Question about keeping quarantine tank up

[DracoKat]

I have a 10 gal QT tank, it's running with a sponge seeded from the sump in filter. Heater is in there, but there's nothing else but a pipe for hiding.

Tank is fishless.. how long can this stay set up without anything inside? lets say I plan on getting fish a month from now, would the tank be OK then, or should I put new water in anyway?

Or should I take some rock from my main tank to keep it going?

 

[Brew12]

I have a 10 gal QT tank, it's running with a sponge seeded from the sump in filter. Heater is in there, but there's nothing else but a pipe for hiding.

Tank is fishless.. how long can this stay set up without anything inside? lets say I plan on getting fish a month from now, would the tank be OK then, or should I put new water in anyway?

Or should I take some rock from my main tank to keep it going?

From a nitrifying bacterial perspective, it should be just fine.

Humblefish has been doing some research on leaving a QT set up continuously. The biggest concern is actually too much bacteria. Eventually you can build up enough non-nitrifying bacteria that it can start breaking down the medications in the tank too quickly.

IMO, you want to consider breaking down your QT and resetting everything a few times a year. Letting it go a few weeks between fish isn't an issue.

 

[melypr1985]

From a nitrifying bacterial perspective, it should be just fine.

Humblefish has been doing some research on leaving a QT set up continuously. The biggest concern is actually too much bacteria. Eventually you can build up enough non-nitrifying bacteria that it can start breaking down the medications in the tank too quickly.

IMO, you want to consider breaking down your QT and resetting everything a few times a year. Letting it go a few weeks between fish isn't an issue.

agree

 

[mfinn]

I usually don't keep my quarantine tank running all the time.
I have 2-3 sets of sponge filters and always have at least one running in the sump of my display tank and use them in rotation.
When a fish leaves the quarantine tank, I usually clean it out. If I'm expecting another fish buy soon, I'll use new water and the sponge filter from the display tank sump.
If not I leave it down. Saves wear and tear on the air pumps, powerheads and backfilter.
If I wanted to keep it running all the time, I suppose I could just add a tiny bit of frozen brine or a tiny bit of mysis shrimp to the tank.

 

[DracoKat]

I have plans to add one more fish so I figured it would save me time and energy to leave it up until then. After that it will be broken down

Thank you all for the replies!

 

[lion king]

I've kept a qt running for a year and half, I put a few drops of dr. tims ammonium chloride once a week when I didn't have anything in there.

 

[jeffrey holloway]

I leave mine up and running. Have added some pure ammonia after about a month of running empty. Never know when I might need it for a sick fish or new arrival.

 

[Deinonych]

I usually don't keep my quarantine tank running all the time.
I have 2-3 sets of sponge filters and always have at least one running in the sump of my display tank and use them in rotation.
When a fish leaves the quarantine tank, I usually clean it out. If I'm expecting another fish buy soon, I'll use new water and the sponge filter from the display tank sump.
If not I leave it down. Saves wear and tear on the air pumps, powerheads and backfilter.
If I wanted to keep it running all the time, I suppose I could just add a tiny bit of frozen brine or a tiny bit of mysis shrimp to the tank.

I do the same. Not having another tank up and running 24/7 helps with the spousal happiness factor.