10gallon quarantine Tank

[brianguz760]

Hey guys so I Have a 10 gallon freshwater tank that i am going to be swtching out to a saltwater quarantine tank. How would I go about to start it? Any ideas, suggestions, advice ? Thanks in advance Guys !

 

[twilliard]

Simple hang on filter, heater and flow. That's it!
oh and I just a cheap led fixture for some light

 

[brianguz760]

Simple hang on filter, heater and flow. That's it!
oh and I just a cheap led fixture for some light

Can I use the basic hang on filter that came with the tank ?

 

[twilliard]

Ya as long as you didn't use a lot of freshwater chemical treatments

 

[brianguz760]

Ya as long as you didn't use a lot of freshwater chemical treatments

Well ive had the freshwater for over a year so I would say yeah I have. How can I clean it out ?

 

[twilliard]

Might be a good route to buy a new one just to be on the safe side

 

[Humblefish]

The hang on filter should have some kind of biomedia (ex: sponge, ceramic noodles, bio-wheel) which can host nitrifying bacteria to help break down ammonia in QT. Otherwise, you have to rely mainly upon WCs to keep the ammonia down and that gets to be a PITA.

 

[brianguz760]

The hang on filter should have some kind of biomedia (ex: sponge, ceramic noodles, bio-wheel) which can host nitrifying bacteria to help break down ammonia in QT. Otherwise, you have to rely mainly upon WCs to keep the ammonia down and that gets to be a PITA.

Yeah its just a regular bkue filter pad

 

[luxauterna]

Interesting . I would've thought you wouldn't want to have some type of biomedia. Only in the case of needing to treat with some type of copper medication, it would remain in the filter media. That is good to know.

 

[Humblefish]

Interesting . I would've thought you wouldn't want to have some type of biomedia. Only in the case of needing to treat with some type of copper medication, it would remain in the filter media. That is good to know.

You don't want rock/sand in QT, as that will absorb (and leach back out) medications such as copper making it difficult to maintain a stable concentration. But absorption is minimal with something like a sponge in a HOB. And you'd be amazed by the large quantity of nitrifying bacteria a porous sponge is able to hold. Really makes for an effective bio-filter to help break down ammonia.

 

[brianguz760]

You don't want rock/sand in QT, as that will absorb (and leach back out) medications such as copper making it difficult to maintain a stable concentration. But absorption is minimal with something like a sponge in a HOB. And you'd be amazed by the large quantity of nitrifying bacteria a porous sponge is able to hold. Really makes for an effective bio-filter to help break down ammonia.

Thanks for the heads up.. How would I go about it as far as comparing It to my Main saltwater tank. Salinity level, Medications for water things like that

 

[twilliard]

Just keep your QT at the same parameters as your tank. Don't add anything to it unless you see a need for it when you are quarantining a specimen

 

[Tenaculum]

I like to add a couple of sections of pvc pipe for the fish to hide in and around. Some people also paint the sides and back glass to eliminate stress on the fish.

 

[brianguz760]

Just keep your QT at the same parameters as your tank. Don't add anything to it unless you see a need for it when you are quarantining a specimen

Thanks man, How long do you think I should quarantine new fish ? & do corals need to be quarantine as well ?

 

[twilliard]

Oh QT everything! Even algae when you get them in. I do around 4 weeks of QT time. Just pay close attention to it. I would read a lot about disease and pests so you can identify them.
happy reefing!

 

[brianguz760]

Oh QT everything! Even algae when you get them in. I do around 4 weeks of QT time. Just pay close attention to it. I would read a lot about disease and pests so you can identify them.
happy reefing!

Appreciate the information.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks for the heads up.. How would I go about it as far as comparing It to my Main saltwater tank. Salinity level, Medications for water things like that

I set my QT SG to match the "source water" of who I am buying from - LFS or online vendor. This way I can just float & release (to match temp), without having to do any drip acclimation. Typically, the SG is going to be lower than what you keep your DT at. So you will need to topoff the QT with SW until it matches your DT's SG.

 

[brianguz760]

I set my QT SG to match the "source water" of who I am buying from - LFS or online vendor. This way I can just float & release (to match temp), without having to do any drip acclimation. Typically, the SG is going to be lower than what you keep your DT at. So you will need to topoff the QT with SW until it matches your DT's SG.

So I should ask my LFS, what their water temperatures are salinity levels etc.?

 

[Humblefish]

So I should ask my LFS, what their water temperatures are salinity levels etc.?

Yes, but double check the bag water before adding your fish to the QT. I recently had one LFS tell me his SG is 1.024 (he still uses a hydrometer); I get home, double check the bag water with my refractometer and come to find out his SG is actually 1.019.

 

[brianguz760]

Yes, but double check the bag water before adding your fish to the QT. I recently had one LFS tell me his SG is 1.024 (he still uses a hydrometer); I get home, double check the bag water with my refractometer and come to find out his SG is actually 1.019.

That might be a problem for me too. I still own a hydrometer lol. What is an affordable refractometer?