How quickly can a QT be set up

[moonie]

I read threads here that people need a hospital or qt tank. And was wondering if you had a 15 gallon, lights, heater and sand could you set up a qt in 1 hour?? Take sand from established tanks and a couple of pieces of rock and are you set? Or do you have to start the whole cycle again? This part always puzzles me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[sepulatian]

It depends on what you are using the tank for. You can set up a QT quickly in the way that you described (you would also need a heater, powerhead, and filter) if you just need to remove a fish from the display. If you are removing fish to treat them for some disease then you cannot use LR nor LS in the qt tank because neither one will live through treatment. If you are setting up a quarantine tank for future use then it should be just a bare bottomed tank with the bottom darkened, a heater, powerhead, HOB filter, and a few pieces of PVC pipe for shelter. Cycle it with a piece of raw shrimp. Beth has directions for setting up a QT in her Common Treatments FAQ.

 

[alexmir]

Pretty quickly if its for fish only. just grab a bare basic aquarium from a local petstore. and i just use the water i take out of my tank when i do a water change so it doesnt have to cycle, and get a small filter and heater.

 

[itom37]

I had to quickly set up a QT recently. No cycle, lots of ammonia, daily water changes to keep it at bay. All the fish survived, however, but I suspect more delicate fish would not have made it.

 

[sepulatian]

Water from the display tank will not keep the tank from cycling. QT's can be set up quickly in an emergency but, as itom just pointed out, you will have ammonia spikes. It is best to have a qt set up before an emergency situation happens.