QT Disaster

[Humblefish]

 

[Slayvoff]

L

It sits on the bottom (usually in a corner of the tank) and is hooked up to an air pump. Which provides weak suction (trapping debris in the foam) and blows bubbles which breaks the surface providing O2.

Like this?

https://www.amazon.com/XY-2831-Sponge-Filter-Aquarium-10-gallon/dp/B0056XVF82

Don't see how it gets the electricity to pump air. Is there simply a power cord the pictures don't show?

 

[Scarybo]

It sits on the bottom (usually in a corner of the tank) and is hooked up to an air pump. Which provides weak suction (trapping debris in the foam) and blows bubbles which breaks the surface providing O2.

Humblefish,

This may sound like a dumb question, but how would you clean a foam filter. Drying would take several days and still moisture could be trapped. How do you clean them?

 

[cmcoker]

L

Like this?

https://www.amazon.com/XY-2831-Sponge-Filter-Aquarium-10-gallon/dp/B0056XVF82

Don't see how it gets the electricity to pump air. Is there simply a power cord the pictures don't show?

You hook it up to something like this

 

[cmcoker]

I have a seeded filter and I have checked ammonia. It was .05. I will do a water change before starting. The thing that sucks about a qt tank is you dont have inverts to get rid of your detritus and uneaten food. Especially when you are trying to get your tang to eat

yep, your clean up crew is you in this case. [emoji16]
Use a piece of air line tubing to suck the detritus and food off the bottom. Then replace the water you removed with fresh saltwater (match it to the copper level before adding it)
I have made up a gallon of saltwater in the past and dosed it with copper to match the tank (label it as having copper!) and that will last a few days, or more, to replace water you siphoned out with the uneaten food

 

[cmcoker]

Humblefish,

This may sound like a dumb question, but how would you clean a foam filter. Drying would take several days and still moisture could be trapped. How do you clean them?

They are cheap, throw them away.

Guess you could bleach them but doesn't seem to be worth the effort to me for $5...

 

[ALbque]

Feed your Tang Nori , he will love at and it will greatly boost his immune system. If he's never had it before , it may take a little while for him to get used to it ? After he does , he will love it ! Good Luck

 

[Scarybo]

They are cheap, throw them away.

Guess you could bleach them but doesn't seem to be worth the effort to me for $5...

That's what I do, but as always I'm curious about what the experts recommend.

 

[melypr1985]

That's what I do, but as always I'm curious about what the experts recommend.

I recommend keeping extras in your sump so they are always seeded. Toss the old ones when a batch of fish are done with QT.

For those wanting to reuse them, you could possible soak in bleach, rinse well then run them through the dryer (without dryer sheet or other clothes). Though I seriously think it's cheaper and easier to just get a new one. It would probably cost more to run the dryer than to replace the sponge.

 

[Scarybo]

I recommend keeping extras in your sump so they are always seeded. Toss the old ones when a batch of fish are done with QT.

For those wanting to reuse them, you could possible soak in bleach, rinse well then run them through the dryer (without dryer sheet or other clothes). Though I seriously think it's cheaper and easier to just get a new one. It would probably cost more to run the dryer than to replace the sponge.

Thank you Melypr1985! Everyday this forum makes me a little smarter. Thank you for the knowledge.

 

[Slayvoff]

I recommend keeping extras in your sump so they are always seeded. Toss the old ones when a batch of fish are done with QT.

For those wanting to reuse them, you could possible soak in bleach, rinse well then run them through the dryer (without dryer sheet or other clothes). Though I seriously think it's cheaper and easier to just get a new one. It would probably cost more to run the dryer than to replace the sponge.

What do you recommend for a newbie who is going to be setting up a first DT along with a first QT and cannot use this method? Bacteria in a bottle (biospira) to seed the foam filter?

 

[ALbque]

Patience, time !

 

[Big G]

I have a seeded filter and I have checked ammonia. It was .05. I will do a water change before starting. The thing that sucks about a qt tank is you dont have inverts to get rid of your detritus and uneaten food. Especially when you are trying to get your tang to eat

3-4' clear 3/8" clear tubing attached to a piece of semi-ridgid tubing makes a great cleaning siphon.

 

[Big G]

It sits on the bottom (usually in a corner of the tank) and is hooked up to an air pump. Which provides weak suction (trapping debris in the foam) and blows bubbles which breaks the surface providing O2.

 

[Slayvoff]

and you need this in addition to a HOB filter?

 

[Big G]

and you need this in addition to a HOB filter?

Here's my setup right now with a few new fish: HOB, powerhead, foam filter, heater, thermometer, ammonia badge. My go to setup.

 

[Slayvoff]

Here's my setup right now with a few new fish: HOB, powerhead, foam filter, heater, thermometer, ammonia badge. My go to setup.

Got it. And if I don't have an existing tank to tank media from or anything to help as a bio filter, would i use bio spira and pour it into the foam before dropping into tank?

 

[Whipples]

You could, just use an ammonia badge as even biospira takes a few days to work. It took me nearly 2 months to cycle a QT without seeded media.

 

[Slayvoff]

You could, just use an ammonia badge as even biospira takes a few days to work. It took me nearly 2 months to cycle a QT without seeded media.

And if I see ammonia, just pour in some Prime even with fish in the QT?

 

[Whipples]

Prime and copper are no-go, they react to each other and cause nasty fish death. If you see it on the badge, water changes are your best bet!