How to set up a QT tank

[Dcole12]

Hi Everyone,

I only have a 46 gallon bowfront tank. I have put three fish in there and they have died. I want to set up a QT tank before I get any more fish. I only have snails and two hermit crabs in my tank. Is that fine for only those two things being in my tank? That is fine, correct? What should I do to make sure they stay healthy.

How can I properly set up a QT tank. I have a 10 gallon tank that I can set up. What do I need for the tank? Thanks for the answers to my post!

 

[Just_Pete]

Hi Everyone,

I only have a 46 gallon bowfront tank. I have put three fish in there and they have died. I want to set up a QT tank before I get any more fish. I only have snails and two hermit crabs in my tank. Is that fine for only those two things being in my tank? That is fine, correct? What should I do to make sure they stay healthy.

How can I properly set up a QT tank. I have a 10 gallon tank that I can set up. What do I need for the tank? Thanks for the answers to my post!

Super easy.

Simple! HOB filter, heater and some form of flow. There are many ways to do this but simpler is better. Check out this video for some helpful tips. QT Setup

 

[Dcole12]

Super easy.

Simple! HOB filter, heater and some form of flow. There are many ways to do this but simpler is better. Check out this video for some helpful tips. QT Setup

Do you suggest using the copper?

I am going to set up a 10 gallon tank. I just need to buy filter and heater, but any suggestions on lighting for it?

 

[Just_Pete]

I've never had any issues with my fish as the supplier I get them from is great. I do not have experience with copper but if you head on over here, it might give you some guidance. Good luck.

 

[Dcole12]

I've never had any issues with my fish as the supplier I get them from is great. I do not have experience with copper but if you head on over here, it might give you some guidance. Good luck.

I got two clownfish and they both were doing great. Then the last two fish I got must have been sick and killed off the rest. I did not QT any of them and regret it.

 

[BeejReef]

Your display tank is fallow the day the last fish dies, so, it's something like 76 days it should remain that way. Crabs and shrimp don't count. They can stay in there. You'll just want to feed them lightly and keep a little light so there is enough algae to keep them going.

I'd never argue with someone trying to set up a QT, but don't jump to the automatic conclusion that disease killed your fish. A lot of things can go wrong and kill fish on a brand new setup. Doublecheck that you're cycled, electrical current, salinity, and water chemistry as well. Sorry for the rough start. You'll get em next time

 

[Dcole12]

Your display tank is fallow the day the last fish dies, so, it's something like 76 days it should remain that way. Crabs and shrimp don't count. They can stay in there. You'll just want to feed them lightly and keep a little light so there is enough algae to keep them going.

I'd never argue with someone trying to set up a QT, but don't jump to the automatic conclusion that disease killed your fish. A lot of things can go wrong and kill fish on a brand new setup. Doublecheck that you're cycled, electrical current, salinity, and water chemistry as well. Sorry for the rough start. You'll get em next time

Okay, so I should not put any more fish in there for that time frame? roughly 76 days?I have checked my levels and ran them by a bunch of different sources and everyone has said my levels look good. Thank you for the input!

 

[Radman73]

Glad to see you embrace QT. Took a while for me, but i was always lucky with my fish.

10gal works great, I have 2 of them. A heater, appropriately sized(so small), temp gauge, airstone or powerhead, lid, and HOB filter is really all you need for fish. I made the lid out of light diffuser and window screen.

If you want to use copper, which I do recommend, I highly recommend getting a Hanna copper checker. It seems like a lot of $, but it's the best way to check the level of chelated copper. I have used Copper Power with great success. I have always done a full 14 days at therapeutic level and then transferred to a clean QT tank. Prob overfill for you, so do 30 days and then use water changes to remove the copper.

There's a whole forum here for fish disease and QT here. There is a wealth of information and people able and willing to help.

 

[BeejReef]

I just saw you have two posts up. Yeah, you have great parameters in your display tank. You can probably cross that off your list of potential problems.

