QT - Restart?

[bergshawn]

Beth and company,
Was just about to go out to the LFS and purchase a new fish. Levels in my display tank are as follows:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 40
PH - 8.0
Also checked levels in my QT which is a 5 gal eclipse tank (this will be my first fish to put in the QT). Levels were as follows:
Ammonia - .25 (approx. - kinda hard to tell)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 40
PH - 8.0
I am mostly concerned with the ammonia level in the QT. I started the QT about a month ago. I used 5 gals of water from my display tank to start it. At the time, the ammonia in my display tank was at about .25 (the same it is in the QT now). I figured after about a month this level would subside. Since I now have good water quality in my display, should I just empty the QT and put 5 gals. of water from my display in there to get the levels good. That way I can put a fish in the QT today? Let me know what you all think. You're help and guidance is greatly appreciated, as always!
Also, is it OK for a fish to be in the QT (seeing as it is only 5 gals) for 3 weeks as is suggested? The tank is obviously a lot smaller than what is recommended for mostly any fish. I suppose for 3 weeks though it wouldn't hurt. Just give me your oppinions.

 

[bergshawn]

^^^^^

 

[beth]

5 gal tank is pretty small, unless you plan to get a small fish.
Under NO circumstance should you place a new fish in a tank with any ammonia or nitrite. Patience pays here. Don't torture a new fish.

 

[bergshawn]

I ended up buying a Lemon Peel Angel. When I got home I emptied out the Eclipse 5 gal. and filled it with water from my display tank. Also put in 2 pieces of PVC (one T piece and one elbow). Checked all levels in both tanks (display and QT). Levels were as follows:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
PH - 8.0
Did the 2 hour drip method of acclimation suggested here on this site (except I did it for 2.5 hrs) and put the fish in the QT. Seems to be doing well. Fed him some Spirulina which he ate right up. I was told these guys are hard to get to eat, and mine is already eating. Hopefully this is a good sign. I am going to keep him in QT for at least 3 weeks, possibly 4. Most people on here stated that if they lived after 30 days there was a good chance they would do well. Would rather keep him in the QT for 4 weeks in case he doesn't make it, then move him to the display where he will hopefully get along with my Perc Clowns, Damsels, Peppermint Shrimp, and Florida Condi Anemone.
Also, if you've followed my past threads I was getting a Nitrate reading of 40 from a Jungle Nitrate/Nitrite all-in-one test strip. Before I made any changes I purchased an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Nitrate and Nitrite test kit today and tested with those. Nitrate reports as 10 from that kit, if not a little lower. Actually looks like it's between 5 and 10 based on the color shade. Nitrite reports the same - 0. I guess those Jungle kits aren't really that great as a lot of you have said.
Beth --> Do you think this fish will be OK in this 5 gal. QT for 3-4 weeks? He seems pretty active and has only been in for about 25 minutes as of right now. I will be investing in a bigger QT in the future but have not had the time or money to do so as of yet. I already had the 5 gal laying around. I think putting him in the 5 gal QT for 3-4 weeks was better than just putting him in the display, do you agree?
Thanks again for your great help -- all of you.
Shawn

 

[beth]

Shawn, this fish is now in a totally uncycled tank. Emptying the water out and replacing it with tank water does not mean the tank is now cycled. Now you will need to do daily water changes to ensure that the tank never cycles while the fish is in it.
Add a couple of cups of substrate from your main tank in the QT.
The fish can do ok in a 5 gal as long as you maintain optimum water quality---which will be very difficult in an uncycled tank.
When you do water changes, use water from your main tank [as long as water quality is good].

 

[bergshawn]

I don't understand why this tank will cycle? The water is already established from the other tank. It was my understanding that I could put this in another tank and it would not cycle? What exactly will make it cycle?
Maybe I should just take the fish out and acclimate him to my display tonight and just put him in there instead of QTing. I can't afford to be doing water changes on a daily basis.

 

[bergshawn]

Welll, Beth. You are 100% right. I feel like such an idiot, but I guess that is how you learn. I thought that since my water was established it wouldn't cycle if put into a new tank. Well it's been about 24 hrs, I just got home, and sure enough, ammonia is at about .25. Started off at 0 .
Put some water out of the QT (where the Lemon Peel was) into a 5 gal. bucket and removed him and put him in the 5 gal bucket. Am now drip acclimating him to new display tank which has good water quality. Fish seems to be fine which I am very shocked about as I have read these fish need very good water quality. I guess since the ammonia hasn't been above normal for very long. I hate to just put him in the display tank in case he gets ich. I do not want him infecting the whole tank. I am going to leave the QT the way it was and let it cycle itself. Hopefully none of my fish will get ich while it is cycling. If I start to notice the Lemon Peel getting ich I am going to remove him and I don't know what to do then. Guess I could bring him back to LFS, but I doubt they'd take him back w/ ich. Hate to flush a $40 fish. Problem is that I cannot afford to do daily water changes (if not more) as I work full time and 2 nights a week I have school and don't get home until 9PM. Let me know what you guys suggest.
Thanks again.