Preparing Quarantine Tank- Obsessing. Please Help.

Squishie89 · Mar 10, 2013

So my next fish is coming on Friday (a tribal blenny to be exact) and this will be my first fish I am quarantining. Quarantine tank is a 15g column, with an AquaClear 10 filter on it. Sponges have been in the sump for over 2 months, maybe almost 3, so they have tons of bacteria (and even some pods). Filter has been running for 2-3 months with just carbon and the biomax/ceramic rings, have not done any water changes (only topped off).
Current stats for the tank: (Api test kits, digital thermometer, pinpoint salinity monitor)
Phosphate: 2ppm
High Range pH: 8.2-8.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-20ppm
Temp ~80-81 (going to bump this down a smidge as I want it closer to 79-80)
Salinity: ~1.0245

I was going to put in the sponge tonight to start getting the water all nice and ready for the fish, but I saw the phosphate and nitrate levels and decided to double check. Should I do a 50% or even 75-100% water change? Once I do the water change, should I wait to put the sponge in the filter until I get better test results? And once I put the sponge in, since the fish is coming on Friday, do I need to add anything to the tank to help keep the bacteria alive, or is the time frame small enough I don't have to worry about that?

Kheebl · Mar 11, 2013

With my qt tank 20L I only set it up when needed, but when I set it up I fill it up completely with tank water from my main tank and then when I do a wc on the qt I sometimes use tank water from main and sometimes mix up fresh water, but it is usually fresh water I use for wc.

Eienna · Mar 11, 2013

I personally would do a large water change, but no less than 12 hours before the fish comes home.

Squishie89 · Mar 12, 2013

Eienna said:
I personally would do a large water change, but no less than 12 hours before the fish comes home.

Why so close to the fish's arrival?

Eienna · Mar 12, 2013

No, I mean you need at least 12 hours between the change and the fish's arrival. I may not have worded that very well. XD

Squishie89 · Mar 12, 2013

Oh okay haha I have saltwater mixing so I will be doing it tomorrow then. Hopefully I can get this fixed before friday morning!

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Eienna · Mar 12, 2013

Haha.

Well, you could add some Bio-Spira if you're concerned.

Eienna · Mar 12, 2013

Oops, duh XD I forgot it's your nitrate that's high, not the others. 'Scuse me. XD

Squishie89 · Mar 12, 2013

I put the sponge in, did an ~50% water change, upgraded the powerhead. Tomorrow I just need to get more PVC pieces and double check the water tests. Otherwise I think I am ready to go. You would think I am going to be quarantining a gem tang by the way I am obsessing about this.

Eienna · Mar 13, 2013

Hey, they should be improtant to you, even if they aren't terribly rare or expensive.

Aquaph8 · Mar 13, 2013

Your doing good, just remember that sponge is the heart and soul of your QT. make sure you keep a couple backups in your display's sump, that way if you get a nasty case of something you can drain, clean and set it back up right away if needed. I almost always do 50% water changes on my QTs.

jedimasterben · Mar 13, 2013

Keep in mind that fish don't care anything about nitrate and phosphate levels. Slap a Seachem Ammonia Alert patch in there and let it ride, if you see ammonia go up, do the water change, but never because of nitrate or phosphate.

Eienna · Mar 13, 2013

That is not true. Phosphate, yes, but nitrate IS damaging. Not as toxic as ammonia or nitrite, but still a factor.

jedimasterben · Mar 13, 2013

Tell that to the immense amount of people that keep FOWLR tanks with insanely high nitrate levels.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I mean, I'm sure there is a point, somewhere, where nitrate is damaging, but I certainly haven't found a level that will kill fish.

Squishie89 · Mar 13, 2013

Aquaph8 said:
Your doing good, just remember that sponge is the heart and soul of your QT. make sure you keep a couple backups in your display's sump, that way if you get a nasty case of something you can drain, clean and set it back up right away if needed. I almost always do 50% water changes on my QTs.

I already have 2 other sponges that are ready in the sump. Do you do 50% everyday during QT or when are you doing the 50% wc?

jedimasterben said:
Keep in mind that fish don't care anything about nitrate and phosphate levels. Slap a Seachem Ammonia Alert patch in there and let it ride, if you see ammonia go up, do the water change, but never because of nitrate or phosphate.

Already have that and I plan on testing everyday or every other day just in case.

Nitrate did go down a bit from the WC, I did not test phosphates as I could not find anything on the internet regarding phosphates and hurting fish so I am going to just let that go. I got the last of the PVC parts in there for the fish. I have bacteria in a bottle ready in case I need it. Light is on a timer.
Thank you everyone for your help, you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

Aquaph8 · Mar 13, 2013

As a bare bottom tank you'll know when it's time to do a water change, things tend to build up on the bottom. Extra algae on the glass will also be the norm with the lack of filtration but is perfectly fine.

Squishie89 · Mar 13, 2013

Okay thanks so much, Brett. I am just going to be a nervous nelly over here.

Eienna · Mar 14, 2013

High nitrates can cause things like ulcers. I've seen it before and it's not pretty.

Eienna · Mar 14, 2013

You usually don't see the damage from nitrate as such. What it usually does is make the fish vulnerable to other diseases.

Even so, water changes are almost always a good thing. Doing it for nitrates is not going to hurt anything.