Rock/substrate in QT?

[Outlaw]

Hey folks, I have an idea I want to run by you in hopes of getting some input.

What I'm thinking is setting up a 20H QT, in advance of my final setup on my 75 DT, to get it cycling. As I will likely be leaving the QT set up until my 75 is stocked, 1-2 max fish/month, I was wondering if it would be wise to set it up as an actual tank, then when my 75 is stocked, I can keep the 20 set up for a small aggressive fish (angler or something). I have another empty 10 gal I can use for a hospital tank, or if not needed for that, a coral acclimation tank.

Just throwing this out there to get your hit. As always, all opinions/advice appreciated.

Rob






I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you different.
--Vonnegut

 

[saltyphish]

I have live rock in my qt. Just no meds added in that tank. Strictly for observation only.

 

[Outlaw]

Cool!






I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you different.
--Vonnegut

 

[FishGuyTy]

For me, I like to keep a bare QT for a number of reasons. A 10 gal is a very stressful size for a hospital tank so I would consider just running it as your QT until you have stocked the 75 DT. I like to use an assortment of PVC parts in my QT for hissing spots. I stay away from substrate like sand and rock because of its porous nature. If a fish were to have something on it, it could easily spread to the rock and substrate infecting other fish down the road. In the event I am housing a sand-sleeping wrasse in a QT, I will provide a Tupperware container of sand.

 

[Outlaw]

So here's the thing. I got 3 pieces of live rock for my tank. I have since switched tanks to a 75 and tore down the other (hadn't cycled). The 3 pieces of live rock sat in a bucket of water at room temp for a couple weeks and I gave them up for dead. I decided, since I had a 3 gal laying around, I'd put them in there with a heater and air stone and see what happens.

When I pulled the rock out of the bucket, 2 were covered in vermetid snails. Since they have been in the 3 gal with heat and air (I am sure it is hypersaline due to neglect), I now have in addition to the vermetids, a bunch of little stars, pineapple sponges and these teeny white snails everywhere.

As these will never go into my DT, I was thinking of putting them in the QT I am setting up this weekend. There will likely only ever be fish in there, and I have a separate tank for an HT.

I was wondering if any of these would be a mistake to put in there, (specifically the teeny white snails, no idea what they are). I would hate to just throw them away.

Thanks.

 

[Outlaw]

Meaning the rocks...

 

[Outlaw]

So, for those of you running clean QTs with a couple pieces of PVC, how are you maintaining your BB long term?

 

[miyags]

I use a sponge filter on one and a hang on back filter on my other. I have 2- 20gal bb. and I don't use sand for wrassses in
qt. and there all doing fine.

 

[Outlaw]

Thanks. I have an ac50 and am thinking of going with the sponge and maybe filling the rest of the space with rock rubble in a bag. I figure if needs be, I can toss the rubble whenever. Think this would work? I plan on having this up for quite a while.