New to QT, a few questions

[trevorhiller]

I have two new fish on order for my new tank from Dr. Reef. A tomini tang and yellow watchman goby. I'm not anticipating having to treat anything, but I would still like to observe them for a bit before I risk adding them to my new tank that I have setup. I picked up a 10 gallon Aqueon and a sponge filter, added a heater, existing air pump and cheap thermometer with a couple pieces of PVC and a seachem ammoalert. As far as the QT, I think it's ready to go, but I don't think it is going to be cycled by the time the fish are added.

A few questions though:
1. For those of you w/uncycled QT tanks, how often do you end up changing the water and what percentage do you change?
2. Anything else I need to be worried about for these two specific fish?

I'm completely new to quaratining, but after spending so much time and money on setting up my new tank, the last thing I want to do is have to pull the fish out for 3 months or worse, lose a fish.

Thanks in advance!

 

[LeftyReefer]

Make sure you have a lid/cover for your new QT tank.

I overlooked that when I set up a QT tank and lost a fish when it jumped.

Goby's are jumpers.

I feed my fish heavily while in QT. So I vacuum out any uneaten food and fish waste daily. Doing so, I usually syphon out about a gallon or so of water while cleaning up the tank. I just re-fill whatever I've taken out with fresh saltwater. doing this every day keeps ammonia in check until the tank cycles.

you could add some bottled bacteria to speed it up, but really isn't necessary.

 

[vetteguy53081]

1. For those of you w/uncycled QT tanks, how often do you end up changing the water and what percentage do you change? Monitor Ammonia levels and allow test kits determine the need for water changes
2. Anything else I need to be worried about for these two specific fish? Acclimate well and equalize the salinity in the bag to that of the QT tank.

Getting a QT tank cycled can be a tricky endeavor. If you are starting out brand new, the best way to quickly cycle the QT tank is to throw in a few filter sponges seeded with bacteria

 

[threebuoys]

You should have a container with non-calcareous sand for the goby to bury in. It should be a couple of inches deep.

 

[trevorhiller]

Make sure you have a lid/cover for your new QT tank.

I overlooked that when I set up a QT tank and lost a fish when it jumped.

Goby's are jumpers.

I feed my fish heavily while in QT. So I vacuum out any uneaten food and fish waste daily. Doing so, I usually syphon out about a gallon or so of water while cleaning up the tank. I just re-fill whatever I've taken out with fresh saltwater. doing this every day keeps ammonia in check until the tank cycles.

you could add some bottled bacteria to speed it up, but really isn't necessary.

I like that idea! I did add a piece of screen net to the top of it, it’s just clamped on so not pretty—but does the job. I’d like to avoid buying anymore bottled bacteria if I can get away with it.

1. For those of you w/uncycled QT tanks, how often do you end up changing the water and what percentage do you change? Monitor Ammonia levels and allow test kits determine the need for water changes
2. Anything else I need to be worried about for these two specific fish? Acclimate well and equalize the salinity in the bag to that of the QT tank.

Getting a QT tank cycled can be a tricky endeavor. If you are starting out brand new, the best way to quickly cycle the QT tank is to throw in a few filter sponges seeded with bacteria

I have a couple sponge filters. Do you think I could just throw them in my sump for a few days and then move them over? Not sure how long they need to be in there for. I also have some marine pure in my sump I could move over, but I’ve heard that’s no good if I would have to treat with something.

You should have a container with non-calcareous sand for the goby to bury in. It should be a couple of inches deep.

I’ve heard of people using glass beads before. Is there any other option that wouldn’t absorb meds if I end up having to treat the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I like that idea! I did add a piece of screen net to the top of it, it’s just clamped on so not pretty—but does the job. I’d like to avoid buying anymore bottled bacteria if I can get away with it.

I have a couple sponge filters. Do you think I could just throw them in my sump for a few days and then move them over? Not sure how long they need to be in there for. I also have some marine pure in my sump I could move over, but I’ve heard that’s no good if I would have to treat with something.

I’ve heard of people using glass beads before. Is there any other option that wouldn’t absorb meds if I end up having to treat the tank?

Yes on sponges

 

[threebuoys]

I use regular washed play sand I bought at home Depot. It doesn't absorb copper.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have two new fish on order for my new tank from Dr. Reef. A tomini tang and yellow watchman goby. I'm not anticipating having to treat anything, but I would still like to observe them for a bit before I risk adding them to my new tank that I have setup. I picked up a 10 gallon Aqueon and a sponge filter, added a heater, existing air pump and cheap thermometer with a couple pieces of PVC and a seachem ammoalert. As far as the QT, I think it's ready to go, but I don't think it is going to be cycled by the time the fish are added.

