Is this good for a quarantine tank set up?

RyanC · Sep 26, 2018

I invested in a qt today. It’s an all in one fluval 5 gal. I know it’s a bit small, but after talking to my LFS guy and going over my wish list, he said this would be perfect. I plan on doing it one fish at a time and probably 2-4 weeks in between the time I move the qt fish from qt to DT just to monitor the load in the DT and get the chems normal. I still need a heater and a seachum ammonia detector as well as a couple pieces of pvc pipe, but I am waiting 30 days for the sponge to seed so I’ll get those. My first fish, actually 3rd, I have 2 clowns already who I put into the DT during cycling, will be either the red or purple firefish. It’s my birthday gift from the wife and she said she likes both but so do I so I have to research a little more and pick. Could I do both in a 40 gal and in a 5 gal qt?

I plan on dosing plazipro but don’t think I’m going to dose copper until I see something. I’m probably going to run qt 5-6 weeks per fish just to make sure I don’t see anything.

I do have a question. I got a sponge to run in the system, pretty good size
that I cut so I can get 3-4 sponges out of it. I’m trying to figure out where in my DT to place it to seed. I have an Aquatop all in one 40 gallon and I placed the sponge where the return pump is. I figured that it will speed with water that has run through the sponge, skimmer and media already. I do have space under my big sponge as well. Did I place it correctly? Thanks for any and all help.

sfin52 · Sep 26, 2018

72 day qt for all fish. Stain of ich can last just short of 72day qt.

You may want to go bigger but that is up to you.

RyanC · Sep 26, 2018

sfin52 said:
72 day qt for all fish. Stain of ich can last just short of 72day qt.

You may want to go bigger but that is up to you.

Now that’s for if one of my fish have iche correct. This quarantine is for all new fish before entering the DT to observe and medicate with prazipro and if iche shows then copper. I do plan on getting a 20 gallon in the future and making this into a frag tank I think. I may end up just making it a small aquarium for my sons room as well

JumboShrimp · Sep 27, 2018

Sounds like you are on the right track. There is a YouTube video from a guy or two who own fish stores who swear by a combination of PraziPro, API General Cure, and I think the 3rd medication is API Super Ick Cure. You might want to check it out. As a tip to make your life a bit easier down the road, get some masking tape or something to put markings on the side of your tank—as a 20 gallon tank (for example) will not actually be holding 20 gallons of water. The first time you fill the tank, use an empty 1 gallon milk or water jug and actually count (and mark) your gallons going it. You will find this helpful when deciding in the future how many gallons of water you are “truly” treating/dosing with any given medication. If you can splurge the extra $75-bucks or so now to have a Hanna Copper Checker on hand, I would. It will be your best friend when you have to use copper (I like CopperSafe), and judging from my last 10 fish, you WILL have to use copper sooner or later. Same reason to get a $7.00 SeaChem Amonia Badge now, and have it waiting in the wings for when you are trying to read amonia levels in a tank medicated with copper. Best wishes, and have don’t forget to have fun along the way!

RyanC · Sep 27, 2018

Great idea on the marking to see the gallons. I didn’t think of that but know it’s not the exact amount of what the tank says it is. I also read to paint the bottom and sides black to lessen stress in fish as well. Is this a smart strategy. I want all the Hannah checkers and hopefully will start collecting them piece by piece within the next month or so. I will look for that video. I don’t know how I feel about copper dosing without seeing iche or not. I know copper can put a lot of stress on the fish but I also like to be safe and preventive. Thanks for the info

JumboShrimp · Sep 27, 2018

I think you would like reading a recent thread titled “Completely Random Single Death?” Check it out for some other ideas.

RyanC · Sep 27, 2018

JumboShrimp said:
I think you would like reading a recent thread titled “Completely Random Single Death?” Check it out for some other ideas.

That poor girl. She was about to just give it all in. I’ve read and researched a lot and I decided quarantine everything. That actually makes me want to copper. I did find out that my LFS has copper in their each of their tanks. I need to further ask how much and stuff but could that be good enough?

JumboShrimp · Sep 27, 2018

Here’s that 3-medication cocktail that the aquarium shop owner swears by; maybe this will help you decide whether you want to go with copper right off the bat, or use these first, and then observe...