My QT tank

monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
As most of you know, I got a 10g QT for my birthday. I set it up, had problems with the heater, and have since replaced the heater and put in some PVC. My wife got me 2 feet of 2" (i think) PVC that I cut into 4 seperate pieces. I placed those pieces into my sump for about 2 days. I had 2 pieces in the intake where the skimmer is and I had 2 pieces in the return area. I then placed them into the QT. While they were in the QT, I had heater problems and asked if that would be an issue and I got an "it should be ok" so I went with it. Since I am planning on getting a new fish this saturday I decided to check the QT params. What a suprise
77 degrees
1.025 SG
7.8 pH
Ammonia higher than 8. It was off the scale. The test tube was blue and the top of the API is still a dark green
Nitrite 1 Yea it was that cool purple. Almost broke my heart to dump it as I loved that purple
Nitrate 20 (no real suprise there as the DT is 20 too.)
So now what? Do I stick the PVC back into the sump for a longer period of time? Do I go out and get a sponge for the DT? If so what kind of sponge? Where do I place it in the DT? Did I put the PVC in the wrong spot in my system? Obviously the QT is not ready for fish. Tomorrow I will be getting water to do a 50% water change. But what is my next step, PVC or sponge or both?
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
What type of filtration is being run on the QT? I would get the sponge or filter floss and soak it in the DT, perhaps tie it to the live rock. I do not think the PVC is porous enough for the bacteria to colonize it. Do you know what the ammonia source was?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I actually like to cycle my QT with my piece of live rock, it just seems to really help. I also use PVC, that starts out in the DT and then goes to the QT, and I just water from the DT.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
its an el cheapo filter found at sprawlmart with their charcoal in it.
I like the sponge better than the rock for the simple purpose of if I have to toss out something, I would rather toss out a fiddy cent sponge then a $10 rock. Referencing an ich (lord i dont want it) outbreak. The ammonia has to be coming from the dead crap that fell off of a rock that i put in there once for cleaning purposes. When I do the water change, I will be vacuuming that crap out.
Once again, what kind of sponge and where do I put it and for how long?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/381657/my-qt-tank#post_3325579
its an el cheapo filter found at sprawlmart with their charcoal in it.
I like the sponge better than the rock for the simple purpose of if I have to toss out something, I would rather toss out a fiddy cent sponge then a $10 rock. Referencing an ich (lord i dont want it) outbreak. The ammonia has to be coming from the dead crap that fell off of a rock that i put in there once for cleaning purposes. When I do the water change, I will be vacuuming that crap out.
Once again, what kind of sponge and where do I put it and for how long?
You can use filter pad, I use filter pad that is designed for ponds.
Some LFS's even sell sponges that are mean to go in sumps, they're even better.
I've seen people use dish sponges, but I don't think this is a good idea.
Some people use a piece of pant hose stuffed with filter floss, I have done this and it works quite well.
The amount of time to leave it in the DT is personal choice. Your system is faily new, so I think you'd be wise to leave it in there for at least two weeks, but I'm interested to see what others say. I actually keep extra sponge in my sumps for this reason, but I also keep my QT running year round.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
FYI the placement of PVC in a QT is to afford the introduced fish a hiding place its main purpose is not to provide a media to introduce nitrifying bacteria colony’s from an established tank to a QT
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
I went and got a foam sponge at the store. I cut off the scrubby part as the glue is probably bad for in the tank. I can leave it in the DT for about a week no problem. I will have to find a better spot for it in the DT than where it is right now. I got the water and need to start brewing it.
Question, do turbo's knock over rockwork? I have a turbo in my sump and he has done a wonderful job getting rid of the crap on the walls and I would like to get another one to place into the DT. But with my "stable" rockwork, I am cautious about placing something in there that might knock over the rock work.
Also, while watching the tank last night I found the cernith snail on my zoa. DO they eat that? It was rather odd for possum to be even on the rocks. Usually he just hangs out on the glass or plays dead on the sand.
I plan on going to the LFS tomorrow to get another pepp and a turbo if no one says that they knock over stuff. I might also get the McCosker's that they have had there for 2 weeks now. He looks rather healthy and is a beautiful fish.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Turbos have been known to bulldoze rock work scavenging for food
Make sure your sponge is in good flow area in your DT system so it gets a constant supply of nutrient rich water to help it colonize the bacteria colony’s
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Cerith snails do not eat corals, but are you positive it's a cerith and not a similar looking snail? There are two snails that are similar that are not reef safe.
As for turbos, I hate them and refuse to keep them in my DT's. I love them in my refugiums and sumps, but in the DT, they knock over loose rockwork and corals. I try not to glue down most of my corals, and prefer to let them attach naturally, and I found that this just can't be accomplished with a turbo snail.
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/381657/my-qt-tank#post_3325667
As for turbos, I hate them and refuse to keep them in my DT's. I love them in my refugiums and sumps, but in the DT, they knock over loose rockwork and corals. I try not to glue down most of my corals, and prefer to let them attach naturally, and I found that this just can't be accomplished with a turbo snail.
I was afraid of that. My tank has never been so clean as it is now with 2 Mex Turbos in it for a week. If the corals are glued in, are they still a problem?
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
well, knowing my luck, I would put one in there and he would bring the whole lagoon down. Not worth the risk.
Good flow area, ok. So stick it to an algea clip and then stick it to the back of the tank. got it. Gotta pick up a clip tomorrow.
 
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