Quarantine question

[iGotJokess]

What is everyone using for bio on their quarantines? Been in freshwater for years, but new to salt. Sponge filter sufficient in salt? Could i just keep one in my sump and toss it in the QT whenever I need to. Is there a better way?

 

[Hugh Mann]

Certainly no expert compared to some who may chime in, however I would say it largely depends on the volume and bioload to expect to have in your QT.

For the most part, a sponge filter of sufficient size will do just fine, more so if keep it well seeded by leaving it in your sump. Can also be used to culture brine shrimp and other live foods of you want to as well.

However, depending on the fish in the QT, you may need a small powerhead or some such thing to create a bit of a current.

 

[F i s h y]

I keep sponges in my sump for my QT I do not reuse the sponge in my QT after treatment. It does not go back in the sump it gets tossed and the QT tank and all equipment are cleaned, sanitized, and dried before setting up again.

 

[Crashnt24]

What is everyone using for bio on their quarantines? Been in freshwater for years, but new to salt. Sponge filter sufficient in salt? Could i just keep one in my sump and toss it in the QT whenever I need to. Is there a better way?

All you need is a non-medical cloth mask for quarantine.

oh wait...

 

[BighohoReef]

It depends on how you're running your QT. Are you using it to treat or just to keep things isolated before putting it into your DT. For our QT which we rest our new fish or coral pieces before going into the DT... We used block media, carbon in a media bag, sometimes swap for chemiclean depending on what's happening in the tank if we treat the tank with any type of chemical we pull everything rinse and readd it's worked out well for us thus far. We don't typically use sponges anymore due to any type of chemical treatment that might need to be done to the tank they just become throwaway in my opinion (not against them I would just like to save a sponge

 

[dwest]

I usually use both a sponge and an aqua clear hob filter. I put the sponge in the sump of my DT a few weeks before I quarantine. I also add new biospira just before I quarantine.

 

[iGotJokess]

It depends on how you're running your QT. Are you using it to treat or just to keep things isolated before putting it into your DT. For our QT which we rest our new fish or coral pieces before going into the DT... We used block media, carbon in a media bag, sometimes swap for chemiclean depending on what's happening in the tank if we treat the tank with any type of chemical we pull everything rinse and readd it's worked out well for us thus far. We don't typically use sponges anymore due to any type of chemical treatment that might need to be done to the tank they just become throwaway in my opinion (not against them I would just like to save a sponge

Well initially at least it’ll just be used for treating new fish before putting into DT. I know at some point I’m prob going to need to use it to treat as well. I only have 1 saltwater tank and it’s cycling now, just trying to get ahead. I have small pieces of live rock in my sump that I was initially going to use for QT but I thought I read not to use live rock for some reason? Appreciate your input

 

[BighohoReef]

For live rock, It just depends on how you plan on using your QT. Live rock is fine but you could run the risk of a pest infestations vermitid snails, aptasia, etc... but that's what QT is made to protect you from. I do keep small amounts of live rock in the QT, though I have a rule that once the live rock is in QT most likely going to stay there. I use 3 clear magnetic frag racks, black egg crate island (sitting on pvc stands) and no substrate which helps with monitoring and pest catching. I recently caught some aptasia hitchhikers on a chalice frag I got from a local reefer, two aptasia were hiding on the plug itself under the chalice killing it slowly from the bottom :mad::mad::mad:. I cut the healthy piece off the plug... score one for the QT!