How To Start A QT?

gio28

gio28

Active Member
after reading a bunch of horror stories from people adding fish without QTing them i decided to start a QT tank.
i have a few questions on how to start one
-what are all the materials needed to start/maintain one?
-does it need to cycle? if not then can i just take it down and set it back up when i get a new fish?
-do corals need to be QT too?
-and i have a spare 5 gallon tank i could use. its small but my DT is 36 gallons so my fish are already on the small size...and they will be even smaller when i buy them because they are still juvies. so could i use that? or should i go bigger?
thanks for any help
 
fishkid13

fishkid13

Active Member
I have only once used a QT and that is for my tangs. All I didn't was set up a spare ten gallon tank and put a aquaclear 110 (way over kill but only pump that wasn't in commsion). Place a few rocks I had lying around into the tank to give them some place to hide. Next I added a spare light for them, so they could get used to the lighting routine. Hope this helps. I would at least go for a ten or even something bigger, sense they are more stable. I problem missed some of the questions, but will try to get back.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I had a QT once, I didn’t add fish often enough and it was just a pain to maintain…since it has to cycle and go through everything anyway…
I was thinking I could just set up up a full tank…just smaller w/ sand and rock…something I can stand to look at that is decretive. So when I get a new fish he can live in that for while to make sure it is healthy before placing into the DT. Since inverts, snails and corals don’t get fish diseases I can have a little reef. Just mushrooms and zoas. It will even be a good spot for frags.
A hospital tank and a QT are not the same thing…I have a 10g for sick critters.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Just go buy one of those prefab tanks from walmart with the filter,heater and all that good stuff and BAM instant QT
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
If you have a fuge, you can keepa sponge in there. Before you buy a fish, set up tank and move the sponge to QT. The sponge will have good bacteria on it that will give an instant cycle to tank.
Since its a very small tank. Keep an eye on parameters. As long as your DT has good parameters, you can do w/c's with water from DT. That way when you are ready to move to DT it is acclimated already.
QT everything. It is rare, but you can have fish parasites on corals. Also, you may discover other unwanted pests which can be eliminated before you put in DT.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3112546
If you have a fuge, you can keepa sponge in there. Before you buy a fish, set up tank and move the sponge to QT. The sponge will have good bacteria on it that will give an instant cycle to tank.
Since its a very small tank. Keep an eye on parameters. As long as your DT has good parameters, you can do w/c's with water from DT. That way when you are ready to move to DT it is acclimated already.
QT everything. It is rare, but you can have fish parasites on corals. Also, you may discover other unwanted pests which can be eliminated before you put in DT.


I didn’t know that…but it would still be contained in the QT..so it I would think it would be okay to do it the way I said. I can’t stand an empty ugly thing just sitting there waiting for when I get a new critter. I just don’t buy very often. Like I said I have a hospital tank for an emergency…I would use the established tank water, and the sponge is handy already.
Any unwanted pests, again would be contained in the QT. Do you foresee any other potential problems with my idea?
I am sorry if it seems I am taking over the thread…I hope my questions will answer ones the OP may have as well.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3112551

I didn’t know that…but it would still be contained in the QT..so it I would think it would be okay to do it the way I said. I can’t stand an empty ugly thing just sitting there waiting for when I get a new critter. I just don’t buy very often. Like I said I have a hospital tank for an emergency…I would use the established tank water, and the sponge is handy already.
Any unwanted pests, again would be contained in the QT. Do you foresee any other potential problems with my idea?
I am sorry if it seems I am taking over the thread…I hope my questions will answer ones the OP may have as well.
No,Flower there is nothing wrong with your set-up. I was just offering another option for the op.
Parasites can occur on corals, live rock etc. from dropping off fish. They would not last long in a fishless system. So, you can just wait out its life cycle before adding fish again, and shuldn't have any problems.
The only other potential problem with this setup as I can tell: If your new fish does show signs of ich or whatever, you would have to then setup a hospital tank, or remove corals etc. before treating.
If you don't mind doing that, then there is no problem, and I like the idea of a decorated tank setup. I too don't care for an empty lifeless tank.
Also, been thinking about setting up a small tank between fuge and display. My thought is let water flow thru tank and keep it cycled. Maintenance would occur with DT so doesn't add more. Put ballvalves in place to isolate tank from the DT only when I want to use for QT. Aftr QT is over, clean tank well and change ballvalve so water flows in again.
Not trying to thread steal. Just another idea I've been thinking about.
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
thanks for everyones help. i like the sponge idea because i have a fuge/sump and that would be perfect. i wouldn't have to cycle the QT every time i have a new fish and i could take it down after.
so i will need
- a bigger QT (at least 10 gallons) since all i have now is a 5 gallon spare tank.
- powerhead
- pvc for the fish to hide in
- sponge to set in there for an instant cycle
- amquel+ or something to bring params down if they get high
- and constant water changes
- oh...and a heater
is that it?
should the fish be in there for 3 weeks? or does it depend on the fish?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3112585
No,Flower there is nothing wrong with your set-up. I was just offering another option for the op.
Parasites can occur on corals, live rock etc. from dropping off fish. They would not last long in a fishless system. So, you can just wait out its life cycle before adding fish again, and shuldn't have any problems.
The only other potential problem with this setup as I can tell: If your new fish does show signs of ich or whatever, you would have to then setup a hospital tank, or remove corals etc. before treating.
If you don't mind doing that, then there is no problem, and I like the idea of a decorated tank setup. I too don't care for an empty lifeless tank.
Also, been thinking about setting up a small tank between fuge and display. My thought is let water flow thru tank and keep it cycled. Maintenance would occur with DT so doesn't add more. Put ballvalves in place to isolate tank from the DT only when I want to use for QT. Aftr QT is over, clean tank well and change ballvalve so water flows in again.
Not trying to thread steal. Just another idea I've been thinking about.


Awesome idea, I don’t have space for two tanks side by side..I will have to set the smaller tank in my bedroom or someplace in another room. LOL..the only real problem is using it as a small DT and instead of keeping it for the QT.
 
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