Quarantining new fish is one of the highest-ROI habits in reef keeping. A simple QT setup helps block ich, velvet, and bacterial outbreaks before they hit your display.
Core quarantine equipment
- 20-gallon bare-bottom tank (or size to fish load)
- Sponge or HOB filter seeded from your system
- Reliable heater + thermometer
- PVC elbows for low-stress shelter
- Ammonia monitoring + basic test kits
Practical QT timeline
- Match salinity and temperature on arrival.
- Observe appetite and respiration daily.
- Test ammonia often; water-change aggressively if needed.
- Complete a 2-4 week observation window before transfer.
Calculator CTA
Plan your timeline with ReefBay’s Quarantine Planner so you don’t skip checkpoints. In the app, open /app/calc-quarantine to log day-by-day progress and treatment notes.
Need QT gear? Browse heater, filter, and fish-ready equipment in the ReefBay shop.
