Should be setting up TWO tanks?!?

sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
I just realized something..... while I'm patiently waiting for my newly set up tank to cycle before I can add some fish, I should ALSO be setting up and cycling a quarantine tank, right???? I mean - when I finally purchase a fish and/or some clean up crew, they are supposed to go in a QT tank for weeks before they go in the DT, so I need to be setting up two right now, right?
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
i usually just set mine up whenever i need to QT something, but im about to set up a permanent QT. its just easier.
by the way, if youre adding something to a new tank & its going to be the only thing in there, you can just QT it in the DT. wont work if youre planning on adding more than one thing though.
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
I'm confused (doesn't take much!). How can you set up a quarantine tank as needed? Don't you need to put it through the same proces that you do the initial set up of a DT, meaning it would take weeks for the QT to be ready to receive fish?
Sue
 
invertcrazy

invertcrazy

Member
If you do a on the spot qt you can take water from your dt(display tank) during a water change to put into a qt. This water is already cycled in the dt but it is better to set one up with live rock and keep it running
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
no live rock in a QT, actually. yes to set one up on the spot you just take water & filter pads out of your established tank. if you do keep a permanent one, you should occasionally ghost feed it to keep the bacteria alive.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by InvertCrazy
http:///forum/post/2718962
If you do a on the spot qt you can take water from your dt(display tank) during a water change to put into a qt. This water is already cycled in the dt but it is better to set one up with live rock and keep it running

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2718969
no live rock in a QT, actually. yes to set one up on the spot you just take water & filter pads out of your established tank. if you do keep a permanent one, you should occasionally ghost feed it to keep the bacteria alive.
Water from the DT does NOT cycle a QT. Filter pads help, as alix mentioned. You have to have biological bacteria in the tank. Biological bacteria does not reside (enough to count anyway) in the water column, it colonizes on surfaces. Setting up a QT when you need it is fine if you are bringing home new fsh. If something happens, and it does, you will need a fully cycled tank. Keep one running.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2718687
I just realized something..... while I'm patiently waiting for my newly set up tank to cycle before I can add some fish, I should ALSO be setting up and cycling a quarantine tank, right???? I mean - when I finally purchase a fish and/or some clean up crew, they are supposed to go in a QT tank for weeks before they go in the DT, so I need to be setting up two right now, right?

The inverts can go right in if no fish are in there. Once the rock is in, you do NOT want to have to chase fish to get them out to treat them. Yes. Get the QT cycled and Qt your first fish.
 
keebler

keebler

Member
Some people do quaranteen inverts but if you do a search for diseases that inverts have, you will get squat. There are millions of diseases that fish can have when you get them. Do a search for how many tanks are ruined because people didn't quaranteen and you would be suprised at how important a qt is. Plus, they aren't expensive, no decor or anything is needed. Just get a filter for it and put a filter pad from your tank (if you have one) in it. Chances are your fish won't be diseased, but I would rather spend a little extra and be safe. By the way if your tank is 12 gallons, then your fish are going to be small and you can deal with a 5-10 gallon quaranteen. If after you get all of your fish in the display, maybe you could use it as a sump.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2719103
Water from the DT does NOT cycle a QT. Filter pads help, as alix mentioned. You have to have biological bacteria in the tank. Biological bacteria does not reside (enough to count anyway) in the water column, it colonizes on surfaces. Setting up a QT when you need it is fine if you are bringing home new fsh. If something happens, and it does, you will need a fully cycled tank. Keep one running.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions on this forum. Water is not cycled, the tank is!! I think every hobbiest should read the thread at the beginning of this forum, so they thoroughly understand the nitrogen cycle. Not trying to be rude, but, I don't think you can be really successful in this hobby unless you do.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2719527
This is one of the biggest misconceptions on this forum. Water is not cycled, the tank is!! I think every hobbiest should read the thread at the beginning of this forum, so they thoroughly understand the nitrogen cycle. Not trying to be rude, but, I don't think you can be really successful in this hobby unless you do.
I may have spoken too quickly; I can't really find the thread that talks about bacteria colonizing LR, substrate, etc; and that the water itself does not cycle. I've know its in of a couple in books I have; but I'm sure not going to two-finger type the whole thing here. Can someone point this thread to a good source on this forum?
 
rad

rad

Member
I wouldnt set up a quarantine tank for a 12 gallon tank. the fish in those tanks wouldnt be costly enough to justify one, and none of the appropriately sized fish are really disease/infection prone, and even if they do get diseased alot of good medicines are reef safe.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by rad
http:///forum/post/2719847
I wouldnt set up a quarantine tank for a 12 gallon tank. the fish in those tanks wouldnt be costly enough to justify one, and none of the appropriately sized fish are really disease/infection prone, and even if they do get diseased alot of good medicines are reef safe.
I'll agree that a lot of meds advertise to be "reef safe". But I'm not convinced. IMO & IME; the only cures for most parasites is copper (ich & similar parasites), formalin (brooklynella), or hypo-salinity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top