Emergency QT

lefty

lefty

Active Member
I recently purchased a Firefish and didn't realize he had ich until I got home with him. I called the store I bought him from and they were completely unhelpful and basically hinted he would probably die if I returned him. So, I have him in an "emergency" 10g QT with a heater, filter, powerhead, piece of PVC pipe, and about 3/4 a cup of sand from my main tank (I heard this would keep the tank from cycling). I have searched for more information on uncycled QTs but didn't find much. He's currently undergoing hypo and seems to be doing well. All the levels are where they should be. I plan on doing one gallon water changes each day. My main concern at this point is keeping the tank from going into a cycle. I try to get all the pieces of uneaten food out but I can't get them all. My question to you intelligent folks is this: Am I doing things correctly or is there something I should/shouldn't be doing?
Thanks in advance! :D
-lefty
 
loopy

loopy

Member
Sounds risky, not sure though. Personally, I would make the store take it back and give you a healthy fish. Just my opinion.
 
lefty

lefty

Active Member
I forgot to mention that the store that sold him to me is ***** (sorry, PETA activists--I sincerely wish there was another store around here that sold SW fish). I did not want to give the fish back for the sole reason of my concern for his health. I'm not entirely sure they would ever give me a healthy Firefish, either. They seemed quite willing to sell me a sick one and I'm sure they will have no problem selling the other ich-infested fish (all of their SW tanks are connected). So, I don't consider returning him even an option. I would just like to know if I'm on the right track (as far as having an uncycled QT goes). :)
-lefty
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
Did you start with water from your main tank. If so then there will be no cycle. do what your doing. And bring down salinity slowly only .001 each day. good luck
 
lefty

lefty

Active Member
Yeah, I siphoned water from my main tank straight into the QT. The salinity's at about 1.010 right now. :)
-lefty
 
knots

knots

Member
Good job lefty, if you would have taken him back to those idiots that fish would have died for sure. At least you're giving him a chance. :cheer:
 
sparrow

sparrow

New Member
You also could put extra sponges in your main tank,or filter and put them into you QT. I don't know if you have sponges in the ST. If not put some extra into to the filter for next time. That way if should recycle. :)
Just watch for Ammonia.
 
lefty

lefty

Active Member
Right now, there is a small trace of ammonia (.2). It wasn't there before yesterday, so I've upped my water change amounts, reduced feeding, and stuck a sponge in my main tank to then put in the QT's filter. :)
-lefty
 
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