Quarantine Tank/Live Rock questions

[Queens Knight]

As suggested, I've been doing a bit of research and I have a couple questions:

Quarantine:
I found a site that highly recommends a quarantine tank to be maintained for anything that is to be placed in the tank. Is it common practice to have one set up all the time, or just when you're establishing the aquarium? Does everything go in the quarantine prior to the show aquarium (clean up crew...etc)?

Live Rock:
How can I tell when lfs "cured" is appropriately cured for my tank? I'm trying to figure out how long will I need to cure it at home before placing it. Am I to look for die off and go by smell only or do I cure it for a specific length of time? Do I cure the base rock for the same length of time?

I'm sure there'll be more coming....
Thanks,
Joe

[Superfly]

Personally, I just QT fish, and I just set up the QT when I've got new fish. But I'm sure that there's a wide variety of regimens followed among successful reefers. A lot depends on the amount of risk you're willing to take when it comes to introducing unwanted pathogens, etc. to your display.

You can count on needing to cure LR a couple of weeks at least. The "smell test" will usually tell you how well it's cured -- should smell like a fresh ocean breeze, as opposed to a sewer. Base rock really doesn't need curing, but I'd but it in with the LR while it was curing.
HTH,
Superfly

[Kevin1000]

Is it common practice to have one set up all the time, or just when you're establishing the aquarium?

Most people will only use a Qt as necessary. If you have extra mature filter media handy you can quickly setup a Qt and using this mature media you have "instant cycled" tank. Many will keep extra filter media in either their sumps or show tank. I would recommend you clean and sterilize your Qt after each fish.

Does everything go in the quarantine prior to the show aquarium (clean up crew...etc)?

Some purist will QT everything - fish, rocks etc. , however, that is not common. I Qt all fish and would recommend that you purchase corals and cleanup crew from LFS's that keep them seperate from fish.

Hope this helps.

[Queens Knight]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the help.

...baby steps ...baby steps.