Setting up a 20g qt aquarium

[Cthulukelele]

Hi all,

I am setting up a qt tank for my dt. I just wanted to make sure I was going about it in a reasonable way.

The items I have so far (let me know if I need anything else):
Air sponge filter
Heater
Cheap led hood light (nicrew)
Glass lid
20g aquarium
2 pieces of 1 1/4" pvc

I plan to soak the 2 sponges for the filter in my sump in between fish in qt. Should I think about adding anything else to the tank? It will be bb. My dt has 2 chinese black boxes in it, so I went with a cheap led fixture for the qt tank. I also plan to change out 5g or so a couple times a week once I have a fish in qt. I will also be qting low light corals like some lps and softies in there.

Any changes you would make? I already have all the materials and a nice hardwood end table I'm going to shim to balance for it.

 

[Hitman]

Personally I’m not a fan of sponge filters in a QT as they can hold and hind nasty things. Everything else sounds good though.

 

[Shufflepig]

Hang on the back filter would be a good idea. Can use seeded sponge from DT in filter for biological filtration and can use carbon insert if you need to eliminate a medication from QT

 

[Cthulukelele]

Could I just use a filter bag of carbon floated in the tank for that and a seeded sponge filter?

(Not disputing that a hob filter would be better--I just already have the air sponge filter and the carbon bags)

 

[Cthulukelele]

Also should I be okay with the sponge filter not harboring anything as long as I sterilize the sponges in betweem quarantines then reseed it in my sump?

 

[Shufflepig]

I use the sponge filter mostly to increase aeration especially when using certain meds and I also have an HOB. I think the HOB is better for the biological filter because more water is presented to it than the sponge filter. Can get an inexpensive HOB for $30 for a 20 gallon tank. With the bare bottom and no live rock I just feel better about the biological filter with a seeded sponge in the HOB. I think the cycle would take much longer with only the sponge filter and when you add a fish or two to the QT the sponge filter alone may not handle the increased bioload and you may end up with an ammonia spike.

 

[Shufflepig]

Also should I be okay with the sponge filter not harboring anything as long as I sterilize the sponges in betweem quarantines then reseed it in my sump?

Between QT I rinse my sponge filter thoroughly with a vinegar water mixture and then rinse the vinegar out and let it dry for 48 hours before replacing it in the QT. Have never had any issues doing this.

 

[ENVY]

Seachem Ammonia Alert. It's really worth it for a QT. Saved my butt a few times when the bacteria/media for whatever reason couldn't keep up with the ammonia.

 

[JasonK84]

Here is my 20 gallon QT:
Canister filter rated for 75 gallons (holds marinepur spheres, sponge, and filter floss.
HOB filter to run carbon before and after meds
5w UV sterilizer for before and after meds
Aqueon 100w heater
Pendant light from a terrarium
Egg crate top
Different sized PVC fittings
Several air pumps and stones to hook up when needed.

I know the canister is way excessive but I had it already from a past tank so why not.

I am, as I type, acclamating 3 new arrivals from Live Aquaria. 2-Pakistan butterflyfish and a blue spot Toby puffer.

 

[JasonK84]

Here is my 20 gallon QT:
Canister filter rated for 75 gallons (holds marinepur spheres, sponge, and filter floss.
HOB filter to run carbon before and after meds
5w UV sterilizer for before and after meds
Aqueon 100w heater
Pendant light from a terrarium
Egg crate top
Different sized PVC fittings
Several air pumps and stones to hook up when needed.

I know the canister is way excessive but I had it already from a past tank so why not.

I am, as I type, acclamating 3 new arrivals from Live Aquaria. 2-Pakistan butterflyfish and a blue spot Toby puffer.

and a sechem badge. They are a total nessesity.

 

[Shufflepig]

and a sechem badge. They are a total nessesity.

Nice setup. UV not needed but a nice extra. Good luck with your new fish!!!

 

[JasonK84]

Nice setup. UV not needed but a nice extra. Good luck with your new fish!!!

I know it's not needed but had a bacterial bloom in it early on after cycling and didn't want to wait for it to clear up. Couldn't see the fish with how cloudy the water was so it made it difficult to see anything that might have been going on. Kept it in ever since just unplug it while meds are in the water. Thanks, I just set the last timer for the drip and will be setting them loose soon. It'll be my first attempt with using chloroquine phosphate.