A few questions though:
1. For those of you w/uncycled QT tanks, how often do you end up changing the water and what percentage do you change?
2. Anything else I need to be worried about for these two specific fish?

I'm completely new to quaratining, but after spending so much time and money on setting up my new tank, the last thing I want to do is have to pull the fish out for 3 months or worse, lose a fish.

Thanks in advance!

Given that your tank is new, and you haven't set up a QT yet, and the fish are coming from Dr. Reef, do you want to quarantine them at all? No quarantine process is 100%, and all quarantine processes cause stress, so you need to make a cost/benefit analysis and maybe just put the fish right into your display.

Jay

 

[trevorhiller]

Given that your tank is new, and you haven't set up a QT yet, and the fish are coming from Dr. Reef, do you want to quarantine them at all? No quarantine process is 100%, and all quarantine processes cause stress, so you need to make a cost/benefit analysis and maybe just put the fish right into your display.

Jay

Well I contemplated this, actually it was the reason that I ordered QT fish because I wanted to go straight in with them. I figured since I am not going to be adding too many fish to a 70 gallon system, the extra money for less potential headaches is worth it to me.

However, I've been doing a lot of reading and some still advocate for your own QT/Observation. I'm not planning on treating these fish with anything since they have already been run through a QT. My tank is 6 months old and has two clownfish in it right now that were not QT'ed, but seem healthy as can be.

I'm curious what others think? Should I skip the QT since these fish have already been treated? I'd love to throw them right into their forever home, but I also don't want to risk my tank since I seem to have already gotten lucky with the clownfish and as you said, QT isn't always 100%. More opinions welcome! I appreciate it

 

[aggrofish]

Well I contemplated this, actually it was the reason that I ordered QT fish because I wanted to go straight in with them. I figured since I am not going to be adding too many fish to a 70 gallon system, the extra money for less potential headaches is worth it to me.

However, I've been doing a lot of reading and some still advocate for your own QT/Observation. I'm not planning on treating these fish with anything since they have already been run through a QT. My tank is 6 months old and has two clownfish in it right now that were not QT'ed, but seem healthy as can be.

I'm curious what others think? Should I skip the QT since these fish have already been treated? I'd love to throw them right into their forever home, but I also don't want to risk my tank since I seem to have already gotten lucky with the clownfish and as you said, QT isn't always 100%. More opinions welcome! I appreciate it

If it’s a reputable company and you paid for QT I say why do it again. When I bought a yellow eye Kole tang from TSM aquatics it just came out of quarantine. That said I do have a QT tank for sick fish. I generally just pour a bottle of dr Tim’s one and only in and watch ammonia

 

[trevorhiller]

Either way, I'll definitely going to leave the QT tank setup for future QT/hospital needs. I haven't seen much negative feedback for Dr. Reef, he seems like a trusted source with a well-established protocol.

 

[Tamberav]

I have two new fish on order for my new tank from Dr. Reef. A tomini tang and yellow watchman goby. I'm not anticipating having to treat anything, but I would still like to observe them for a bit before I risk adding them to my new tank that I have setup. I picked up a 10 gallon Aqueon and a sponge filter, added a heater, existing air pump and cheap thermometer with a couple pieces of PVC and a seachem ammoalert. As far as the QT, I think it's ready to go, but I don't think it is going to be cycled by the time the fish are added.

A few questions though:
1. For those of you w/uncycled QT tanks, how often do you end up changing the water and what percentage do you change?
2. Anything else I need to be worried about for these two specific fish?

I'm completely new to quaratining, but after spending so much time and money on setting up my new tank, the last thing I want to do is have to pull the fish out for 3 months or worse, lose a fish.

Thanks in advance!

add biospira. It helps a lot with the cycle. I changed water every 3rd day but monitor ammonia and change sooner if needed.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Well I contemplated this, actually it was the reason that I ordered QT fish because I wanted to go straight in with them. I figured since I am not going to be adding too many fish to a 70 gallon system, the extra money for less potential headaches is worth it to me.

However, I've been doing a lot of reading and some still advocate for your own QT/Observation. I'm not planning on treating these fish with anything since they have already been run through a QT. My tank is 6 months old and has two clownfish in it right now that were not QT'ed, but seem healthy as can be.

I'm curious what others think? Should I skip the QT since these fish have already been treated? I'd love to throw them right into their forever home, but I also don't want to risk my tank since I seem to have already gotten lucky with the clownfish and as you said, QT isn't always 100%. More opinions welcome! I appreciate it

Don't get me wrong - I quarantine ALL new fish, even those that have been quarantined before. However, my quarantine tanks are well-established. Setting up a QT on the fly isn't easy, and can cause the fish extra stress if it isn't done properly. Also, the clowns not being quarantined could be a wild card anyway. They could be carrying something the new fish could catch.

Jay