Quarantine Tank

[denrobare]

I am new to the hobby. Almost complete with the setup of my 1st salt water tank. Will create a new thread with pics and details soon, but I have a question about quarantine tanks in the meantime.

I have a 10 gallon tank I would like to use as a quarantine tank. It will fit into my cabinet under my 120g, right next to my 30g sump.

How should I filter (if any) this tank? I have a small heater that can be used to heat the water when its needed, but will a small hang on power filter work? How do I keep the water in the quarantine tank identical to the water in my main system? How long should new fish/corals remain in quarantine before beeing put into display tank?

Any and all advice would be appreciated. I want to do this right and affordable... if its possible to do both.

Thanks!

 

[uall8up]

A HOB will be fine. Fish should be in QT for at least 4-6 weeks. Just test the QT to make sure all of your paramaters are in check.

 

[kmaintl]

10g is perfect for smaller fishes, even up to medium size. I just vaccuum mine out every other day and change water once a week. you can use tank water from your main tank for the water change. fishes from hatcheries, 2 to 4 weeks is fine. wild caught, to play it extremely safe 4 to 10 weeks. sometimes diseases don't show up until later and once it gets into your main tank, that could be diaster.

 

[impur]

10g is perfect for smaller fishes, even up to medium size. I just vaccuum mine out every other day and change water once a week. you can use tank water from your main tank for the water change. fishes from hatcheries, 2 to 4 weeks is fine. wild caught, to play it extremely safe 4 to 10 weeks. sometimes diseases don't show up until later and once it gets into your main tank, that could be diaster.

+1 this is what I do also just use water from the display to do weekly WCs on the QT tank. I just have a koralia, heater, light and ATO in my QT tank. I add some PVC fittings when I am QTing fish.

And congrats on doing QT right off the bat. So many people skip QT tanks, and end up going thru pests because of it. I'm one of them lol i learned the hard way now EVERYTHING gets QT'd before it goes into my display.

 

[Pappy]

Consider a lid? 10 gallons is kinda small for a dt being 120...


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I would go with a 20 high or 20 long, and put it elsewhere. Next to the sump is a little close IMO, water is likely to enter your main tank, which could be bad if you are using meds.

 

[MBG75]

Hang on is fine. If you just plan on observing fish then 6 week minimum in qt.
If you plan on treating fish then u can get them in sooner.

After having dealt with Velvet and Ich, I personally qt all my fish for 2 weeks in Cupramine, then toss them into Dt

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

When the tank is in use, I would not house it anywhere near the DT. I would not risk any contamination.

 

[denrobare]

I do actually have a lid, power filter, light, heater for this tank. I actually have a stand too, as I was using it for a fresh water setup for my kids prior to emptying it. I would like it in the stand with the sump, since its out of sight there, but might just use the stand and put it elsewhere. I will be using the lid.

Do I need to keep in running at all times, or can I fill it and drain it only when needed?

 

[denrobare]

Also, what about clean up crews? Do they need to be in QT at all?

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Also, what about clean up crews? Do they need to be in QT at all?

I do not use cuc in quarantine tanks. If you need to medicate the tank, many of the meds can kill inverts. I only keep my quarantine tank running when I am actively stocking my tank.

 

[MBG75]

I do actually have a lid, power filter, light, heater for this tank. I actually have a stand too, as I was using it for a fresh water setup for my kids prior to emptying it. I would like it in the stand with the sump, since its out of sight there, but might just use the stand and put it elsewhere. I will be using the lid.

Do I need to keep in running at all times, or can I fill it and drain it only when needed?

If you use an aquaclear filter, then keep spare filter sponges for aquaclear in your sump for your Dt. I keep mine wedged between my baffles.
It takes about 6 weeks for bacteria to load on it.
Then when your ready to run your qt, u pull out a sponge from the sump, drop it in the qt filter and your ready to go. No cycle issues or water changes with qt.

 

[Mr. D]

I never did start up a QT just because I worked at a place where I could watch my fish before they were bought. You doing it now is a great habit.

No matter what 5-10 weeks would be best unless you very much trust where you're getting the fish...even then still put the fish in the QT for at least a few days.

As Seahorse Keeper stated before me, unless you're actively stocking fish you don't need to keep the QT running, but do make sure and keep some filter media in your sump to keep it biologically active for those "impulse" buys! Then just fill the tank up with DT water, let it run for a bit and you should be good to go with some PVC parts for the fish to hide and feel safe.

Like someone stated before me, putting the QT away from your DT is key to prevention of disease, but there's another advantage. Although you cannot see all diseases before they infect everything you can tell quite a bit just by watching the behavior of your fish after a week or so of acclimating to its new home. Watching them will tell you a lot about how they're feeling...and cool for the kids too.

Also, the AquaClear series of HOB filters are great. I've used them in the past. They have adjustable water flow and the sponge as already stated that can be easily left in the sump.

Hope that helps solidify your choices, and good luck!

 

[denrobare]

Thanks for the tips! Appreciate it all. I may put the QT tank elsewhere, we will see where I have room for it. I will be starting a build thread soon. Waiting for some additional equipment to arrive first.