Cycling a QT tank question

[AZMSGT]

So I am returning to the hobby, I am going to start cycling my Red Sea 625 in a few days. That said, I want to get my 20g QT up and running also. However, my QT lacks media or anything at the moment. What would be the suggested items/media be for me to put in the 20g QT to get it cycled?

One item I was going to put in is a sponge filter. But will that have enough surface area to make the take successful as a QT?

 

[Big G]

HOB filter like Aquaclear with the foam pad soaked in bio media and a mesh bag in it of Fluval BioMax also soaked.
Foam bubble filter with the foam also soaked.
I like Seachem Stability as a bio media. It takes a bit longer to cycle than say Biospira, but the bio stability is superior with Stability.

 

[AZMSGT]

HOB filter like Aquaclear with the foam pad soaked in bio media and a mesh bag in it of Fluval BioMax also soaked.
Foam bubble filter with the foam also soaked.
I like Seachem Stability as a bio media. It takes a bit longer to cycle than say Biospira, but the bio stability is superior with Stability.

Great ideas, huge help thanks.

 

[Idoc]

I start all my quarantine tanks out fresh for each new fish. Aquaclear HOB filter with a sponge is used. I soak the new sponge in a bowl of saltwater and Bio-Spira for a couple hours and then leave in the HOB and turn it on. I then just add a capful of BioSpira each day for a few days... and that's it. Never a trace of ammonia found on my test kits or seachem alert badge!

 

[AZMSGT]

I start all my quarantine tanks out fresh for each new fish. Aquaclear HOB filter with a sponge is used. I soak the new sponge in a bowl of saltwater and Bio-Spira for a couple hours and then leave in the HOB and turn it on. I then just add a capful of BioSpira each day for a few days... and that's it. Never a trace of ammonia found on my test kits or seachem alert badge!

Thanks for your response.

Can either of you please elaborate on how the HOB is set up? My kit tank HOB came with a carbon filter but I figure I can cut a sponge to fit. You both use an Aquaclear. What is the benefit over say the Aqueon HOB?

For reference this is the kit I grabbed on sale for $60
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...s-ensembles/aqueon-led-20-gallon-aquarium-kit

I already have a different heater and won’t use the kit heater.

 

[Idoc]

Thanks for your response.

Can either of you please elaborate on how the HOB is set up? My kit tank HOB came with a carbon filter but I figure I can cut a sponge to fit. You both use an Aquaclear. What is the benefit over say the Aqueon HOB?

For reference this is the kit I grabbed on sale for $60
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...s-ensembles/aqueon-led-20-gallon-aquarium-kit

I already have a different heater and won’t use the kit heater.

Many use the Aquaclear HOB Filyets just because the media filters inside are individual items, so easier to remove one type and leave another. See the picture attached... the sponge at the bottom is the primary filter I use during quarantine. This is what I soak in a bottled bacteria first. Then, a carbon filter can be added later to remove certain meds from the water column. The sponges are very inexpensive to replace.

Your Aqueon HOB will work just fine as well, but you'll have to see how the filters inside are setup. Some other HOB filters make it difficult to separate the different internal filter components...and can be expensive to replace. Just make sure you can remove the carbon portion.

 

[Idoc]

Also, pick up a couple cheap, fake coral or plant decorations for inside the quarantine tank. Since I've added them to my setup, the fish I quarantine just seem to be more relaxed and active during treatments. I think those decorations break up the sterile appearance of an empty tank with PVC fittings. Plus if you have a couple fish in there at the same time, it breaks up their line of sight so one can hide a little if they get snippy with each other.

 

[AZMSGT]

It’s funny, I understood and knew all the big reeftank, sump, etc filtration better than the little QT tank. But they are all a major part of the puzzle and getting them right sure makes the hobby more enjoyable.

 

[MnFish1]

HOB filter like Aquaclear with the foam pad soaked in bio media and a mesh bag in it of Fluval BioMax also soaked.
Foam bubble filter with the foam also soaked.
I like Seachem Stability as a bio media. It takes a bit longer to cycle than say Biospira, but the bio stability is superior with Stability.

That said - there is also a question as to whether the foam pads adsorb certain chemicals.