My

[sash]

Hello everybody,
I just started a 20 Gal as A Quarantine tank. added yesterday 40 lbs livesand and about 10lbs of liferock out of my excisting tank. these are my test today:
PH 8.2, Ammonia 0,Nitrate below 10( I have the "Aquarium Systems" test kit) but it looks like 0, the same with Nitrite. Am I done?? What can I do now?? Any suggestions?
I would be really happy about some input.
Thanks for the help,
Sash

 

[shnabbles]

Sash i dont think people usually use live rock and sand in their QT tanks?

 

[sash]

I was told it starts it up earlier??

 

[jayc]

Originally Posted by Shnabbles
Sash i dont think people usually use live rock and sand in their QT tanks?
I've always heard you dont need LR in QT tanks. I guess you could if you wanted to but you dont have to have it.

 

[bacffin]

I put some lr in mine just to get it going. I am going to pull it out soon, but i did it because I heard it takes soooo long to get it established.
Bruce

 

[monalisa]

I have a 20 gal that I'm going to set up for a QT. I was also thinking about starting it with LR, and possibly a cocktail shrimp. Could I just start it from change out water from my 37? Is the start up for a QT the same as starting up a display tank? Hmmmm...I'll have to study this for a while...
Lisa :happyfish

 

[rickd]

From what i have heard all you need is water out of your main tank and you done I think when you do i water change that water will do no LR or LS is need i have about a 1/2" of LS in the bottom of my and thats it and the water is as good as the main tank.

 

[bacffin]

Lisa, I filled my qt when I did my first water change in my main tank about 2/3rds though the cycle. Then I used that waste water to start the qt and stuck a shrimp in there. That was over a month ago and my ammonia is still at 3ppm. It is taking a while for sure.

 

[scoobydoo]

If you use LR and LS in your QT when you have to do hypo or cooper treatment, your LR and LS will become dead rock and dead sand. Use water from your main tank and a couple of pieces of pvc pipe for hiding spaces. You can add a piece of LR if you want but that makes of an expensive hiding place. Good luck. Nice to see everyone is setting up QTs. It saves a lot of heartache and money in the long run.

 

[monalisa]

Would I also be able to use my QT to make sure that any extra LR I get is okay for my 37? In other words, new LR added will cause a spike in ammonia, nitrites, etc. Will I be able to just put that LR in the QT to cure it?
Lisa :happyfish

 

[scoobydoo]

No Lisa, you can't use your QT tank to cure LR if you've ever used copper in it to treat ich. Copper will soak into the LR and will then be transferred to your main tank. Cooper is deadly for inverts. You can set up a rubbermaid container with a ph and a heater to cure your LR.

 

[monalisa]

Scooby,
That's what I'll do for sure then. I do want to note though that nothing, but NOTHING touches my tank water...believe me, I'm to the point of being anal about that water!!! Nope, no copper, no additives at this point, just tons of water changes....
Thanks!!
Lisa :happyfish