Qt tank

[angel1237]

I just set up a small QT tank...I have dead rock In It...should I take this out and just have pvc pipe for fish to hide In If need be....also If I needed to treat a fish with medication,do I have to clean the QT tank before I Introduce another fish...for now It Is going to be an observation tank for new fish.... I have no fish in my larger tank and was told when I buy my first fish to put it in the QT tank and watch it for a month.. now I have to cycle the QT tank lol.. i wish i had known this 5 weeks ago when i set up my larger tank...then everything would have been ready....will I ever get there? how long will it take a bare bottom 10 gl tank to cycle with only pvc pipe or dry rock in it?....he he patience....oh I think I will name my first fish patience..lol.

 

[reefchaser]

Just take your water from your DT and you won't have to cycle your qt tank.

 

[Palting]

The beneficial bacteria are benthic, reside in surfaces and within rocks or substrate. There is minimal bacteria in the water of the DT, certainly not enough to "cycle" a QT.

For your QT, you can do multiple water changes, almost daily, to control the ammonia. Pain in the you-know-what, I wouldn't recommend it.

I would suggest getting a HOB filtration system for your QT. Take the biomedia out and place it in your DT or sump for a week or so. This will seed it. After that, put it back on the HOB and start your QT tank. Ghost feed it for a week, then check parameters. If your ammonia and nitrites are 0 and you have a trace or higher reading for nitrates, your QT is cycled and ready for fish. If you intend to medicate the fish, take out the carbon that usually comes with the HOB filter. If all you intend is to do hyposalinity, you can leave the carbon in.

 

[Kworker]

The beneficial bacteria are benthic, reside in surfaces and within rocks or substrate. There is minimal bacteria in the water of the DT, certainly not enough to "cycle" a QT.

For your QT, you can do multiple water changes, almost daily, to control the ammonia. Pain in the you-know-what, I wouldn't recommend it.

I would suggest getting a HOB filtration system for your QT. Take the biomedia out and place it in your DT or sump for a week or so. This will seed it. After that, put it back on the HOB and start your QT tank. Ghost feed it for a week, then check parameters. If your ammonia and nitrites are 0 and you have a trace or higher reading for nitrates, your QT is cycled and ready for fish. If you intend to medicate the fish, take out the carbon that usually comes with the HOB filter. If all you intend is to do hyposalinity, you can leave the carbon in.

I concur +1

 

[Waters]

I use a HOB filter and just grab the bubble trap sponge out of my sump, cut it up and stick it in the HOB filter. I have some on hand to put back into the sump. By the time I need it again, it is already seeded. Instant cycled tank

 

[PatW]

You can also just toss a sponge filter into your QT tank and power it with an air pump. For seeding run it in the sump of your display tank.

 

[VicD81]

You can also just toss a sponge filter into your QT tank and power it with an air pump. For seeding run it in the sump of your display tank.

+1 Its what I use!
I keep filter floss in my display sump and when I need a QT, fill it up with water from my display thrown in that old sponge filter with some carbon (If medicating omit the carbon), throw in a heater, and PVC tubes. If you medicate remember there are some fish that are sensitive to copper and you shouldn't cross contaminate. I keep 2 QT tanks, one for fish and one for corals and if there is a fish that's copper intolerant I put him in the coral QT.