Newbie advice needed

[jpontier212]

I have had my aquarium set up since 1/29/16. It finished the cycle in March. It's a 55g glass. My question is I'm setting up my Qt/hospital tank. I have some sponge filters that i got on ebay for cheap outta China. In all the videos I've seen they show putting the sponge filter in the sump to get necessary bacteria for the nitrogen cycle in the Qt. That process usually takes 3 weeks or so but i have absolutely no room in my sump at all. The only room i have is in the return and its tight. Can i place the filters in the DP for a couple of weeks to get bacteria build up or will that harm something. I currently have for livestock
Maroon clownfish, pygmy Angelfish, banded coral shrimp, jumbo turbo snails, some zoas and a condy anenome

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

you do want it to contact the sand or rock and glass or put it in a place it gets flow, return chamber etc. doesn't need to be much or very big. You can also use sand rock or rubble from the dt or sump/fuge to seed. I do that instead of the sponge.
if your using live sand for the qt it will come with bacteria as well.
My .02

 

[michellejy]

It won't hurt anything to have it in your display. I used to just float one in my refugium. It didn't come in contact with sand or rocks, and the only agitation of the water was just movement from the return pumps. I never had an issue with it not having enough bacteria.

I know you said you have no room in your sump, but can we see it? I'd be really shocked if you couldn't fit anything at all in there! The sponge shouldn't be huge.

 

[michellejy]

Oh, and I also do rock in one of my quarantines too. It's not a bad idea to have a sponge option since the rock limits the ability to use your quarantine as a hospital tank, but if you are strictly going for observation, rock works nicely and seems to make the fish a bit less stressed.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Its actually what im researching lately. A good quarantine and Hospital. They are actually very different and often confused. I can put togheter a hospital in about 10 min.

the rock limits the ability to use your quarantine as a hospital tank,

curious as to why. whats your take on it.

 

[Bob Escher]

I have kept sponges ( with a air pump) in my DT to keep something just in case. In my freshwater I used two along with a canister filter just in case the canister bit the bullet. So if you don't mind seeing the sponge go for it. I have a HOB aqua clear filter and live rock in my Quarantine tank now. If I need I can take the hob move it to the DT while I'm quarantining fish or the live rock either one.
But go ahead it's fine

 

[jpontier212]

Excellent thanks guys. I will be putting a sponge filter in the DP as soon as i get home from work.

 

[michellejy]

Its actually what im researching lately. A good quarantine and Hospital. They are actually very different and often confused. I can put togheter a hospital in about 10 min.


curious as to why. whats your take on it.

Rock and sand can absorb medications and leech them out overtime, making it more difficult to give correct dosages. At least that is my understanding from what @Humblefish has mentioned previously.

 

[CodyRVA]

+1 @michellejy, in addition, if you're going to use rock or sand from your display/sump/fuge I would not recommend replacing it afterwards, especially with medications like copper. It will almost surely transport the meds into your main display which would be disastrous. Sponges are great because they're cheap and can be thrown away when finished. I personally don't even worry about this when I QT my fish, regular water changes (usually as instructed by the medication) are more than sufficient in preventing ammonia spikes.

 

[michellejy]

I try to keep a cycled quarantine running. We go through so much to not cycle our tanks with fish these days, but then often (through necessity) end up putting those same fish in uncycled quarantines or hospital tanks and trying to manage it with regular, massive water changes.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Rock and sand can absorb medications and leech them out overtime, making it more difficult to give correct dosages. At least that is my understanding from what @Humblefish has mentioned previously.

+1 @michellejy, in addition, if you're going to use rock or sand from your display/sump/fuge I would not recommend replacing it afterwards, especially with medications like copper. It will almost surely transport the meds into your main display which would be disastrous. Sponges are great because they're cheap and can be thrown away when finished. I personally don't even worry about this when I QT my fish, regular water changes (usually as instructed by the medication) are more than sufficient in preventing ammonia spikes.

