Quarantine Tank

poidog said:
I don't even use a light... it just gets sunlight from the window. but you got it right:
tank (with a lid for jumpers)
pvc pipes
airstone/pump
heater
thermometer
HOB filber (optional)

With no biological filtration just watch ammonia/nitrates and do a water change when detected.
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thnks bro..
 
you can always toss some dirty filter floss or filter sponge in the HOB filter to provide a small amount of biological filtration.
 
biological filtration does not live in the water column so dirty floss would only be used to seed some sort of live rock or sand. It is the rock that is the bio filtration as the bacteria colonizes on it's surface/in the pores, etc.
 
A QT is a great idea, but it is just that a QT tank. Not a display tank, try to keep it to the bare minimum. Piece of PVC pipe work great and its easy to clean. It is also easier to see how the fish is doing and how much he is eating.

Lighting I just use an old dome light with any 60w bulb.
 
I use a cheap under cabinet light for lighting mostly just so I can see the fish better and guage their health (There is ALWAYS come copper in the water so algae never grows your LFS also does this in their fish only section most likely). I keep my QT cycled at all times but when I fist started I stuck a couple Aquaclear filter pads in my DT for a week to get them seeded. Now I have one pad in the AC filter and I stuffed a couple into some PVC elbows to make "artificial live rock" that won't absorb copper/paraguard/prazi, etc (all of which I use on EVERY FISH that comes through). I have an air pump plumbed into the AC filter housing so there are no bubbles in the tank at all to get in the way of viewing the fish.

You will also want a Seachem Ammonia Badge to monitor ammonia at all times. I also keep a Koralia Nano in there for some flow to try and keep food/detritus suspended until the HOB can pick it up.

"Artificial Live Rock"
5e9def8f.jpg


My QT:
dc1bf2e5.jpg
 
SkullV said:
I use a cheap under cabinet light for lighting mostly just so I can see the fish better and guage their health (There is ALWAYS come copper in the water so algae never grows your LFS also does this in their fish only section most likely). I keep my QT cycled at all times but when I fist started I stuck a couple Aquaclear filter pads in my DT for a week to get them seeded. Now I have one pad in the AC filter and I stuffed a couple into some PVC elbows to make "artificial live rock" that won't absorb copper/paraguard/prazi, etc (all of which I use on EVERY FISH that comes through). I have an air pump plumbed into the AC filter housing so there are no bubbles in the tank at all to get in the way of viewing the fish.

You will also want a Seachem Ammonia Badge to monitor ammonia at all times. I also keep a Koralia Nano in there for some flow to try and keep food/detritus suspended until the HOB can pick it up.

"Artificial Live Rock"
5e9def8f.jpg


My QT:
dc1bf2e5.jpg
Click to expand...

like your qt set up ted.. might replicate ur tank..
 
Ted's idea about always keeping a sponge (filter) in the sump of your DT is great advice. That way you can drain your qt and quickly refill it anytime you get new fish. You'll always have bacterial filtration ready to go. If you start from scratch and don't have biological filtration yet then you need to keep a very close eye on ammonia and do small wc's daily. I sparay painted the bottom and back of my qt black. Some people will paint all 3 sides. it's supposed to keep the fish from getting startled by movement around the tank. Also, don't let uneaten food float around. Use a turkey baster and remove it to help manage ammonia.
 
Last question.. for a qt tank.. do u keep it running always even though u dnt have fish in it. or do u run it on a as needed only..
 
It all depends on your situation and preference. I am keeping mine running because I'm in the process of stocking a new tank and I add another fish to qt as soon as one leaves for my dt. Once my tank is stocked I'll drain it and only set it up when I need it. That's why it's a good idea to use some type of hob filter that uses sponges for mechanical filtration. You leave the sponge in your dt sump so it will always have bacteria and be ready for instant biological filtration if you decide to buy a fish and quickly setup the qt.
 
Here is the only problem I have with leaving anything from my QT tank anywhere near my DT, is I am trying to keep that stuff away from my DT. Especially Copper, unless you get new sponges all the time.
 
HecticZ said:
Here is the only problem I have with leaving anything from my QT tank anywhere near my DT, is I am trying to keep that stuff away from my DT. Especially Copper, unless you get new sponges all the time.
Click to expand...

Isnt that the difference between a Quarantine tank and Hospital tank then? In QT, the fish should just be in observation for a few weeks, once you start treating its no longer a QT.... Some people use QT even for their new corals and inverts, which you definitely don't want to be adding harmful chemicals.
 
HecticZ said:
Here is the only problem I have with leaving anything from my QT tank anywhere near my DT, is I am trying to keep that stuff away from my DT. Especially Copper, unless you get new sponges all the time.
Click to expand...

New aquaclear sponges are 2 bucks at Petco.
 
HecticZ said:
Here is the only problem I have with leaving anything from my QT tank anywhere near my DT, is I am trying to keep that stuff away from my DT. Especially Copper, unless you get new sponges all the time.
Click to expand...

Thanks for bringing this up. This was a very important detail I forgot to mention. You NEVER put a sponge from your qt back in your dt after it's been used. If you're going to break down the qt after each use then you must throw out the sponge. You can get them for a couple bucks.
 
EricTheRed said:
Thanks for bringing this up. This was a very important detail I forgot to mention. You NEVER put a sponge from your qt back in your dt after it's been used. If you're going to break down the qt after each use then you must throw out the sponge. You can get them for a couple bucks.
Click to expand...

It's not just sponges. You never let ANYTHING that has touched your QT tank water touch your DT. I have 2 sets of everything marked clearly in sharpie. One for the QT and one for the DT.
 
FishBeard said:
Isnt that the difference between a Quarantine tank and Hospital tank then? In QT, the fish should just be in observation for a few weeks, once you start treating its no longer a QT.... Some people use QT even for their new corals and inverts, which you definitely don't want to be adding harmful chemicals.
Click to expand...

Yes I know the difference, but I was just bringing it up because some people use copper in their QT tanks. I don't know of that many people that QT their corals, but I know plenty that dip them. But that's a discussion for a different thread

EricTheRed said:
Thanks for bringing this up. This was a very important detail I forgot to mention. You NEVER put a sponge from your qt back in your dt after it's been used. If you're going to break down the qt after each use then you must throw out the sponge. You can get them for a couple bucks.
Click to expand...

Exactly but the way I read it, I just wanted to make sure it was clear to not add anything back from the QT, Hospital tank to the DT.

SkullV said:
It's not just sponges. You never let ANYTHING that has touched your QT tank water touch your DT. I have 2 sets of everything marked clearly in sharpie. One for the QT and one for the DT.
Click to expand...

I could not agree anymore, especially with the sharpie part.
 
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