How do you guys do your QT tanks?

[NeveSSL]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about a QT tank and how I should set it up the closer I get to putting fish and corals in my tank. How do you guys do yours? Specifically, I'm worried about filtration and ammonia build up when QT'ing fish. I'm thinking Dr. Tims should be able to help, but that stuff isn't cheap, either.

So how do you guys do it? Do you just have a sponge in the display system until its needed in the QT? Or are you doing something else? How much filtration do you use and what size QT tank do you have?

Many thanks!

Brandon

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I have a 55g QT Heater and filter. I use the water from my DT to seed it. When I do water change on DT I use that water for QT I change water once a week.

 

[rworegon]

10 gal with hob aquaclear filter and a heater. I seed filter media in sump of DT and fill the aquaclear with it. Stick an ammonia badge from seachem on the front glass to give you a visual reminder of ammonia level. I add PVC fittings for hiding places. Occasionally I will add a rock from DT sump to suppliment bacteria, but if you do that don't put the rock back into the display system, ever. Light should be dim and feed very sparingly. If you medicate remove any carbon or rock in the system.

 

[roadrashpaul]

I used a 40 that I had laying around. Cheap fluval filter from walmart and used water from dt and new water to fill it up. Did a 5 gallon change every 5 days and never had a problem with ammonia. Also of course a heater and some 4" pvc fittings for fish to swim in although he didn't go in them much.

 

[Dowtish]

do you plan on actually QTing corals? specifically SPS?

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks for all of the replies, guys! I'm planning on doing automated daily water changes... I can actually see having the old water be pumped into the QT tank would be useful.

Chris, yes, I am considering QT'ing corals, too, although a good coral dip and thorough visual inspection along with discarding the frag plug should help with most issues. I think I will probably want to do this more later as things are established.

Brandon

 

[Tennsquire]

I haven't added a fish in a while, but do QT everything. HOB filter, with media in the sump of my display tank. I also use water from water changes to start the QT tank (don't keep it running all the time; only when needed). I keep a t-5 fixture to provide the corals (mainly sps) with light while in the QT. They get dipped upon arrival, and periodically thereafter, whilst being carefully inspected all the while. I probably keep my corals in QT too long, and some of them really perk up when they're put in the DT.

 

[Dowtish]

my question about SPS was because of kinda what Scott was just referring to. If you dont have proper lighting or filtration it is really hard to tell if your SPS is healthy. Especially if you did get in something that had bugs or AEFW, and then you know you are going to be keeping it in QT for at 4 weeks and dipping it every 7 days. So proper lighting and filtration kinda is a must, and most folks arent willing to spend the money on a QT.

 

[NeveSSL]

Makes sense. The great thing about corals only is that there aren't any nutrients being directly added to the tank, so filtration should still be fairly simple and I believe using old water from daily water changes should work well for getting some food to the corals and the same filtration as for QT'ing fish (assuming I've not used copper) should work well on there, along with some water movement. Definitely planning on getting strong enough lighting, most likely a Reef Radiance DM-155e as that is what I'm planning on using over my DT as well as my frag tanks.

Thanks for all of the replies, guys!

Brandon