Quarantine Setup Help

[mell312]

A friend gave us his 37g saltwater setup including a few fish about 3 months ago. Since then we've added 1 fish and have our future stock decided on and are just progressing slowly. I've always quarantined with my freshwater, but we did not quarantine with the one addition we made to the saltwater so far. I'm really nervous to not quarantine our next additions or any future additions and my husband doesn't really want to spend more money on another tank setup so I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible. Please tell me if this plan will work:

-10g tank (either purchase from Petco as I think it's the $1 sale or borrow unused one from friend who gave us the setup)
-Cheap Tetra Whisper HOB filter for 10g (or other low cost HOB) $15
-Currently run 2 heaters for safety on DT...planning to pull one for QT
-PVC pieces for hiding $4-5
-no substrate
-new water from LFS
-sponge for filter...I'm running a HOB on the DT but the cycle is supported by the live rock. Can I put all or as much as will fit of the sponge from my DT into the Tetra HOB to create an instant cycle in QT? (And replace DT sponge with a new one)
-hood or canopy...Needed? Worried about jumpers and evap

What am I missing? Do I need something else? Is a light necessary?

Planning to purchase 2 pajama cardinals to start out. What is the minimum quarantine time for saltwater? And I'm not a fan of dosing meds just in case. So would prefer to wait and watch.

 

[Prince_Tony]

That setup would be fine. With my quarantine tank, I used existing water and rock from my main display and didn't worry about the cycle and didn't have any swing in parameters. I use a cheap filter without carbon for water movement and a small power head for circulation. Pvc pipe is perfect for the hiding places. I would slowly lower salinity down to 1.010 and treat with Seachem cupramine. Most people recommend quarantine for 2-3 weeks, I suggest 6-8 weeks.

I would also suggest a hood depending on the fish you are quarantine as my tank loved to jump and splash water everywhere when he seen me about to feed

 

[Diesel]

You did your homework real well.
I would not use a sponge just the filter material that comes with the HOB.
If the filter from your DT is the same size you can cycle the water fast but I always recommend to have the QT running at least a week or two.
Having fish in QT I recommend also do a WC every two days from just one gallon on a 10 gallon tank.
No light is necessary.
Yes use a screen for jumpers and test for your NSW level as you will have to replace water with RODI as lose due to evop!

 

[mell312]

You did your homework real well.
I would not use a sponge just the filter material that comes with the HOB.
If the filter from your DT is the same size you can cycle the water fast but I always recommend to have the QT running at least a week or two.

Not use the sponge because it's not necessary? What good does running the QT a week or two first do if you aren't feeding the tank to initiate a cycle?

 

[Diesel]

Not use the sponge because it's not necessary? What good does running the QT a week or two first do if you aren't feeding the tank to initiate a cycle?

You do WC to replace the ammonia and the HOB has it own filter right, no need for an extra sponge.
My QT is running even I have no fish in it, don't have to worry for a cycle.
Also I won't treat my fish at first as I observe them for illness and if they have no signs for 4 weeks they go into the frag tank for 6 weeks or more.
treating your fish if you don't see signs is just bring the stress level up and fish mostly get sick cause of that.
Immunity is where you shoot for, I had never had a fish die on me this way.

 

[StrawberryShortcake]

I run mines with biospira or a sponge with bacteria from the DT and treat with cupramine if needed, doesn't see to affect the bio like other copper meds. Usually watch them for 4 weeks before putting into the DT.

 

[mell312]

I run mines with biospira or a sponge with bacteria from the DT and treat with cupramine if needed, doesn't see to affect the bio like other copper meds. Usually watch them for 4 weeks before putting into the DT.

Glad to hear that as I'm planning to move ahead using the sponge from my DT. If I can help avoid as frequent water changes due to ammonia i would like to as the ammonia and water changes are just unneeded added stress to the fish and unfortunately I don't have an RODI unit to make my own so getting water every few days is a pain. Should have things up and running and fish purchased by mid week. Waiting on heater and that's the last thing I need.

 

[mell312]

I run mines with biospira or a sponge with bacteria from the DT and treat with cupramine if needed, doesn't see to affect the bio like other copper meds. Usually watch them for 4 weeks before putting into the DT.

Glad to hear that as I'm planning to move ahead using the sponge from my DT. If I can help avoid as frequent water changes due to ammonia i would like to as the ammonia and water changes are just unneeded added stress to the fish and unfortunately I don't have an RODI unit to make my own so getting water every few days is a pain. Should have things up and running and fish purchased by mid week. Waiting on heater and that's the last thing I need.

 

[mell312]

PVC pipe ? - does the barcode needed to be sanded off or should the ink used not be an issue.

Canopy ? - the canopy on my borrowed tank is a metal mesh top that is rusty. Bought some window screen mesh at Home Depot. Huge role for $7 to use instead. I believe it's made out of a fiberglass material. Is this okay? Planning to use some chip clips or clothes pins to simply attach it.

 

[Tina'sTank]

Hello. On the water for water changes you can buy purified drinking water which is the same as ROD water. Most grocery stores sell this in gallon jugs.

 

[mell312]

It's partly the water and also we don't have supplies to mix our own water. Haven't convinced my husband yet. We get our saltwater from the LFS. I've heard mixed reviews of the quality of grocery store purified water and not sure I would trust it.

Anyone have any thoughts of my above questions about the PVC and window mesh? Hoping to fill the tank tomorrow.

 

[cmcoker]

Writing on the pvc is fine, have had no issues leaving it.

I wouldn't use the rusty stuff, and haven't used the window screen material myself
I use a piece of eggcrate (light diffuser sold a home depot, like $13) it's easy to cut the shape of the tank with any hob equipment. I have 1/8" plastic netting zip tied to it, because small fish can still fit through the eggcrate.
I would hesitate to just clip it on, simply because I think a fish may still launch through it and pop the clips off. Not sure a cardinal would do that, I have been quarantining more boisterous fish..

 

[cmcoker]

The water issue, well when you have some need to do an emergency water change (ammonia spike for instance) you would be glad to have stuff on hand. Also having control of your water supply is nice, even lfs have been guilty of not changing filters as they should.

At a minimum look into getting an TDS meter to check the purity of the ro water you get from the lfs for topping off evaporation. And don't use tap for top off.

 

[mell312]

The water issue, well when you have some need to do an emergency water change (ammonia spike for instance) you would be glad to have stuff on hand. Also having control of your water supply is nice, even lfs have been guilty of not changing filters as they should.

At a minimum look into getting an TDS meter to check the purity of the ro water you get from the lfs for topping off evaporation. And don't use tap for top off.

I always have some on hand. Luckily my LFS is open 7 days a week and 10 minutes away so I can get it quickly when needed as well.

 

[mell312]

Question before I fill the QT today....should I fill it with the 10g of water I purchased this morning or pull 10g from display tank and place that in the QT and put the new water into the DT? Or 5g new info QT and 5g from DT?