Proper QT

[microview]

Many of you recommend having a QT in addition to your DT. Makes sense (although more work and expense). Question: How many of you have a QT? What size? What equipment? What is in your QT re: substrate, LR, etc.? Where is it in relationship to your DT? What kind of maintainence is required in a QT? Thanks for your input.

 

[integral9]

DT: 55G mushroom reaf & 30G SPS reaf
My QT is also my hospital and probably smaller than most. It's a 3gal with just a handful of sand on the bottom, a 2-1/2" PVC tube, a fake plant, and couple small stones of LR, a small PC light that only get's turned on when there's someone in the tank (which there hasn't been for some time now), and a small HOB filter (no skimmer as I can't find one small enough that fits). Whole setup cost me $50. It sits in the cabinet under my 30g.
I generally just add RO when it gets low which is about once a month. I don't test it unless someone is about to go in, but in the past I've found the chemistry to be mostly stable (alkalinity gets a bit low over time).

 

[microview]

Thanks. That certainly sounds doable. Anyone else?

 

[earlybird]

I have a 29g dt with a 10g qt running empty right now. I have 1 hang on whisper filter ($10), cheap light ($10), maxijet 400 ($15?), 2 pieces of pvc stuffed with fluval foam filters (>$5), heater ($15), and digital thermometer ($5). I change 2g of water every week and ghost feed every 4 days or so to keep the biofilter up. I haven't decided if I want another fish or not but my QT has been empty for over a month or so since I added my first pair of percs. I'm thinking about getting PC lighting for it so I can QT corals. Once it's cycled its easy to keep running. I top it off every other day or when I think of it but right now the SG is at 1.023.