Quarantine Tank Questions

[JimBonks]

I am currently cycling my tank.. Its a 20 gallon AIO. I want to set up a small quarantine tank to hold fish in that will be new and if any get sick. Will a 10 gallon be ok? Also can I use a HOB filter for this? Do I need to cycle this tank as well or am I ok just adding some bacteria like Bio Spira to keep the ammonia down?

I plan on keeping all new fish in there for 2 weeks before adding them to my tank.

Does this sound like a good plan? Any advice is appreciated as well!

Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!!

#WelcometoR2R
A 10 gallon tank will work great for a qt tank as long as the fish are properly sized for it. A 10 gallon tank with a hang on back filter and some pvc fittings for the fish to hide in works well. You will need to cycle the quarantine tank before using it.

 

[HairyGary]

I am currently cycling my tank.. Its a 20 gallon AIO. I want to set up a small quarantine tank to hold fish in that will be new and if any get sick. Will a 10 gallon be ok? Also can I use a HOB filter for this? Do I need to cycle this tank as well or am I ok just adding some bacteria like Bio Spira to keep the ammonia down?

I plan on keeping all new fish in there for 2 weeks before adding them to my tank.

Does this sound like a good plan? Any advice is appreciated as well!

Thanks!

Welcome!

A 10 gallons would be fine especially since you will have smaller fish. Check out this thread:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

I would use a bacteria source with a HOB filter to start and observe incoming fish before you add them to your main DT.

 

[Susan Edwards]

You can start the qt tank with water change water from your display once you have 0 ammonia and nitrites. Or set it up now with biospira (use that regardless). If it is a week or two before you add fish, ghost feed for the bacteria. HOB works. That is what I use. Go with a good one though, one you can add real media too like the aquaclear brands. And bigger is better.

 

[Ryan Kouns]

following

 

[chevegan]

10 gallon is fine for up to 4 small fish. I just got done with 10 clowns in a 29 gallon. Here is what I do. cut open a plastic bottle. I used a 1 gallon water jug. I place marinepure balls in the bottom and ceramic rings on top (either one would work but I had the balls in my main display but you can never count on them to have the proper amount of seeded bacteria for the amount of fish you are keeping). Cut holes around the base to let water in at the bottom. Slide in an airline to the center of the stack and you're done. Some fish require flow so a small powerhead works great. Or you could do a HOB filter filled with ceramic media as well and it does the same thing. I use the HOB filter strictly as a carbon reactor to remove meds as required.

Here is the trick that saves me lots of headache. 1) add bioSpira 2) dose Seachem Prime for 2 weeks. Wait 3 days after the last dose and test. Reason being, prime BINDS the ammonia and nitrites in the water column for 48 hours. During that time the bacteria can and will multiply and consume the bound "food" but it's not toxic to the fish for those 48 hours. You will have enough bacteria in 3 days for ammonia to nitrite but the nitrite to nitrate bac take awhile longer to multiply. Anyway the Prime guarantees the safety of your fish during this process and allows you to set up a tank in minutes not days.

Also I don't worry about nitrates at all during this time. I don't have a light over it so no algae can really take hold. You may get some diatoms or brown algae but for me it's just a natural nitrate filter lol.

Here is a video if you want to watch. It's like 14min though 7min is around the mark where I show the setup. Or if you hate watching videos pic is below.

 

[chevegan]

OH and last but not least 2 weeks isn't NEARLY enough time. Proper quarantine is 5-6 weeks. Thats up to how long it could take for the dreaded ICH to present itself. I know it's long but honestly I love having my qt right next to my desk. They get to know me and associate me with food we become friends in the meantime! Enjoy the process!

 

[Rivus]

This helps as I'm at the same stage. Just set up the DT RS (Max E-170) and starting the cycle. I'm off to the LFS to pick up a 10g QT with the above recommended equipment. About how long should the 10g take to cycle using ammonia and biospira?
Thanks, Steve

 

[jgvergo]

I have an "instant, pop-up" QT. It's simple:

1) Most of the time, the QT is not in operation (cleaned, dry and sits on a shelf)
2) I have a HOB filter
3) I keep the HOB filter floss submerged in a high flow section of my sump until I need it in my QT. That way it's always cycled.
4) When I need to put the QT into operation:

a) I do a water change on my DT and use the tank water to fill the QT
b) I grab the HOB filter floss from my sump and set up the HOB with the cycled filter floss
​

Viola, an instant, pop-up and fully cycled QT.

 

[Rivus]

Thanks, yeah but...my DT has just started it's cycling so that won't work this time. I'll do that in the future. I'm curious, and of course anxious, trying to estimate the timing and coordinate this operation.

 

[jgvergo]

Thanks, yeah but...my DT has just started it's cycling so that won't work this time. I'll do that in the future. I'm curious, and of course anxious, trying to estimate the timing and coordinate this operation.

I'd suggest that you don't buy fish and put them in QT until your DT is cycled. As they say, nothing good happens fast in this hobby and patience will really pay off.

 

[chevegan]

Since your fish will be in qt for 5 weeks at least, hopefully , I wouldn't work about the display. It should be more than ready in time. Again, I don't even waste my time with ammonia. Use prime and as the fish right away. Follow the steps I listed above. Easy peasy. FYI I'm doing this again today. 2 tanks this time.

 

[Rivus]

Since your fish will be in qt for 5 weeks at least, hopefully , I wouldn't work about the display. It should be more than ready in time. Again, I don't even waste my time with ammonia. Use prime and as the fish right away. Follow the steps I listed above. Easy peasy. FYI I'm doing this again today. 2 tanks this time.

That will be the plan. Just got back from the LFS, 10gal with everything, $45. Cheap but hopefully good enough to keep them happy for a few months.