Hey everyone. Currently planning my first tank and still in the process of doing lots of research and planning. I've already decided that instead of learning the hard way I'll put off until budget allows a full QT setup. I was wondering however if a setup I have in mind sounds good or "worthwhile". Basically I was thinking of getting a regular 60 gallon glass tank and using silicon and cut glass to make 2 dividers -- in other words 3 separate compartments of 20 gallons. Each one would have its own heater and HOB filter like an aqueon 50. I was thinking that this way one could be a dedicated coral QT, and the other two could be fish QT or one reserved as a pure hospital tank. This way they would all be separated but would be more space saving that 3 separate tanks. Let me know what you think!
DIY First time QT setup
- Thread starter Jaz M.
- Start date
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Welcome aboard, Jaz M.!
Sadly, I don't think that setup will work as you've envisioned. To keep several fish in QT, while not allowing them to attack one another, yes - but not for fish and inverts at the same time - or even fish with differing health issues.
When bubbles of saltwater pop (and there _will_ be bubbles, and they will pop . . . ) a droplet or two of water flies up into the air. (The buildup of the salt from these droplets is what becomes "salt creep".) If one of those droplets, containing copper, flips over a glass divider into your coral & invert QT, it's not going to be fun for the inverts. Conversely, studies have shown that ich & velvet organisms can be transmitted via aerosolized droplets up to ten feet, so there's the potential for a fish with velvet in compartment #1 to transmit that parasite to compartments #2 & 3.
Best to keep QTs separated, or to simply move more slowly and QT fewer animals at a time. (Not that I've always followed that advice . . . )
~Bruce
Sadly, I don't think that setup will work as you've envisioned. To keep several fish in QT, while not allowing them to attack one another, yes - but not for fish and inverts at the same time - or even fish with differing health issues.
When bubbles of saltwater pop (and there _will_ be bubbles, and they will pop . . . ) a droplet or two of water flies up into the air. (The buildup of the salt from these droplets is what becomes "salt creep".) If one of those droplets, containing copper, flips over a glass divider into your coral & invert QT, it's not going to be fun for the inverts. Conversely, studies have shown that ich & velvet organisms can be transmitted via aerosolized droplets up to ten feet, so there's the potential for a fish with velvet in compartment #1 to transmit that parasite to compartments #2 & 3.
Best to keep QTs separated, or to simply move more slowly and QT fewer animals at a time. (Not that I've always followed that advice . . . )
~Bruce
Agreed, would work if you needed to have separate quarters for fish but could do that with accurate or mesh depending on fish size. But they will all be exposed to each other in that space
