By AquaMart Staff

How to Quarantine New Corals

Setting up a coral quarantine tank (QT) helps prevent pests, diseases, and algae from entering your main reef aquarium. This process ensures that corals are healthy and free of unwanted hitchhikers (e.g., flatworms, aiptasia, nudibranchs, bryopsis) before they are added to the display tank.

What You Need for a Coral Quarantine Tank Setup

  1. Tank:
    • A 10-20 gallon tank is usually enough, depending on the number of corals.
    • It can be glass, acrylic, or even a plastic tub with adequate light.
  2. Lighting:
    • Use a reef-capable LED (like AI Prime or Kessil) that can support the types of corals you plan to quarantine.
    • Match the intensity and spectrum to mimic your display tank's light to prevent coral shock during transfer.
  3. Flow:
    • Add a small powerhead (e.g., a Sicce, etc.) to provide gentle water movement.
    • Corals like soft corals and LPS need moderate flow, while SPS corals prefer higher flow.
  4. Heater:
    • Maintain a stable temperature of 77–79°F (25–26°C) with an adjustable heater and thermometer.
  5. Filtration:
    • Use a hang-on-back (HOB) filter or sponge filter seeded from the main tank.
    • Keep a small protein skimmer if you expect heavy feeding or coral die-off, though it's not always essential.
  6. Test Kits:
    • Ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate test kits to monitor water quality.
    • A refractometer to maintain stable salinity (1.024–1.026 SG).
  7. Dip Solutions and Pest Control Supplies:
    • Coral dips (e.g., ReVive, Seachem Reef Dip, etc.) to eliminate pests.
    • Flatworm Exit for flatworm outbreaks, and hydrogen peroxide for algae issues.
  8. Egg Crate or Frag Rack (Optional):
    • Use a frag rack to organize corals and keep them off the tank bottom.

Step-by-Step Process to Set Up and Run a Coral Quarantine Tank

  1. Set Up the Equipment
  • Add the heater, powerhead, filter, and light to the quarantine tank.
  • Fill the tank with saltwater (1.024–1.026 SG)—use fresh RO/DI water and reef salt.
  • If using a sponge filter, seed it in your display tank for a few days to establish beneficial bacteria.
  1. Acclimate Corals to the QT
  • When new corals arrive, float the bag in the quarantine tank for 15–20 minutes to equalize temperature.
  • Perform a drip acclimation to slowly match the QT’s water chemistry with the coral’s transport water.
  1. Dip the Corals to Eliminate Pests
  • Use a coral dip solution according to the product instructions.
    • ReVive Coral Cleaner: Great for general pests.
    • Iodine-based dips: Help heal tissue damage.
  • Inspect corals closely for pests (e.g., aiptasia, flatworms, or eggs) after dipping.
  • Rinse corals in clean saltwater before placing them in the QT.
  1. Monitor the Corals Daily
  • Check for pests:
    • Use a flashlight to inspect corals for nudibranchs, flatworms, or algae growth.
    • If pests are found, remove them manually and re-dip the coral as needed.
  • Feed corals:
    • Spot feed corals (e.g., LPS) with products like coral foods or frozen foods to help them recover and thrive.
    • Monitor water parameters regularly (especially ammonia and nitrates).
  1. Water Changes and Maintenance
  • Perform 10-20% water changes weekly to maintain water quality.
  • Clean the filter sponge regularly to prevent buildup of detritus and ammonia spikes.
  • Top off the water with fresh RO/DI water to maintain stable salinity.
  1. Quarantine Duration
  • Keep corals in the QT for 2–4 weeks.
  • If no signs of pests, disease, or algae appear after 4 weeks, the coral is safe to transfer to the display tank.
  1. Handle Coral Diseases or Pests (If Found)
  • Flatworms or Nudibranchs: Use Flatworm Exit or repeat dips.
  • Aiptasia: Treat with Aiptasia-X or kalkwasser paste.
  • Algae (e.g., bryopsis): Spot treat with hydrogen peroxide.
  1. Transfer Corals to the Display Tank
  • Acclimate corals again to the display tank’s parameters before transferring.
  • Place corals in low-light or low-flow areas initially to avoid stress from changes in environment.

Tips for Success

  • Keep QT equipment separate from your main tank tools to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Document coral health with photos so you can track changes during quarantine.
  • Quarantine all new corals to avoid introducing pests to your main reef tank.

By following this process, you'll protect your display reef from unwanted pests and ensure new corals thrive!

 

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