QT poll-Do you have one or not and do you recommend or not
- Thread starter kb
- Start date
blender
Member
i have a 55 gal tank with a 10 gal qt. I bought the qt because i had a sick fish. my strawberry gramma was doomed for sure (i thought). he had a big growth under his gill that kind of looked like a cold sore. after about three weeks in the qt he was back to striking color and healthy. I also used it later for a percula clown that began to get ick after i got him from the store. He was healed up to full strength in about two weeks.
kris
Member
I had never used one (although a had an extra tank in the garage in case I needed a hospital. But like others I learned the hard way after buying fish from a different source than usual and everybody dying. Now what I do, is keep a small tank (20 g.) running all the time. I did this because I didn't want to have to restart every time I bought a fish, and wanted water quality to be that of an established tank. Whats the point of buying an expensive fish to have him die in the qt due to poor water quality.
I just keep 3 little clowns in there to keep things going.
I just keep 3 little clowns in there to keep things going.
broomer5
Active Member
I recently set up my 55 gallon tank, cycled water quality is pretty good. Currently just have the damsels and some hermits / snails, etc. I am planning to add some other fish in a couple months after the tank has a chance to become biologically ready. Since reading more on the subject of a quarantine tank, and scrolling through old posts here, I decided to go out and get one today. I got a 15 gallon tank, filter, heater ...etc, and just set it up today. My question relates to "sharing" biological and chemical media from my 55 gal to my 15 gal QT. I see where some people will add a small portion of the established substrate from thier display tank, to their qt in an effort to help cycle it. Is this a good idea ? Could I move substrate, filter media or a couple small pieces of live rock from my display tank to my new qt ? I figure you wouldn't want anything going the other way, from your qt to your display ( besides fish ). I would imagine you are wanting the qt to have equal to or close as possible water/bilogical conditions as your main tank, but just how important is all of this ?? I am relativly new to this, as you may already know
but I am trying to protect what I have in my 55'er, and make it a wonderful place for my soon to be fi$h.
Any thoughts ????
Any thoughts ????
purplepuffer
Member
I should have gotten myself one of these! Too bad I didn't find this site until after my little "mishap".
Setting up QT / hospital tank is always a good idea, but remember that this is a designated QT and/or hospital tank, not another setup. Therefore, if you are planning on using the "QT" as a hospital tank, then don't put inverts [including live rock] in the tank. These setups should be thought of as a "holding" tank, not another display tank. If you put inverts/live rock, then you cannot medicate the tank [which kinda defeats the purpose of a hospital tank]. Also, some hobbyists use QT to medicate newly acquired specimens. Meaning, that even without visible signs of parasites, or even bacterial infections, the hobbyist will put a new fish in a medicated tank during the quarantine phase to ensure that it does not have ick, etc, or get it before it goes into the display.
Also, as for substrate, I would suggest keeping it simple, meaning no substrate, and definately no UGF [mind you I use UGF so I'm not anti UGF]. The reason no UGF is because your UGF relies upon optimum tank conditions and biological conditions to run appropriately [which you won't always get in a medicated hospital tank]. Its a lot simplier to clean up a barebottom hospital tank than it is one with a UGF. Also, remember not to use carbon to run in a medicated system and NO live rock.
As for "seeding", yes do this to get a new QT going, but only if your seeding source is good ----like from your healthy main display. Don't seed from a tank where you are having problems with ick, etc., otherwise you will also get these problems in the QT.
Also, as for substrate, I would suggest keeping it simple, meaning no substrate, and definately no UGF [mind you I use UGF so I'm not anti UGF]. The reason no UGF is because your UGF relies upon optimum tank conditions and biological conditions to run appropriately [which you won't always get in a medicated hospital tank]. Its a lot simplier to clean up a barebottom hospital tank than it is one with a UGF. Also, remember not to use carbon to run in a medicated system and NO live rock.
As for "seeding", yes do this to get a new QT going, but only if your seeding source is good ----like from your healthy main display. Don't seed from a tank where you are having problems with ick, etc., otherwise you will also get these problems in the QT.
broomer5
Active Member
Thanks Beth .... gotcha
QT set up and running, Skilter & heater only, no UG filter ... no substrate .. no seeding from my display tank. Think I will let it run a couple days, check for salinity and ph, etc .... then will just cycle it with a couple damselfish. Sure looks bare in there .. but I understand what you are saying. Thanks again
QT set up and running, Skilter & heater only, no UG filter ... no substrate .. no seeding from my display tank. Think I will let it run a couple days, check for salinity and ph, etc .... then will just cycle it with a couple damselfish. Sure looks bare in there .. but I understand what you are saying. Thanks again
krazzydart
Member
I have a 55 gal. qt and let the fish in it for 2 - 3 weeks before moving them into my 250 or 120 reef...
kmr
Member
I'm not sold on a QT yet. The main reason is I think there are other ways of treating ich than copper. Copper is damaging to fish liver. I firmly believe in having your LFS hold the fish you want for at least a week for observation. I know this is no sure thing but it helps alot. Also if you rid a fish in QT of ich the parasite is still in the main tank. The move back into society might even stress that fish into another outbreak. I sure you guys use them because you have had positive results doing so. I have had positive results treating ich in my reef . I think I will pass on the QT as long as I get my fish from a LFS I trust and there are reef safe products on the market.
jimm
Member
I use a 29 gallon and a 15 gallon qt, both with under gravel filters. I seeded them with gravel from my large system and it cut the "cycling" process down to a week.
Also, I think having a thin layer of substrate and some rocks (not live rock for medication reasons) is a more natural and comfortable environment for the fish, and therefore reduces stress.
The UG works great. Every time I do a water change on my main system I transfer the waste water into my QT tanks (not the nasty water from the gravel-vac. Clean water). Then before I add a new fish I do a 50% water change.
Since I've been using this system, I have had very few disease problems in my main tank.
Also, I think having a thin layer of substrate and some rocks (not live rock for medication reasons) is a more natural and comfortable environment for the fish, and therefore reduces stress.
The UG works great. Every time I do a water change on my main system I transfer the waste water into my QT tanks (not the nasty water from the gravel-vac. Clean water). Then before I add a new fish I do a 50% water change.
Since I've been using this system, I have had very few disease problems in my main tank.