 

[Shufflepig]

I know it's not needed but had a bacterial bloom in it early on after cycling and didn't want to wait for it to clear up. Couldn't see the fish with how cloudy the water was so it made it difficult to see anything that might have been going on. Kept it in ever since just unplug it while meds are in the water. Thanks, I just set the last timer for the drip and will be setting them loose soon. It'll be my first attempt with using chloroquine phosphate.

I’ve been using CP for a year now and love it. Add it one time and you’re done other than adding it to your water change water. Have never had a fish react negatively to it and it worked great on a flame that did have ick. No ramping up the dosage and fighting to keep it at therapeutic levels for 3 weeks. You will really like it. For me it almost seems like it increases the fish’s appetite.

 

[JasonK84]

I’ve been using CP for a year now and love it. Add it one time and you’re done other than adding it to your water change water. Have never had a fish react negatively to it and it worked great on a flame that did have ick. No ramping up the dosage and fighting to keep it at therapeutic levels for 3 weeks. You will really like it. For me it almost seems like it increases the fish’s appetite.

That's great.
@Shufflepig Where do you purchase your CP?

 

[Shufflepig]

That's great.
@Shufflepig Where do you purchase your CP?

You can get the powder from Everything Aquatic without a script. From Diamondback Pharmacy you need to get a script from a vet. The last 2 fish I QT’d I actually used New Life Spectrum Ick Shield which is CP and it worked well. Before that I used CP that a friend had purchased from Diamondback.

 

[JasonK84]

Hi all,

I am setting up a qt tank for my dt. I just wanted to make sure I was going about it in a reasonable way.

The items I have so far (let me know if I need anything else):
Air sponge filter
Heater
Cheap led hood light (nicrew)
Glass lid
20g aquarium
2 pieces of 1 1/4" pvc

I plan to soak the 2 sponges for the filter in my sump in between fish in qt. Should I think about adding anything else to the tank? It will be bb. My dt has 2 chinese black boxes in it, so I went with a cheap led fixture for the qt tank. I also plan to change out 5g or so a couple times a week once I have a fish in qt. I will also be qting low light corals like some lps and softies in there.

Any changes you would make? I already have all the materials and a nice hardwood end table I'm going to shim to balance for it.

Make sure the tank is completely cleaned out before QT'ing inverts or coral. Even if copper is undetectable with test kits it will still kill them if not completely cleaned out.

Sponge filter will work but I would for sure get an ammonia badge and have a good amount of water prepped in case it doesn't keep up. Think about getting a filter rated for at least twice the tank size if you are having to do lots of changes to keep ammonia down.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Thanks so much for all the help! I'll get an ammonia badge and keep up on water changes (and invest in a hob filter if that ends up insufficient). Is preventative treatment necessary if I see no signs of illness after 4-6 weeks? What are feelings on that?

 

[Cthulukelele]

Also the end table surfaces is a little concave, so even though the corners are level with each other, there is a small amount of space between the wood and the tank. This would obviously be unacceptable for the 120g display tank, but should it be fine for a small 20g qt tank? If not is there a pad yall would recommend for beneath the tank to disperse weight

 

[JasonK84]

Some people use a foam sheet between tank and stand (construction foam). I would say as long as all 4 corners are firm on the table that it is fine but you could use the foam as an extra measure. Just make sure that the trim is sitting on the foam the whole way around and not just the glass bottom.

IMO treating all fish regardless of what you can see is the best practice. So many parasites can stay hidden for months and strike later on taking out other fish with them in the DT. Some people have success just observing but you really have to know what you are looking for. If you've already got a QT the safer route will be treating.

 

[Shufflepig]

Some people use a foam sheet between tank and stand (construction foam). I would say as long as all 4 corners are firm on the table that it is fine but you could use the foam as an extra measure. Just make sure that the trim is sitting on the foam the whole way around and not just the glass bottom.

IMO treating all fish regardless of what you can see is the best practice. So many parasites can stay hidden for months and strike later on taking out other fish with them in the DT. Some people have success just observing but you really have to know what you are looking for. If you've already got a QT the safer route will be treating.

How are the Pakistani butterflies doing? They are one of my favorite butterflies. Hope they do well for you