Can you or can't you... add coral during fallow period?

artieg · 05/19/2018, 08:12 AM

Assuming you follow best practices coral protocol (dipping and quarantine), why would adding coral require a "reset" of the fallow period, when going fallow (no fish) for ich and velvet?

In other words, in theory, yes, coral and rock and other non-fish items can potentially carry the parasites. That is why you treat them. But assuming you take the precautions you would otherwise take in adding coral to an up-and-running tank, why would a "cleaned" piece of coral cause a reset of the fallow period? The point of the fallow period is to deny fish hosts, not to deny new items of cleaned non-fish hosts.

I've looked through 10 years of posts on RC, and find conflicting opinions. Is there some weird part of the logic here that I am missing?

Please, if you offer an opinion, I would love an explanation of the logic of how the parasite in the tank gets a new turn of its life cycle by adding a piece of parasite-free coral. It seems like the forums would benefit from a definitive verdict on this question.

Thanks!

scooter31707 · 05/23/2018, 10:23 AM

I have added coral during my fallow process, but only if I was able to separate the coral from the plug. If I was unable to like a leather, I would not add it, it would go in my QT I had for coral.

olemiss reb · 05/23/2018, 04:14 PM

Reset. The concern is introducing new tomonts and free swimmers to a lesser degree.

Ex. You add a Fire Shrimp or coral which has a single encysted Velvet tomont. The tomont generally ruptures in 2-4 days but can take up to 20 days before releasing the dinospores. The dinospores can then live for up to 15 days without a fish host. Same issue with Cyrpt but the time lines are different. Dips do nothing to tomonts.

artieg · 05/23/2018, 07:18 PM

But here is what I don't understand. Then how can you ever add coral or shrimp to your tank, if it could possibly have "a single encysted Velvet tomont"???? Then every piece of coral potentially contaminates a fully clean tank.

scuzy · 05/23/2018, 07:20 PM

Quarantine thanks are your friend. Put inverts through qt 2-3 weeks is enough.

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olemiss reb · 05/23/2018, 07:28 PM

Quarantine all new corals and inverts in a fishless system. I used to think this was overkill but I just finished up my second bout with Velvet, which came in on an unquarantined Fire Shrimp. Humblefish did a nice write up on the other forum on Qt times for various non-fish livestock.

scuzy · 05/23/2018, 07:35 PM

This reason why I hate LFS that put fishes in coral tanks and invert tanks to save space. Contaminate everything.

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chaaban · 10/06/2018, 10:52 PM

New DT almost cycled. Can I add coral and inverts only and start the 72 day clock on the day that my last coral/invert is added?…then follow through with fish which have had a tank transfer method QT process??

Uncle99 · 10/07/2018, 06:38 PM

As long as the tank has had no fish for 72-76 days, the cycle is broken.
For me that's overkill, I filled my DT with tons of coral through fallow, but all were purchased directly from the store which I trust based on years of buying.

Louis Z · 10/07/2018, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artieg

But here is what I don't understand. Then how can you ever add coral or shrimp to your tank, if it could possibly have "a single encysted Velvet tomont"???? Then every piece of coral potentially contaminates a fully clean tank.

. I dip and move corals to new QT several times and then they go under observation for a long time ; up to 2 months . I try to leave the organisms behind similar to TTM. Yes it’s a PITA but it’s an even bigger PITA if you loose fish and have start over again . It all depends on the risk you are willing to take. And is it possible my DT may end up with an infection , yes . But I have tried my best to limit it . Once my livestock has gone thru this much time and care , I have grown quite attached to them. I don’t want to risk losing them. And that goes for all corals/inverts and fish . Do what you think is best for you .

Louis Z · 10/07/2018, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

This reason why I hate LFS that put fishes in coral tanks and invert tanks to save space. Contaminate everything.

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Um , I cringe when I see that too . Yet I also see some of the fattest fish in their coral tanks too. Even if they didn’t do that ., contamination never 100% preventable , because wet hands, equipment and water hoses are always passed from tank to tank.

05/19/2018, 08:12 AM	#1
artieg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 66	Can you or can't you... add coral during fallow period? Assuming you follow best practices coral protocol (dipping and quarantine), why would adding coral require a "reset" of the fallow period, when going fallow (no fish) for ich and velvet? In other words, in theory, yes, coral and rock and other non-fish items can potentially carry the parasites. That is why you treat them. But assuming you take the precautions you would otherwise take in adding coral to an up-and-running tank, why would a "cleaned" piece of coral cause a reset of the fallow period? The point of the fallow period is to deny fish hosts, not to deny new items of cleaned non-fish hosts. I've looked through 10 years of posts on RC, and find conflicting opinions. Is there some weird part of the logic here that I am missing? Please, if you offer an opinion, I would love an explanation of the logic of how the parasite in the tank gets a new turn of its life cycle by adding a piece of parasite-free coral. It seems like the forums would benefit from a definitive verdict on this question. Thanks! __________________ 200 gallon peninsula, mixed reef 180 gallon sump, large skimmer, U/V sterilizer Three 72-inch Reefbrite XHO LED strips

05/23/2018, 04:14 PM	#3
olemiss reb Molon Labe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,550	Reset. The concern is introducing new tomonts and free swimmers to a lesser degree. Ex. You add a Fire Shrimp or coral which has a single encysted Velvet tomont. The tomont generally ruptures in 2-4 days but can take up to 20 days before releasing the dinospores. The dinospores can then live for up to 15 days without a fish host. Same issue with Cyrpt but the time lines are different. Dips do nothing to tomonts. __________________ secesh

05/23/2018, 07:18 PM	#4
artieg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 66	But here is what I don't understand. Then how can you ever add coral or shrimp to your tank, if it could possibly have "a single encysted Velvet tomont"???? Then every piece of coral potentially contaminates a fully clean tank. __________________ 200 gallon peninsula, mixed reef 180 gallon sump, large skimmer, U/V sterilizer Three 72-inch Reefbrite XHO LED strips

05/23/2018, 07:28 PM	#6
olemiss reb Molon Labe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,550	Quarantine all new corals and inverts in a fishless system. I used to think this was overkill but I just finished up my second bout with Velvet, which came in on an unquarantined Fire Shrimp. Humblefish did a nice write up on the other forum on Qt times for various non-fish livestock. __________________ secesh

05/23/2018, 10:23 AM	#2
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I have added coral during my fallow process, but only if I was able to separate the coral from the plug. If I was unable to like a leather, I would not add it, it would go in my QT I had for coral.

05/23/2018, 07:20 PM	#5
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Quarantine thanks are your friend. Put inverts through qt 2-3 weeks is enough. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/23/2018, 07:35 PM	#7
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	This reason why I hate LFS that put fishes in coral tanks and invert tanks to save space. Contaminate everything. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

10/06/2018, 10:52 PM	#8
chaaban Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 388	New DT almost cycled. Can I add coral and inverts only and start the 72 day clock on the day that my last coral/invert is added?…then follow through with fish which have had a tank transfer method QT process??

10/07/2018, 06:38 PM	#9
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	As long as the tank has had no fish for 72-76 days, the cycle is broken. For me that's overkill, I filled my DT with tons of coral through fallow, but all were purchased directly from the store which I trust based on years of buying.