Qt tank help

[TheoneandonlyME]

After a velvet breakout i learned my lesson and im going to start using a qt. I haven't done much research on how to do a qt and as a beginner it might be challenging. Its an 8 gallon for a 50 gallon. It used to have a betta and some corys until we decided that we have too many tanks so we turned it to a qt. Someone at my lfs told me i shouldnt cycle. I also have a lot of questions like if i should put sand, how many fish i qt at a time, etc. I was just hoping some people that have had succesfull tanks can dumb it down for a 12 year old to understand.

 

[Sharkbait19]

You don’t want sand or rocks - they both absorb copper medication and will make cleaning difficult. For burrowing fish a tray of non calcium based sand can be added.
All tanks should be cycled - this can be done in qt by adding established media from the dt to the filter and with the addition of beneficial bacteria.
Number of fish depends on the system itself and the fish in question, but I wouldn’t do more than 2 small fish at a time.

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[TheoneandonlyME]

I was thinking of getting a clownfish in qt this weekend so wpuld it do any harm if i kept in uncycled? Also what is a dt?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Dt is the display tank.
Make sure you keep a close eye on ammonia - grab some filter media from the big tank so you can kickstart the cycle. It should be safe especially since clowns are so hardy.

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Dt is the display tank.
Make sure you keep a close eye on ammonia - grab some filter media from the big tank so you can kickstart the cycle. It should be safe especially since clowns are so hardy.

Ok. Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Dt is the display tank.
Make sure you keep a close eye on ammonia - grab some filter media from the big tank so you can kickstart the cycle. It should be safe especially since clowns are so hardy.

Im using a sponge filter for the qt. Is it alright if i just squeeze the sponges from my main into it?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Yes, but you don't want to ever go the opposite direction. Your LFS has a real dummy employee. You need a filter, thermometer, media and instant starter bacteria. An ammonia badge is helpful too. Also some PVC pipes for the fish to hide. If you use copper, you need a (non API) test kit for it. Also, you need an airstone.

 

[Tamberav]

I was thinking of getting a clownfish in qt this weekend so wpuld it do any harm if i kept in uncycled? Also what is a dt?

Cycle the tank, can use something like biospira. You will need a sponge filter or some sort of media for the bacteria to live in.

Get fake decor or plastic plants or such for fish to hide in.

Ammonia can be a real issue in QT tanks and probably why fish die in them. I don’t see any reason to not cycle except in emergency situations.

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Reply to everyone. I didnt understand most of the things im supposed to do so maybe this will help me understand. For the qt i have a filter (sponge), heater, thermometer, pvc pipes and i trst regularly with non api products. Im gonna squeeze the sponge from my main tank to my qt to start the cycle because no lfs near me sells any instant cyclers or anything like that because they like the good old way of waiting. If im doing anything wrong please point it out. I would also like to know when i can add fish in it or what parameters i need to acomplish to add fish to it.