Need opinions on this idea.

[mcbdz]

Hello everyone.
Newly back to saltwater and it has been awhile. So many things have changed over the last 10-12yrs.
We are working on our 240 gal tank build and this thing is very big and hard to work in when your only 5'3" and on the rounder side.;Shamefullyembarrased So want to make sure I don't get anything bad in there that will require taking things out.
This is what I am thinking. We had a 29gal and a 55gal. Will set these up at the same time. 29g will be the hospital tank and will set up the 55gal and do a quick cycle with liverock and add bio-spira. This way we can get our first few fish and observe them and makesure they are eating well and look healthy. All the time getting the 240gal DT setup the right way and cycled however long that will take. The hospital tank will be ready if anything shows up or before we transfer any livestock over will do the 2wk QT with copper tx. It sounds good in my head and that way the grands will have fish to watch(and me). My LFS guy hold his new fish for 2wks to observe but only treats if something shows up. So, hoping that will mean I will get healthy to start with but, the 55 will be much easier to pull things out of then the big tank. Does any of this make sense?

 

[Waters]

Hello everyone.
Newly back to saltwater and it has been awhile. So many things have changed over the last 10-12yrs.
We are working on our 240 gal tank build and this thing is very big and hard to work in when your only 5'3" and on the rounder side.;Shamefullyembarrased So want to make sure I don't get anything bad in there that will require taking things out.
This is what I am thinking. We had a 29gal and a 55gal. Will set these up at the same time. 29g will be the hospital tank and will set up the 55gal and do a quick cycle with liverock and add bio-spira. This way we can get our first few fish and observe them and makesure they are eating well and look healthy. All the time getting the 240gal DT setup the right way and cycled however long that will take. The hospital tank will be ready if anything shows up or before we transfer any livestock over will do the 2wk QT with copper tx. It sounds good in my head and that way the grands will have fish to watch(and me). My LFS guy hold his new fish for 2wks to observe but only treats if something shows up. So, hoping that will mean I will get healthy to start with but, the 55 will be much easier to pull things out of then the big tank. Does any of this make sense?

Sounds like a great plan! As long as the 240 is cycled, and the fish you are adding are disease free and eating it doesn't matter what methods you use to get there. Good luck and post pictures

 

[mcbdz]

Sounds like a great plan! As long as the 240 is cycled, and the fish you are adding are disease free and eating it doesn't matter what methods you use to get there. Good luck and post pictures

Thank you. I do remember all the cycling stuff and will make sure all my levels are good. Love all my pets fury, feathered, and scaled. Like most my patience is very short so thought the 55 could go faster with lots of live rock. Don't want to temp that with the 240gal so I don't get any bad hitchhikers. Will add QT liverock in there after the 76days.

 

[OriginalUserName]

If you do wind up treating your 55 the rock won't be able to go into a DT in the future. Why not just plan on the 55 being your QT tank and skip the hospital tank?

 

[mcbdz]

If you do wind up treating your 55 the rock won't be able to go into a DT in the future. Why not just plan on the 55 being your QT tank and skip the hospital tank?

My reasoning is I will not treat in the 55gal just observe. When treating they will go into the 29gal. I will treat all fish before anything goes into the 240gal prophetically to make sure I don't accidentally get anything in the DT. The 55gal is for getting them eating well and strong first unless something shows up and have to treat quickly.

 

[mcbdz]

OK, Let me update this thread with my experiences so far. Don't want someone doing research to come across it without knowing how it's going. LOL
So, my plan changed some. LOL
I followed the observation in the 55gal. After 30days of eating great and looking awesome transfered over 2 ocelaris clowns, 1 royal gramma, 1 bi-color blenny and added 2 phantom clowns that were QT with cooper at my local LFS all to the 240gal DT. Started up the next batch in 55gal. These were 1 diamond goby, 1rubyheaded wrasse, 1redline wrasse, 1 6-7in black spot foxface . the wrasses went through cooper QT at LFS, the others had been at LFS for over 2weeks in observation looking and eating great. My 29gal sadly got broken before use. Had 25gal hex I set up for invert QT. Trying to use old tanks we had. LOL
started noticing light washed out spot on ruby headed wrasse and some spots on foxface. they were still acting and eating normal. have threads about them somewhere. Then started noticing my phantom clown in 240gal wasn't looking right so with close inspection notice it was looking kinda hazy looking. Oh and the hex sprung a leak. Ugh. I mentioned an old tank right.

To cut this story short from making it a whole book.

76 plus days later fallow period is finally up on 240gal DT, had to treat fish separetly at first. Ones in 240gal went in new 20gal long QT after a five minute FW dip. went through a 90 minutes rally dip twice. The 55gal fishes had a 5 minute FW dip and 30days of hypo. Then added all together in the 55 gallon and have been in cooper at 1.9ppms then did general cure 2x 7 days apart. The only fish loss was the smallest clown early on due to aggression and it jumped. Making the last screen today so everyone can go into the 240gal.

That was crazy and set my new protocol that no fish will go into the DT without going through my QT and never trust others QT. Next fish will start with fresh water dip, then make sure they are eating well. then start cooper tx followed with general cure or equivalent. then observe again. everything else must be in the invert QT for 3 months before going in. Sadly still ended up with flatworms in tanks and will need to figure that out and also a couple aptasia but already have 2 peppermint shrimp in QT and they cleaned off the rock in there within minutes of adding.

After all my trying to find a way around it. Now I will just do what was posted by @Humblefish to start with. LOL And I must give him credit for all his help.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

My reasoning is I will not treat in the 55gal just observe. When treating they will go into the 29gal. I will treat all fish before anything goes into the 240gal prophetically to make sure I don't accidentally get anything in the DT. The 55gal is for getting them eating well and strong first unless something shows up and have to treat quickly.

I think this is a good plan.

 

[mcbdz]

I think this is a good plan.

If you see my last post that plan didn't work and I had to change plans. No more just observing and now I'm doing full QT myself. Breaking down the 240gal was no fun and being fallow for 76plus is even less enjoyable. LOL