Quarantine tank setup

[Brew12]

I'll soak the foam AquaClear foam in my DT for a few days and then add to the QT - no other media

Everything looks really solid except for this. To properly seed a sponge you would need to have it in a high flow area for at least a few weeks. I use BioSpira since I can easily get it from a local Petco. I put in about twice the recommended amount and never have an issue.

If you grow Chaeto I feel it is great to throw a baseball size clump in the QT also. This will process ammonia directly without absorbing much in the way of meds. I think of it as an insurance policy and always use macro algae in my QT's now.

This is my QT as of a few days ago.

 

[Balanje]

Everything looks really solid except for this. To properly seed a sponge you would need to have it in a high flow area for at least a few weeks. I use BioSpira since I can easily get it from a local Petco. I put in about twice the recommended amount and never have an issue.

If you grow Chaeto I feel it is great to throw a baseball size clump in the QT also. This will process ammonia directly without absorbing much in the way of meds. I think of it as an insurance policy and always use macro algae in my QT's now.

This is my QT as of a few days ago.

Thanks -- I don't grow any micro algae... Would the BioSpira seed the tank without needing to soak the sponge at all?

 

[LuizW13]

Stringy poop may not be a problem (although it would be unusual for a Blenny) If it is white/grey and not dark green then it is a problem.

That's true! white/grey is def a problem.

Everything looks really solid except for this. To properly seed a sponge you would need to have it in a high flow area for at least a few weeks. I use BioSpira since I can easily get it from a local Petco. I put in about twice the recommended amount and never have an issue.

If you grow Chaeto I feel it is great to throw a baseball size clump in the QT also. This will process ammonia directly without absorbing much in the way of meds. I think of it as an insurance policy and always use macro algae in my QT's now.

This is my QT as of a few days ago.

I never thought about adding chaeto to the QT. Might be something i do in the future! Have you seen any ill affects from doing that?

 

[Balanje]

Stringy poop may not be a problem (although it would be unusual for a Blenny) If it is white/grey and not dark green then it is a problem.

I can't remember if it was white... i seem to think it was a light brown/tan color. I'll check tonight. He also seems to have developed a dark spot although I could have just not seen it before.

Below is a photo of Blenny Blanco from the Bronx

 

[Brew12]

Thanks -- I don't grow any micro algae... Would the BioSpira seed the tank without needing to soak the sponge at all?

Yup, and it has always worked well for me. As soon as the water in the tank gets up to temp I dump some in. I do try to avoid adding meds in the first few days just to be on the safe side. Normally, my QT is set up well in advance of needing it.

I never thought about adding chaeto to the QT. Might be something i do in the future! Have you seen any ill affects from doing that?

Nothing but positives. I've left it in my system for 25 days of coppersafe treatment and it was just fine. Never even did a water change. I've done it with the red gracilaria before, also, and really preferred that. I just don't have any in my sump right now. My Foxface didn't even need to be fed in QT. Easiest QT ever for me.

 

[Brew12]

I can't remember if it was white... i seem to think it was a light brown/tan color. I'll check tonight. He also seems to have developed a dark spot although I could have just not seen it before.

Below is a photo of Blenny Blanco from the Bronx

Keep an eye on that thing. It looks like he lost a scale and it got infected. They normally clear up on their own but you want to watch it.

 

[CurtnStac]

While on the quarantine subject... How long do you quarantine if you don't medicate unless needed? Id rather treat on an as needed basic and doing mind my fish being in quarantine as long as needed.

 

[Brew12]

While on the quarantine subject... How long do you quarantine if you don't medicate unless needed? Id rather treat on an as needed basic and doing mind my fish being in quarantine as long as needed.

I'll offer my thoughts. I see there are three reasons to QT. First is a short process to give the fish time to recover from shipping and adjust salinity from the water they were housed in up to the salinity of the DT. Not good for a fish to go from 1.016 as many wholesalers keep fish and jump right to the 1.026 many of us keep our fish at.
Second is to watch for signs of a parasite infection and try to boost their immune system prior to adding to the tank without medicating.
Third is to medicate absolutely everything prior to adding to the tank.

I feel there is little value to medicate anything if you aren't going to medicate everything. It does you no good to only treat fish that show symptoms other than to temporarily help that fish. Odds are other fish in your system will carry parasites if their immune system kept them from showing symptoms that will just re-infect the new fish you add.

I am a follower of the QT and medicate everything. The medicate nothing method does have some strong advantages but I feel it isn't for me. It works great for some people.

 

[Balanje]

I am a follower of the QT and medicate everything. The medicate nothing method does have some strong advantages but I feel it isn't for me. It works great for some people.

