Idea for minimizing parasites when introducing new inverts - Aquarium Advice

peterac · 11-25-2005, 02:39 AM

Hi all,

I have not yet added many inverts to my main tank. I can't seem to get a good handle on how people try to minimize introducing parasites from the inverts (mainly snails and crabs). I have been very disciplined at QTing any new fish and this has proven to be very benfeficial. I am not sure how much my [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767] has to do with this.

Since putting snails or crabs in [acronym:a5be0ad767="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:a5be0ad767] is not going to happen I had an idea. What if I put the snails or crabs in some sort of container (to keep them from going through the pump) in my sump and only ran the pump that runs through the [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767]. There are 2 returns from my sump, one goes straight back into the tank and the other goes through the [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767].
I am thinking if there are any parasite on the inverts they will have to go through the [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767] to get back into the main.

Is this overkill or stupid thinking?

Thanks,
Pete R.

DragonForce · 11-25-2005, 04:13 AM

You don't need to [acronym:6f11ade082="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:6f11ade082] inverts.

demodiki · 11-25-2005, 10:40 AM

I am not too familiar with parasites on snails and crabs. I just acclimate them and dump them in.

11-25-2005, 11:16 AM

Sound idea but the wrong "holding tank" if you will. The draw back here is the speed of the water flow. In order for the [acronym:ceb50906fa="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:ceb50906fa] to properly eliminate any possible pathogen/parasite from making it's way into the main, the flow must be on the slow side which would eliminate the sump as a potential [acronym:ceb50906fa="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:ceb50906fa]. The sump also being an intricate part of the display tanks systems and not easily disconnected, it should not be used in such a fashion given "Murphy's Law".

This would still have a potential risk but I would instead suggest constructing a refugium for this purpose. The flow can then be optimally regulated in favor of parasite control through the [acronym:ceb50906fa="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:ceb50906fa] and allow the [acronym:ceb50906fa="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:ceb50906fa] to be the sole source of water return to the main tank or sump. Be absolutely sure you set it up correctly; proper flow, the housing is cleaned religiously and the bulb replaced every 6 months at the minimum. Hard surfaced inverts are indeed a source of parasite introduction and you are wise to [acronym:ceb50906fa="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:ceb50906fa] them and anything/everything else before adding to the display....

Cheers
Steve

**melosu58** · 11-25-2005, 03:49 PM

I sure did not know that Steve. Thanks for the info

11-25-2005, 02:39 AM	#1
peterac Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 161	Idea for minimizing parasites when introducing new inverts Hi all, I have not yet added many inverts to my main tank. I can't seem to get a good handle on how people try to minimize introducing parasites from the inverts (mainly snails and crabs). I have been very disciplined at QTing any new fish and this has proven to be very benfeficial. I am not sure how much my [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767] has to do with this. Since putting snails or crabs in [acronym:a5be0ad767="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:a5be0ad767] is not going to happen I had an idea. What if I put the snails or crabs in some sort of container (to keep them from going through the pump) in my sump and only ran the pump that runs through the [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767]. There are 2 returns from my sump, one goes straight back into the tank and the other goes through the [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767]. I am thinking if there are any parasite on the inverts they will have to go through the [acronym:a5be0ad767="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:a5be0ad767] to get back into the main. Is this overkill or stupid thinking? Thanks, Pete R. __________________ 450g Acrylic FOWLR 380 lbs. of Live Rock 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Mono, 1 Blue Angel, 1 Foxface Lo, 1 Lunare Wrasse, 1 Snowflake Eel 1x Dolphin AS2100 1x Dolphin AM4700 72" Aqualight Pro: 4x96 Actinic, 3x150 HQI Halides, 4x1 moonlights AquaC EV-1000 Protein Skimmer run by Dolphin AS2100 AquaUV 114 watt UV Sterilizer 2x Jager 250w ...Work in progess.....

11-25-2005, 04:13 AM	#2
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	You don't need to [acronym:6f11ade082="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:6f11ade082] inverts. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

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11-25-2005, 10:40 AM	#3
demodiki Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 300	I am not too familiar with parasites on snails and crabs. I just acclimate them and dump them in.

11-25-2005, 11:16 AM	#4
steve-s Guest Posts: n/a	Sound idea but the wrong "holding tank" if you will. The draw back here is the speed of the water flow. In order for the [acronym:ceb50906fa="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:ceb50906fa] to properly eliminate any possible pathogen/parasite from making it's way into the main, the flow must be on the slow side which would eliminate the sump as a potential [acronym:ceb50906fa="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:ceb50906fa]. The sump also being an intricate part of the display tanks systems and not easily disconnected, it should not be used in such a fashion given "Murphy's Law". This would still have a potential risk but I would instead suggest constructing a refugium for this purpose. The flow can then be optimally regulated in favor of parasite control through the [acronym:ceb50906fa="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:ceb50906fa] and allow the [acronym:ceb50906fa="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:ceb50906fa] to be the sole source of water return to the main tank or sump. Be absolutely sure you set it up correctly; proper flow, the housing is cleaned religiously and the bulb replaced every 6 months at the minimum. Hard surfaced inverts are indeed a source of parasite introduction and you are wise to [acronym:ceb50906fa="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:ceb50906fa] them and anything/everything else before adding to the display.... Cheers Steve