Bio loads in qt tanks

[B-ridge]

Just curious to what people’s answers would be.
How many fish do you think would be possible to put into a 20 gallon long with hang on back filter. In filter is ceramic media that was seeded with bio spira and has been in sump for about 2 months. Also a bag of siporax that has been in sump for months?
Same thing but difference is a 30 gallon tank. How many fish would you think is feasible to keep?
Last but not least would be a 55 gallon
All fish will/would be maximum size 2 1/2 inches
All fish will go through a 30 day proactive treatment of chloroquine phosphate

 

[mcarroll]

I wouldn't suggest trying to QT more than 1-2 fish at a time for most folks who're starting brand new tanks.

Even at that, 1 fish would be better than 2.

Using a larger QT enables you to serve larger fish, not more fish, IMO.

With a 10 gallon you couldn't provide adequate QT housing to more than neon gobies or similar.

20 gallon is what I consider the minimum for most reef fish, but 30-50 gallons is more or less unlimited for juvenile fish.

Optimally no more than two at a time though, especially at the very start of someone's first tank.

 

[Fitzty]

I didn’t like it but did much more with no ammonia spikes in 27 gallon storage totes from Costco. 4-5 inch Hippo Tang with a neon, clown goby, 2 leopards and a flame. I just watched the ammonia monitor and had water ready. About the same bio load or less in another running the same time. Feed less than usual and more often.

 

[B-ridge]

@Fitzty what did you use for filtration in the tubs? Did you dose bacteria or use any type of bio max, siporax?

 

[Fitzty]

I used the cheap sponge filters off amazon and did dose Dr Tim’s at first. I changed water less than I would have thought and used copper at times. Most of the time was Hypo. I had a few marine pure balls in each tank too.

 

[ca1ore]

I have successfully quarantined 4 pyramid butterfly in my 20L - they were nominally 3" each. Standard biomedia have quite sizable surface area so I've never found that to be the limitation. I think it's more about space. Is it better to use a bigger tank, probably; is it necessary, probably not.

 

[Billdogg]

IMHO, and like others have said, it is more about the available space than it is the total volume or even the quantity/quality of the biological filtration.

I handle waste and it's by-products by doing daily water changes using water from my frag tank and then replenishing the FT with freshly made water. The result is a QT with "cycled" water and a FT with multiple smallish water changes for the duration of the QT period.

 

[B-ridge]

@calore
Not to go off topic but any chance you wanna sell those pyramids? I’m looking for 3. If not you wanna qt mine if I could find some? I have no luck with them. Between bacterial issues and what not I’m batting 0

 

[B-ridge]

I’m curious to opinions. I was just doing some research and came across a product by fauna marina called bacto reef balls. Supposed to be these jelly like balls filled with bacteria. It helps reduce and maintain ammonia. Nitrites. Nitrates. Phosphates. Supposovely. Do you think these would work in a qt tank?