Good fish to keep the QT going?

[sky414]

So, my display tank is now fully stocked. It's a 300 gallon tank. I have a 40 gallon QT. My LFS said I should keep some fish in there to keep it up in running to keep some bacteria built up in there. As with everything, I am sure there are pros and cons to this. I have a UV for the DT and QT. If I opt to keep the QT running, what are some fish to keep in there?

My LFS have some small monos (mono argentus) right now. I like them; I would add them to my DT, but for their reputation for eating shrimp. Or Chromis? Or Blue eyed cardinals? My LFS suggested saltwater guppies, but I've seen post of them harassing saltwater fish.

 

[TX_REEF]

Saltwater molly. Low maintenance, cheap, eats algae/anything and as an originally freshwater fish, it will have limited/no resistance to saltwater maladies so any pathogens introduced to QT will be immediately obvious for treatment.

 

[Jekyl]

You don't need to keep a fish in quarantine. Your lfs is wrong.

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

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[MnFish1]

So, my display tank is now fully stocked. It's a 300 gallon tank. I have a 40 gallon QT. My LFS said I should keep some fish in there to keep it up in running to keep some bacteria built up in there. As with everything, I am sure there are pros and cons to this. I have a UV for the DT and QT. If I opt to keep the QT running, what are some fish to keep in there?

My LFS have some small monos (mono argentus) right now. I like them; I would add them to my DT, but for their reputation for eating shrimp. Or Chromis? Or Blue eyed cardinals? My LFS suggested saltwater guppies, but I've seen post of them harassing saltwater fish.

no - you should not keep fish in your QT. You can periodically add a very small pinch of food, etc.

 

[MnFish1]

no - you should not keep fish in your QT. You can periodically add a very small pinch of food, etc.

the bacteria - once established - are going to be there for quite a while sine they can go dormant

 

[Jekyl]

the bacteria - once established - are going to be there for quite a while sine they can go dormant

Correct. People seem to forget with all of the advertising and impatience that a normal tank can cycle on its own in about a month. No bacteria or ammonia necessary. Just from what enters the tank via aerosol.

Best method is to just keep additional sponges that fit your HoB filter for your 40qt tank inside the sump of your 300g. When QT is needed, add the established sponge to your HoB filter in the 40g. Much easier than stressing some poor fish you don't even want.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Yes please don't follow that lfs advice and honestly if you want to feel extra super safe before adding a new fish to your qt throw a sponge in your sump in the main tank and move it to the qt when you start it back up

 

[ClownSchool]

no - you should not keep fish in your QT. You can periodically add a very small pinch of food, etc.

A squirt of phyto once a week may be all that’s needed.

 

[Jasonak]

Learn something new everyday. I totally thought you had to keep a fish in QT also.

 

[Jekyl]

Learn something new everyday. I totally thought you had to keep a fish in QT also.

Glad we could help

 

[vetteguy53081]

A seeded sponge offers more value than a fish. Never thought about mono sebae but best for seeding a new tank versus QT tank. A QT with no fish has advantage of no living parasites du to no fish for them to host on

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

You don’t need to keep fish in your QT - the bacteria will remain active for months with no fish. You can either ghost feed the tank, or keep sponge filters working in the sump of your DT to use when needed.