Carl Salamone
New Member
Hi All (This is cross posted on ReefCentral if you read both),
I'd like to ask advice on quarantine and hospital tanks (I do understand the difference between the two). I've read many theories and posts on the subject but would like some input on developing an efficient and easily repeatable process that I can use every time. Here's my list of thoughts and questions, in no particular order:
1) My main system is a 40 gallon Nuvo with a refugium in back. I use an Apex DOS to change 1% of total water volume between 7:00 and 8:00 each morning. Between the AWC, refugium, and dosing 2 part, my parameters have been rock solid.
2) I do not want the maintenance of having an additional tank fully cycled, so this QT/Hospital tank will sit dry in a closet until I have the need to set it up. I have an empty cheapo 10 gallon tank that I'll use for this purpose. Most posts I've read either recommend having the QT/Hospital tank fully cycled before it is needed, or having a piece of live rock or sponge filter seeding in the main tank so that some biological filtration is ready when needed. I'll plan to go with the second route.
3) It's my understanding that once a piece of live rock or filter sponge goes from the main system to a QT/Hospital tank, it probably shouldn't ever be added back to the main system. I would think this would be even more important once any copper or medications have been administered during quarantine. With this in mind, I don't want to have to throw a good piece of live rock in the trash every time I decide to set up the QT/Hospital system. I suppose I could boil the live rock and then reintroduce it to the main system afterwards, but perhaps it would make more sense to establish something that is either disposable or more easily disinfected and reused. I'd thought of replaceable sponge filters and bio balls for this purpose. The ceramic bio media is intriguing because it seems like it would offer a lot of biological filtration in a very small footprint. But again, I'm not sure how this would be easier to reuse than live rock.
4) When it comes time to set up the QT/Hospital tank, it was my plan to use a percentage of water from the main system and the remainder fresh salt mix from my AWC barrels (I usually mix 40 gallons at a time and let the AWC work through it). I'd place a sponge filter in the water for filtration and aeration (hopefully already seeded with bacteria from the main system) along with any live rock or bio filtration that I might have set aside for this purpose. What percentage needs to come from the main tank is a question.
5) Is it necessary to have any additional filtration going? I could put one of these cheap power filters on the back (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Tech...Tanks/10313136) and just use a new cartridge every time I start up the tank. I suppose this would function more for large particle physical filtration instead of biological filtration.
6) Regarding ammonia and state of "the cycle": Here's where I seem to read all sorts of differing comments. Will the QT/Hospital tank start off "cycled" if it is set up with some type of biological material and water from the main system? I would think it would be instantly cycled, unless the amount of biological filtration I have supplied isn't enough to handle whatever I have in the tank, and how much I'm feeding whatever is in the tank. I would also think if I have supplied enough biological filtration, ammonia won't develop as it'll immediately convert to nitrate, just like it does in my main system. If I don't have adequate biological filtration, I'll end up with ammonia and have to address it with more frequent water changes.
7) Do any of the common treatments (i.e. Seachem Cupramine) harm biological filtration, potentially upsetting the status of whether or not the tank is adequately "cycled."
If you've made it reading this far, thank you! As I mentioned above, my main priority is to establish an efficient and repeatable procedure. I'd like to have all supplies on hand so that when we end up with a new or sick fish, I'll have everything I need ready to go in my quarantine kit.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts,
CS
I'd like to ask advice on quarantine and hospital tanks (I do understand the difference between the two). I've read many theories and posts on the subject but would like some input on developing an efficient and easily repeatable process that I can use every time. Here's my list of thoughts and questions, in no particular order:
1) My main system is a 40 gallon Nuvo with a refugium in back. I use an Apex DOS to change 1% of total water volume between 7:00 and 8:00 each morning. Between the AWC, refugium, and dosing 2 part, my parameters have been rock solid.
2) I do not want the maintenance of having an additional tank fully cycled, so this QT/Hospital tank will sit dry in a closet until I have the need to set it up. I have an empty cheapo 10 gallon tank that I'll use for this purpose. Most posts I've read either recommend having the QT/Hospital tank fully cycled before it is needed, or having a piece of live rock or sponge filter seeding in the main tank so that some biological filtration is ready when needed. I'll plan to go with the second route.
3) It's my understanding that once a piece of live rock or filter sponge goes from the main system to a QT/Hospital tank, it probably shouldn't ever be added back to the main system. I would think this would be even more important once any copper or medications have been administered during quarantine. With this in mind, I don't want to have to throw a good piece of live rock in the trash every time I decide to set up the QT/Hospital system. I suppose I could boil the live rock and then reintroduce it to the main system afterwards, but perhaps it would make more sense to establish something that is either disposable or more easily disinfected and reused. I'd thought of replaceable sponge filters and bio balls for this purpose. The ceramic bio media is intriguing because it seems like it would offer a lot of biological filtration in a very small footprint. But again, I'm not sure how this would be easier to reuse than live rock.
4) When it comes time to set up the QT/Hospital tank, it was my plan to use a percentage of water from the main system and the remainder fresh salt mix from my AWC barrels (I usually mix 40 gallons at a time and let the AWC work through it). I'd place a sponge filter in the water for filtration and aeration (hopefully already seeded with bacteria from the main system) along with any live rock or bio filtration that I might have set aside for this purpose. What percentage needs to come from the main tank is a question.
5) Is it necessary to have any additional filtration going? I could put one of these cheap power filters on the back (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Tech...Tanks/10313136) and just use a new cartridge every time I start up the tank. I suppose this would function more for large particle physical filtration instead of biological filtration.
6) Regarding ammonia and state of "the cycle": Here's where I seem to read all sorts of differing comments. Will the QT/Hospital tank start off "cycled" if it is set up with some type of biological material and water from the main system? I would think it would be instantly cycled, unless the amount of biological filtration I have supplied isn't enough to handle whatever I have in the tank, and how much I'm feeding whatever is in the tank. I would also think if I have supplied enough biological filtration, ammonia won't develop as it'll immediately convert to nitrate, just like it does in my main system. If I don't have adequate biological filtration, I'll end up with ammonia and have to address it with more frequent water changes.
7) Do any of the common treatments (i.e. Seachem Cupramine) harm biological filtration, potentially upsetting the status of whether or not the tank is adequately "cycled."
If you've made it reading this far, thank you! As I mentioned above, my main priority is to establish an efficient and repeatable procedure. I'd like to have all supplies on hand so that when we end up with a new or sick fish, I'll have everything I need ready to go in my quarantine kit.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts,
CS
