How long to QT a powder blue tang

gtoon159 · 03-26-2006, 07:43 PM

We purchased a powder blue tang two weeks ago and he is thirving in the QT tank Eats Alge, shrimp and flake veratiously and shows no signs of any desisease. We did treat about 1/2 a dose of copramine the first week he was here.

So I have had some advice that tangs in particular should be Qt'd for at least a month. What do you guys think?

JT · 03-26-2006, 07:54 PM

At least a month to be safe, they are serious ich magnets. I'd probably do another small dose of cupramine during the third week. While he's in QT, make sure you the food you are feeding him is enhanced with some type of garlic supplement. This will boost his immune system and help better prepare him for introduction to the display tank.

Geoff · 03-26-2006, 09:41 PM

when you do move the tang over. make sure the water parameters are exactly the same between the two systems. this will greatly lower the stresses involved in moving. are there any other tangs in the display tank? you might need to release the tang at night if there are other tangs in the display.

G~

gtoon159 · 03-26-2006, 10:33 PM

There is a yellow tang in the display that is approximately 3/4 his size. I have been doing aggresive water changes from the main tank in 2 gal increments. The QT tank is only 10 Gal so I change at least 2 Gal every other day or so. In attempts to keep the water level acceptable.

I will take the advice on garlic. I have feed garlic in the past and gave it up for a vitamin suppliment. Although I haven't been feeding either in the QT tank yet.

Thanks for you advice. Anyone else have different advice? Disagree?

skeety · 03-27-2006, 08:33 AM

~G's advice is dead on.

Your yellow tang may seem nice...but they can be pretty territorial.

Either drop your Powder in at night, or rearrange the rock right before you put him in (to reset the territorial rights the yellow may have).

If you don't...the yellow may pick on the powder until he gets stressed and gets ick. Negating your whole quarantine effort.

All good advice so far.

gtoon159 · 03-27-2006, 08:55 AM

I do have some additional rock in the curing tank (Fully cured) and I am going to do some major rock cleaning (Macro alge on it) . So I think I will combine the cleaning re-aquascaping and the introduction of the fish in the same day.