Agreed. Thus my differentiation between Quarantine and hospital. There are some reef safe meds I plan on using in QT, although I dont agree on prophylactic treatment usually.
One point made here by some, is fish treated with copper and agressive meds have a lower resistance to bacteria and other ilnesses and pests. Its been my experience, ive had more fish from the copper wall at the lfs die than others. In my qt I plan on a small clean tank easy to rinse and scrub, and after observing the fish for natural pest and illness slowly acclimating them to the bacteria in the DT.(think newborn in a crowded mall)
Its a blend Of humblefish and Paul B. Although Paul doesnt quarantine, he does treat sick fish and has for 40 years.

I try to keep a cycled quarantine running. We go through so much to not cycle our tanks with fish these days, but then often (through necessity) end up putting those same fish in uncycled quarantines or hospital tanks and trying to manage it with regular, massive water changes.

Yup. there is a term called skip cycle. Its basically like a 20 to 50 gal upgrade, you keep the bacteria alive and put it in a different tank. Live sand Live rock tank water, the bag of carbon, or ceramic rings in my sump or sponge (only reason they are there). Thats how I set up a hospital in 10min with a dedicated aquaclear.

 

[CodyRVA]

I've quarantined all of my fish this way. It is important to note that with this method you'll typically need a much larger body of water. So, for larger fish it might not be ideal, but for smaller fish it works, I've been successful with both. I also use prime and sometimes bottled bacteria in my QT, depends on how many fish are in quarantine.

 

[michellejy]

I don't do prophylactic treatments either, but I think I am in the minority about that.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I've quarantined all of my fish this way. It is important to note that with this method you'll typically need a much larger body of water. So, for larger fish it might not be ideal, but for smaller fish it works, I've been successful with both. I also use prime and sometimes bottled bacteria in my QT, depends on how many fish are in quarantine.

My house and tanks arent big enough for big fish and Im good with that.

I don't do prophylactic treatments either, but I think I am in the minority about that.

Im not sick so why am I taking medicine?


internal parasites are an interesting question though. I have a girl Mandy who eats like a pig and wont get fat. Happy lil fish but I cant get her into Paul B's "breeding condition". I can only guess a gut bug.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It is important to note that with this method you'll typically need a much larger body of water

why is that?

 

[michellejy]

Prazipro seems to be considered the exception when it comes to medication being hard on fish. Of course, the one time I tried it, my clown decided to play dead three hours later and gave me a heart attack. (I have since learned that he plays dead when stressed, but I didn't know it at the time.)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Prazipro seems to be considered the exception when it comes to medication being hard on fish. Of course, the one time I tried it, my clown decided to play dead three hours later and gave me a heart attack. (I have since learned that he plays dead when stressed, but I didn't know it at the time.)

I went to a talk with Bob Fenner on fish psychology. On reason I don't like and he confirmed was if your running a fowler you should use the same aquascaping as in a reef and consider using plastic plants and coral. It reduces the stress on an animal. Watching hospital threads here I think this is one of the big big mistakes being made is not doing this in hospital or quarantine.
Sorry all you plane tank fowler folks . I just flamed you.

 

[Naiad]

If possible it is very good idea to have a long standing qt tank with sand and rock and a bare hospital tank. Some fish will do horrible in sterile environments even if they are not sick. So I let more delicate fish have rock and sand unless I know I have to treat. I get them eating and fat then if I suspect ick do ttm. 12 days in sterile tanks seems ok once they recover from the collection process. I do use fake rock and other easy to clean decor in my hospital tanks to make it more comfy.

 

[michellejy]

My fish have a stunning hair algae garden so you hush about FOWLR tanks.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My fish have a stunning hair algae garden so you hush about FOWLR tanks.

hahah. Ok but dont tell the SPS guys I have a gobstopper something something growing amazing next to my xenia. its to the right of my chato tree in the dt.