Quarantine question

[mrbacony]

I am going to be using a 10 gallon with a hang on back for my quarantine tank. When using copper, should i leave the carbon filter pad the HOB comes with? Will the carbon disrupt the copper treatment? Or do I need to just place an empty filter with no carbon? Thanks.

 

[AfaceInTheCrowd]

No carbon it will absorb the medication...good for removal after treatment period though

 

[JasonK84]

Remove carbon. Carbon will remove medications from the water, including copper, making the medicine drop below therapeutic levels and restarting your QT clock.

 

[mrbacony]

Ok thanks. That is what I thought. So the only filtration should be some filter floss? I have some filter media in my sump currently and plan on using it inthe tank to help jumpstart. Is that all i need for filtration?

 

[AfaceInTheCrowd]

Just basic bio filtration, if you already have mature media then tank is ready to go (with careful ammonia monitoring just in case)

 

[piranhaman00]

Carbon is terrible at removing chelated copper which is what you should be using (copper power). Carbon will remove other meds though so no do not use carbon.

 

[mrbacony]

I plan on using poly filter to remove the copper

 

[piranhaman00]

I plan on using poly filter to remove the copper

With 10 gallons just do w/c to remove.

 

[mrbacony]

Will do. Thanks.
One more question. I was thinking about putting Matrix in a media bag in the QT tank. Is that a good idea, or will that provide a place for the parasites, etc. to hang out?

 

[piranhaman00]

Will do. Thanks.
One more question. I was thinking about putting Matrix in a media bag in the QT tank. Is that a good idea, or will that provide a place for the parasites, etc. to hang out?

That is a great idea. I am a big believer in having the QT tank cycled instead of controlling ammonia with W/c.

 

[daybreaksky]

I use a sponge filter, kind with an air stone, a bag of ceramic rings and a bunch of pvc elbows, cycled for a week with biospira and not 3 weeks in it's stable with no spikes. the parasites can't multiply without fish body but can be dormant on hard surface for up to 75 days so no risk there, only reason you don't want sand is it will absorb copper and throw off your treatment.

 

[piranhaman00]

I use a sponge filter, kind with an air stone, a bag of ceramic rings and a bunch of pvc elbows, cycled for a week with biospira and not 3 weeks in it's stable with no spikes. the parasites can't multiply without fish body but can be dormant on hard surface for up to 75 days so no risk there, only reason you don't want sand is it will absorb copper and throw off your treatment.

+1

Although I find the copper binding to rocks/sand to be overstated

 

[Arabyps]

PVC fittings in bare bottom tank for fish to hide/rest, Matrix media for bacteria colonization and poly-fill to remove detritus in HOB, Microbacter 7 for bacteria colony to guard against ammonia build-up (dose with water change). Frequent water changes (at least weekly) and maintain medication levels.

 

[mrbacony]

Thanks all. Great info.