I'm not all that knowledgeable about fish diseases, so best to rely on others, but, yeah.. 76 days fallow for your DT is best practice. You'll hear a lot about copper. That's only for a quarantine system. It will kill your inverts and poison your rock and sand if you use it in the display. If it's a near new display tank, you could always consider draining, cleaning, disinfecting, and starting from scratch. Personally, I'd just stick with fallow. Even without fish, that is valuable time that the tank is up and running and maturing.

 

[Dcole12]

I just saw you have two posts up. Yeah, you have great parameters in your display tank. You can probably cross that off your list of potential problems.

I'm not all that knowledgeable about fish diseases, so best to rely on others, but, yeah.. 76 days fallow for your DT is best practice. You'll hear a lot about copper. That's only for a quarantine system. It will kill your inverts and poison your rock and sand if you use it in the display. If it's a near new display tank, you could always consider draining, cleaning, disinfecting, and starting from scratch. Personally, I'd just stick with fallow. Even without fish, that is valuable time that the tank is up and running and maturing.

Thanks for the input! I will definitely plan on just feeding my invertebrate's and let fish cycle. This will give me time to properly set up a QT tank. I have wanted to add more sand to my display tank as well. This really allows me to take a step back and slow down the process. I will be adding a protein skimmer next time as well. What should is a good source for the invertebrates?

 

[ccs]

Do have an idea of why they died? Any symptoms that you've noticed?
It is important to understand because it will dictate your fallow period on the DT.

 

[Dcole12]

Do have an idea of why they died? Any symptoms that you've noticed?
It is important to understand because it will dictate your fallow period on the DT.

It looks like when I did pick them up they were starting to flake. There wasn't many symptoms. THE YWM Goby ate for the first few days. STopped eating got flakey and then died. The clownfish same situation, but had for over month- 1.5 months.

 

[BeejReef]

Thanks for the input! I will definitely plan on just feeding my invertebrate's and let fish cycle. This will give me time to properly set up a QT tank. I have wanted to add more sand to my display tank as well. This really allows me to take a step back and slow down the process. I will be adding a protein skimmer next time as well. What should is a good source for the invertebrates?

Inverts will eat most anything and really only need to be fed lightly. I'm sure there are some good posts on looking after a fallow tank. You'll want to balance feeding the inverts and providing some nutrition to your nitrifying bacteria against getting too much nitrate or phosphate and starting a needless algae battle.

You're holding all the cards though. With no corals, you can turn off the lights for as long as you care or need to to discourage too much algae. Ofc, can do water changes without fear of param swings. I don't know how long you've been fallow already. If only a few days, I might throw in a few zoas or mushrooms.... chaeto if you plan to run a fuge. 2.5 months is a good chunk of time. If you can keep the lights on, the tank will still make big strides while you wait for fish... might even start to see some coraline if you get a few aged frag plugs in there.

 

[Dcole12]

Inverts will eat most anything and really only need to be fed lightly. I'm sure there are some good posts on looking after a fallow tank. You'll want to balance feeding the inverts and providing some nutrition to your nitrifying bacteria against getting too much nitrate or phosphate and starting a needless algae battle.

You're holding all the cards though. With no corals, you can turn off the lights for as long as you care or need to to discourage too much algae. Ofc, can do water changes without fear of param swings. I don't know how long you've been fallow already. If only a few days, I might throw in a few zoas or mushrooms.... chaeto if you plan to run a fuge. 2.5 months is a good chunk of time. If you can keep the lights on, the tank will still make big strides while you wait for fish... might even start to see some coraline if you get a few aged frag plugs in there.

Awesome, thank you for this information. Yeah, I just lost the last fish today actually/this morning. You think adding a couple of zoas or mushrooms will really help the tank? I would love to grow some corals if that is possible before adding the fish. All my Parameters seem to be in perfect shape. Should I QT the Zoas/mushrooms? That was going to be my next step in roughly a month or so.. to add corals. I am going on a vacation from Wednesday - Saturday. I will maybe go ahead and add those corals. Any suggestions on some nice looking corals?