Do I Need a Filter for QT?

[katguevara]

I just set up my QT tank to treat for ich for the first time. Going to go the hyposalinity route. I just realized that I don't have a filter to run for this tank. Can I get away without running one? It's a 10 gallon tank.

 

[ChrisQ0904]

I would at least put a HOB filter on there especially if the tank is not cycled.

 

[katguevara]

I would at least put a HOB filter on there especially if the tank is not cycled.

Can i put a piece of live rock in there to start a cycle?

 

[katguevara]

Or can I put put some of the water from my main tank into the QT to get that good bacteria in there? I'm unable to make it to the LFS to get a HOB

 

[radicaltour]

Last week I was in the same situation as you and @Humblefish suggested that I seed bacteria on a sponge using any of the commercial products like Microbacter 7 or Dr. Tim's.
He said it may be more efficient to do this in a bucket with an air stone and small heater to keep stable temperature (for a few days) to build up the bacteria.

 

[Bdog4u2]

If you do a lot of water changes you can get away with just an airstone but monitor ammonia if you use a piece of live rock it will need flow of some kind

 

[katguevara]

If you do a lot of water changes you can get away with just an airstone but monitor ammonia if you use a piece of live rock it will need flow of some kind

Do you think I can just use a power head?

 

[katguevara]

If you do a lot of water changes you can get away with just an airstone but monitor ammonia if you use a piece of live rock it will need flow of some kind

I'm going to treat with hyposalinity, so water changes are going to happen everyday.

 

[Bdog4u2]

I'm going to treat with hyposalinity, so water changes are going to happen everyday.

Just make sure you have an airstone so all the oxygen isn't depleted and cause a drastic drop in ph especially since the buffering from the water will already be low plus fish like to breathe

 

[Bdog4u2]

Do you think I can just use a power head?

Power head would help

 

[katguevara]

Power head would help

Okay awesome! Thank you!

 

[katguevara]

Thank everyone for the help. I managed to get my QT cycled in 12 hours using a few pieces of rock and DT water. Hoping that the hyposailinity doesn't kill of the rock and coralline.

 

[Bdog4u2]

You'll be fine. I've had coraline comeback after not having light for 2 years. i would only be worried if you had a lot of invertebrates as they don't like low salinity.

 

[don_chuwish]

As long as you don't use any medicines the live rock is fine, just not ideal. Most people QT with an air driven sponge filter (seeded in DT's sump) so that it can easily be washed out & sanitized later. Also the idea that bare bottom & no rock leave nowhere for ich to hide.

 

[katguevara]

As long as you don't use any medicines the live rock is fine, just not ideal. Most people QT with an air driven sponge filter (seeded in DT's sump) so that it can easily be washed out & sanitized later. Also the idea that bare bottom & no rock leave nowhere for ich to hide.

I figured as much. I'm just wondering if leaving the rock during hypo will kill the ich in the rock anyways.

 

[katguevara]

As long as you don't use any medicines the live rock is fine, just not ideal. Most people QT with an air driven sponge filter (seeded in DT's sump) so that it can easily be washed out & sanitized later. Also the idea that bare bottom & no rock leave nowhere for ich to hide.

Since I had to get everything done in a rush, I don't have a filter or anything seeded.