Keeping a quarantine tank running

ReeferJoe · Mar 7, 2014

Hi,

I have a 20 gallon QT tank cycled with a sponge filter running. I've a 100 watt heater in there and it constantly comes on. I want to keep the tank running but was wondering do I need to keep the heater on? Will the bacteria die if the water gets too cold?

Thanks,
Joe

Squishie89 · Mar 7, 2014

I do not know if the bacteria will die if the temp goes too low, my best guess is yes, but I really don't know. What you could do is set the temp for like 75 which is close to normal temp for a reef tank which should be fine. Liveaquaria has as their possible temp parameters as 72-78, so maybe even lower than 75 should be good. I hope this helps.

reefwiser · Mar 7, 2014

Put the sponge filter in your DT sump between uses.

ReeferJoe · Mar 8, 2014

squishie,

I'll lower it to 75 as you suggested to see of it comes on less often. Thanks! Joe

ReeferJoe · Mar 8, 2014

Reefwiser,

I thought about doing take but I was worrying about the sponge becoming a nitrate factory collecting detritus. What do you think?

Joe

RacinRevo0818 · Mar 8, 2014

You will either need to put the sponge in dt or just simply sprinkle a little food in qt to keep the bacteria alive.
If you don't need qt set up I would throw sponge in dt, clean qt and when you need it simply do a water change, fill the qt and throw the sponge in and your set.

As far as temps go Thanh from tidal gardens said his tanks are 72 in the winter so I would think your fine going lower.

Squishie89 · Mar 8, 2014

I keep my sponges in the sump. I rinse them in the sump every few weeks-months.

ReeferJoe · Mar 8, 2014

Sounds like keeping the sponge in the dt is the best option. Thanks guys for your help!

ReeferJoe · Mar 8, 2014

Another question. The sponge comes in different sizes rated for difference size tanks. I have a 20 qt tank. If I put a sponge that is rated for 40 gallons, does that mean my qt can handle more bioload than one rated for 20 gallon?

Joe

mark11 · Mar 8, 2014

Yes it can support more, but... while in the DT, the bacteria in the sponge are kept alive from those nutrients. And since the DT has other filtration, the sponge isn't prepped for its rated bioload.

ReeferJoe · Mar 8, 2014

ah...I understand now. Thanks mark11

Joe

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 9, 2014

I thought about the sponge in the DT but if your quarantine tank has been treated with copper and been ran through the sponge isnt this a bad idea?

ReeferJoe · Mar 9, 2014

Wuuzzz, if it has been treated with copper, I would think you can't put it back into the display tank. I would get a new one and put in in the dt to be seeded again. That's what I've read but I'm going to let the experienced reefers out there confirm.

RacinRevo0818 · Mar 9, 2014

Yes if any treatment has been done I would toss in garbage and buy a new one. I would even just start with 2 if you go that route. I use a bag of seachem matrix media and works well.

FishGuyTy · Mar 9, 2014

Yes, keep a sponge or 2 in the sump if you can. We keep multiples in sumps just for this purpose at work. weekly, during a water change, we just clean the sponges in the dirty discard water from the water change to get the build up of gunk off, but still keeping the bacteria alive. If you do dose in the QT, throw it away afterwards. I even throw them away after getting a new fish and holding it, even if I didn't see anything pop up on the new fish. Sponges are cheap compared to a tank full of something you dont want.