I think if I’m going the QT route, which I’m doing for the first time now, I’m on that page of ‘medicate everything.’ Especially since I haven’t QT’d anything in the tank thus far so I’m sure there’s a bunch of crap already in there.

So what does it mean to medicate everything? How do I go about that? Is there a common ‘cocktail’ to use during QT?

 

[Brew12]

I think if I’m going the QT route, which I’m doing for the first time now, I’m on that page of ‘medicate everything.’ Especially since I haven’t QT’d anything in the tank thus far so I’m sure there’s a bunch of crap already in there.

So what does it mean to medicate everything? How do I go about that? Is there a common ‘cocktail’ to use during QT?

I wish it were that easy.

It really depends on the fish. I recommend looking at this.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-and-treatment-guidelines-with-chart.283450/

I will either use copper or CP on every fish that goes in my tank. I'm less concerned about everything else since their are reef safe treatments for most ailments.

 

[Richards_reef]

While on the quarantine subject... How long do you quarantine if you don't medicate unless needed? Id rather treat on an as needed basic and doing mind my fish being in quarantine as long as needed.

For me 4-6 weeks. The longer the better but within reason. Research what pest might come with your livestock and what your livestock needs in order to live in that situation. If it's prone to ich you will most likely see signs of it by then.
Its a play bye ear type of thing in my opinion. That time they are in quarantine is also a good time to pay attention to them and get them used to you.
If you have to medicate them, then that's what makes a quarantine a quarantine.
I don't medicate, if my livestock isn't sick.

 

[LuizW13]

Like Brew12 and others said, you want to give the fish enough time, maybe at least a couple of weeks before you assume the fish is healthy- sometimes the fish just doesn't show symptoms when they first come in.

Look up common parasites and diseases for fish and get familiar with symptoms and signs- then what treats what. Be careful when using more than one medication at the same though, make sure you read the labels and instructions.
I'm not fish expert but i believe keeping the fish in QT will also help them be more comfortable, healthy and less stressed when it's time to introduce him/her to a new community with new fish.

Overall, i just think it's a very inexpensive way to keep your aquarium in good health.

 

[Balanje]

I’ve got my QT up and running for 24 hours. There’s no ammonia in there but I didn’t jump start a cycle either. I have bio-spira but going to wait until about an hour before introducing the new fish into the tank before dumping it in (100ml for the 30gal tank).

Am I good to go or do I need to wait longer?

Also, I have an ammonia remover chemical filter for the HOB that I never used. Is it OK to add that? I know it’s not good if I’m dosing copper but I’m not planning on medicating until week 2 at the earliest. So could I put the ammonia remover in now and then take it out later if I’m going to add copper?

 

[Brew12]

I’ve got my QT up and running for 24 hours. There’s no ammonia in there but I didn’t jump start a cycle either. I have bio-spira but going to wait until about an hour before introducing the new fish into the tank before dumping it in (100ml for the 30gal tank).

Am I good to go or do I need to wait longer?

Also, I have an ammonia remover chemical filter for the HOB that I never used. Is it OK to add that? I know it’s not good if I’m dosing copper but I’m not planning on medicating until week 2 at the earliest. So could I put the ammonia remover in now and then take it out later if I’m going to add copper?

Add the Biospira soon, the longer you wait the less chance it will have to start reproducing. With the Biospira I have never had an issue with ammonia. I would leave it out unless I saw ammonia building up. You want the ammonia to feed your biofilter so you don't want it absorbed chemically unless you have a problem.

 

[Balanje]

Oh ok. I’ve been reading that bio-spora should be added right before fish. If left too long the bacteria could die off. Is that incorrect? Should I instead add it tonight, leave it overnight and then add the fish tomorrow afternoon?

 

[Brew12]

They will eventually die off but we are talking months or years. I like to add mine around 3 days before with a few drops of ammonium chloride

 

[Balanje]

Wish me luck!

I’ll be putting the back on tonight and getting some bigger PVC tomorrow.

 

[Brew12]

Wish me luck!

I’ll be putting the back on tonight and getting some bigger PVC tomorrow.

Good luck! Those star wars decorations look fantastic! Are they actually aquarium safe?

 

[Balanje]

Thanks! Yes, I got them at my LFS. Couldn’t resist

 

[Balanje]

After 24 hours stocked with Yellow Tang, Kole Tang and Hawkfish, here are my readings...

Temp 78 degrees
Salinity 1.022
Ph 8.0
Am 0
NO2 0
NO3 between 5 and 10ppm - I have the damndest time reading that color chart

Seems all is well. When should I do my first water change? Weekly unless something spikes or should I do a proactive one after a few days?

Final tank layout below. Thanks for all your help getting me educated on this!