New tank questions

[Xclusive Reef]

1- Do you start put macro algae in sump tank when starting a new tank or after the cycle is finished?
2- When you quarantine a fish, you use water from your main tank or you use rode and salt water from scratch?

 

[Tahoe61]

You do not need to start with macro algae, or even keep it unless you have a chronic problematic algae issue. If you do want to keep it I would wait to add it after the cycle.
You can use water from the display initially as long as you have not yet introduced fish/livestock to the display. Later on when you have fish in the display you'll want to use fresh SW in the QT systems.

 

[cbrack83]

I recently went through these decisions for the first time and I was told to wait until after cycle to do micro algae (which I am starting myself this weekend) and they also recommended if possible to use RO water for the QT tank...

 

[clownfish chris]

1. After the cycle for Macro. There is no need to have it before hand and it can actually prolong the cycle by competing with the nitrifying bacteria.
2. Normally I use water from the tank to most closely match the parameters of the tank. HOWEVER, if you are still cycling, it is better to use new water as you would be effectively doing a water change on your display thereby affecting the chemistry required to monitor your cycle. Leave the display alone until after the cycle is complete.

I disagree with Tahoe because I assume he is avoiding contaminating the new fish with anything that might be in the display. This is moot because the fish will eventually be in the display anyway.

 

[Tahoe61]

If he/she has not put any live stock in the display yet then the risk of pathogens cross contamination is low. Once you start stocking then cross contamination is a concern. Encapsulating parasites of fish should not be a concern in a new tank especially if dry rock was used, and unless you're prophylactically treating all fish in the QT or parasites, then those fish you're introducing to the QT have a greater risk of introducing parasites to the QT than water from a fallow tank that has never housed fish. That is my rational but we all know this hobby is 90% personal preference.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

I guess I should have been a little more clear. so I don't plan on having a quarantine tank up and running 24/7 only when needed for like new fish, or to cure a fish etc.

 

[Tahoe61]

I guess I should have been a little more clear. so I don't plan on having a quarantine tank up and running 24/7 only when needed for like new fish, or to cure a fish etc.

Than each time you set it up use fresh SW.