my impatience. I feel for him to be alone and the 75 gallon will be SOOO nice ...sand bottom and LOTS of places to explore. Set up with extra powerheads for current, etc.

Thanks for any suggestions

[Diana]

Fishless cycle grows more bacteria, faster than a fish-in cycle.

I quarantine for a month AFTER medication.

Typical schedule for Loaches and other bottom fish:

Match the water in the bag for GH, KH. and TDS. (never mind pH)
Drip acclimate.
Medicate for intestinal parasites (usually 3 day treatment, then a 4th day is water change and activated carbon)
Treat with antibiotics (usually a 5 day +1 treatment)
Then back with a different medicine for different internal parasites.

When that is cleared start counting 1 month.
Continue water changes to make that tank's water chemistry match the main tank.

[glenna]

Hey thanks,
I think your suggestion will work well. I will be gone the week of Thanksgiving and I have house sitters, but do not expect them to be more fish-savvy than myself (yikes!!...they are more to take care of the mammals in the house and garden, but I think I can work it so that they monitor the tanks). This type of schedule (about 2 months in Q, then to the new tank) should work well to get the new fish acclimated to the Qtank and WELL on their way before I go. Then, when I get back all should be set to introduce them to the main tank.
I have felt badly that I did not do fishless cycling from the beginning, but it is too late now and I all the fish are hanging in there so far (they actually seem fine, but I do not speak "fish" so am not really sure.)
There is SO MUCH BAD INFO out there for the novice aquarist it is not funny.
This seems like a site I can trust to not give bad info (actually excellent info and advice) and the consensus among contributors has been very reassuring.
Thanks again!
I hope to post some pictures when all is said and done.
I have to say that even the most modest tank and set up can be truly magical and I felt that way about my little tank so far (to the extent that my dog is very jealous of the fish!!)

[plaalye]

Diana, do you follow that treatment schedule for all new fish in Q? whether showing problems or not??

[Diana]

There are a couple of stores that I shop at that do quarantine for a month or so before selling the fish. There are a couple of others where it is not a strict quarantine, but the owner is completely aware of every fish he has, and so far they are all very healthy.

From these stores I do not mind not quarantining.

However this type of store is few and far between, and it is MUCH better to quarantine, even of you do not suspect disease, and you can acclimate the fish to your water over several weeks or a month, which is much easier on them than dripping them for an hour or two and thinking all is good.

Example: The LFS with the best Loach selection has water parameters:
GH and KH of almost 20 degrees (300+ ppm), pH 8+ and TDS around 2000 ppm. Tests positive for salt, too! (And this is their fresh water section.)
This matches my BRACKISH water tank.
There is no way I could drip acclimate fish to my soft water tanks: GH and KH 3-5 degrees (60-100 ppm) pH low 7s, no salt, TDS 300 or so... in just a few hours. A change this drastic MUST be done over a month or so.
This store does not quarantine, either, so I am VERY careful choosing fish, and have meds and UV ready. Except for the fish selection it is not really a great store, but the people are nice, and they are the only ones that have so many Loaches.