What is your quarantine tank like?

pelena

pelena

Member
I want to get a quarantine tank set up for some new fish. I just wanted to get some ideas on how crazy you all get with yours.
My inital thoughts for mine...
- small, 2.5 gal
- CC with UG filter
- plain old florecent lighting
- clean up crew
- rocks for hiding
Not sure if LR and LS would be damaged by medications.
Also, should I use anything from my exsiting show tank (ie water, sand, rock) to help cycle it?
 
ohioreef

ohioreef

Member
My QT is a 10g with BB. I glued 3 PVC tubes together to make a hiding spot.
I have a small PH and am using a small Whisper HOB filter for filtration. I have a standard light hood for lighting.
You should probably ditch the CC and UGF. There is a possibility the CC will absorb meds on top of the other CC/UGF issues.
 
pelena

pelena

Member

Originally posted by ohioreef
You should probably ditch the CC and UGF. There is a possibility the CC will absorb meds on top of the other CC/UGF issues.
I dont think I follow:notsure:
 
dragonfli

dragonfli

Member
hey pelena i got the same set up but i left the cleaning crew outta the tank. i dont think my UG does much except make "pretty little bubbles." but i have noticed the pvc thing. they need a hiding spot for sure.
OHIOREEF please elaborate.
 
ohioreef

ohioreef

Member
I have read that rock and other porous materials can absorb the medications, thus messing up your dosing.
CC/UGF can trap detritus and cause nitrate problems if it is not cleaned regularly.
 
maeistero

maeistero

Active Member
2.5 seems way small, a 20gal is cheap as hell. try garage sales this spring. cc, are you serious? i wouldn't, but that may just be me. undergravel filtering, no way.
just my opinion. i'd do a search as there are plenty of recommendations on quarantines that actually work really well. also search crushed coral, undergravel filters, and trying to maintain such a small tank. it seems you might be trying to go cheaper, when in actuallity(sp?) it will probably take you much more money spent in hours wasted maintaining a tank of this type, especially on quarantined and possibly stressed sick fish.:nervous:
 
T

tizzo

Guest
In a perfect world your QT and a hospital tank would be 2 seperate tanks. But that's not feasable for most of us. Once you medicate, your QT becomes a hospital tank. Yes, meds would ruin live rock/sand not to mention removing beneficial bacteria.
Pourous substances will continue to leach out meds after you have discontinued them, along with the duration of treatment making it to easy to overdose.
PVC is the ideal hiding place because well for one, it sinks!! And also because it is nonpourous.
A QT should be very simple... No UGF, no LR no LS.
A heater, powerheads and some PVC is OK. You can either do frequent water changes or add a skimmer and hang on filter.
I do the water changes.
 
dragonfli

dragonfli

Member
WOW this wasnt my thread originally, but i have a 5 galon QT and i took the CC out and i dont know what to do about filtration. a UGF came with the tank, and i have it in there alone with the fish and a piece of pvc.
filtration? please help
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
I dont know what to do with it. I use a whisper 60 filter "300 gallons per hour" It is reduced down though I shortend the tube and it has filter pads in it and such. I use fake decorations like caves and some fake plants I will have to get a pic for you.
 
pelena

pelena

Member
thanks guys. I kinda thought the llive stuff might give problems. I also liked the idea about a hospital tank and a QT tank as seperate tanks. Maybe I'll go for my tiny tank as a hospital tank and get a 10 gal for QT for the new stuff (no meds added). Kinda like a temporary show tank.
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
If the QT is usually empty then how does the water stay healthy? There has to be some bacteria somewhere, doesn't there? Also, how often do you do water changes on an empty tank?
 
lefty

lefty

Active Member
The water stays 'healthy' with occasional water changes and perhaps doing the "feeding invisible fish" to keep the bacteria going and prepped for a real fish. A small water change every one to two weeks would be fine. You could even change it out with the water you take out of your display tank if your display water is of good quality.
-lefty
 
pelena

pelena

Member

Originally posted by lefty
The water stays 'healthy' with occasional water changes and perhaps doing the "feeding invisible fish" to keep the bacteria going and prepped for a real fish.
-lefty
where does the bacteria live, in the water? I thought that the bacteria lived in the sand bed or rock crevaces. if you have an empty tank w only pvc where can the bacteria survive?
 
T

tizzo

Guest
The beneficial bacteria lives on the surface area...all surface areas. There isn't much that's why water changes and not overstocking are important.
 
pelena

pelena

Member
So, if it doesn't get used very often, is it best to just use tank water to fill it then add meds and dump when its done?
 
T

tizzo

Guest
I leave mine full with heater and PH's to run always. If I aquire a fish (usually rescue fish people bought with out knowing about it) then I do a water change in my display and put that water into my QT. Usually about 15 gallons. Then I do a 5 gallon water change daily or every other day after the fish are added.
 
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