Fish & Invertebrates
Quarantine Tank Setup: Why Every New Fish Needs 30 Days First
The 20-gallon QT system that prevents ich, velvet, and Uronema outbreaks from wiping your display.
One unquarantined fish carrying ich or velvet can wipe out an entire display tank in 72 hours. A simple quarantine routine catches problems before they reach your reef.
QT essentials
- 20-gallon bare-bottom tank
- Sponge filter cycled in display sump
- PVC fittings for hiding spots
- Heater + simple HOB filter
- Salinity-matched water from display
30-day protocol
Days 1–14: Observe and feed. Days 14–28: Treat with copper at therapeutic level. Days 28–30: Copper-free water change before transfer.Related reading
Fish & Invertebrates
Beginner Anemones: Bubble Tip vs Long Tentacle vs Sebae
Three anemone species, ranked by difficulty, lighting needs, and clownfish hosting reliability.
Fish & Invertebrates
Cleanup Crew Selection: Snails, Crabs, and Shrimp for Every Tank Size
Exact CUC counts for 20, 40, 75, and 120-gallon reefs — trochus, nassarius, hermits, and shrimp…
Fish & Invertebrates
Copepod Culture: Feeding Mandarins and Boosting Reef Biodiversity
How to set up a 5-gallon copepod culture to feed mandarin gobies, sea horses, and pod-dependent…