Setting up biofilter for 150G QT tank

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Need a little advice. So I am in the process of selling my house and I had to take my tank down. I have my fish and corals at the LFS and the fish have developed ich. They probably took it with them so no dissing the LFS. Anyways, I want to get take the fish home and set up a QT tank for them to get rid of the ich and also, be able to enjoy them a little bit.

The issue is that it is quite the bioload. I was going to run a canister filter on the 150 gallon tank and throw some live rock in there as well, even though it is less than ideal. I don't want to set up a sump although I do have an ATO to setup on the tank. I'm looking for suggestions on how to get enough surface area without having to acid bath a bunch of live rock when its all said and done. Filter foam wrapped around an airstone perhaps? sponge filters?

Fish list:
adult sohal
adult desjardini
adult naso
youngish scopas
adult achilies
medium chocolate tang
flame hawk
two barred rabbitfish
about 8 anthias but I will probably just leave them in the tank at the LFS as they are IMPOSSIBLE to catch.

Suggestions? I will have the typical stuff, ATO, powerheads, PVC hiding areas.

 

[Humblefish]

A couple of large HOBs (Aquaclear 110, Bio-wheel 350, Seachem Tidal 110) ought to do it. Just seed really well before dumping that bio-load in.

If you wanted to go all out, this is what I advise LFS with large QT systems to use: https://www.bashsea.com/products/standard-series/bio-reactor

Bashsea Bio Reactor 6-24 is for tanks from 125 gallons up to 200 gallons, but I think it costs almost $300. And then another $70 for a Mag 5 to run it. But you ain't gonna see no ammonia running that thing.

 

[Humblefish]

Forgot to mention that it also requires an air pump. Video below:

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

OMG!!! I have a ton of K1 kaldness from a freshwater tank that I wanted to make a reactor for and now I see how I could do it!!

Definitely going to go that route!!

 

[Bruce17]

Forgot to mention that it also requires an air pump. Video below:

What would you consider the best kind of set up for a qt tank? I’m starting to read more and have a few people tell me that my qt tank should be set up like a display tank. Thoughts?

 

[Humblefish]

What would you consider the best kind of set up for a qt tank? I’m starting to read more and have a few people tell me that my qt tank should be set up like a display tank. Thoughts?

I recommend a small, bare treatment tank for administering medications; and a larger observation tank (with rock, sand, even corals.) So basically a mini-version of your DT.

Now, whether you want to place the fish in observation and only pull & treat if needed. OR do the reverse, and prophylactically treat and then transfer to observation. That's entirely up to you.

I personally medicate all fish with copper, metro + praziquantel starting on Day 1. And then transfer into observation to ensure the treatments have been successful. But I also QT 70-80 fish at a time, so my chances of encountering disease are much higher than the average hobbyist quarantining 3-4 fish.

 

[Bruce17]

Tha k to

I recommend a small, bare treatment tank for administering medications; and a larger observation tank (with rock, sand, even corals.) So basically a mini-version of your DT.

Now, whether you want to place the fish in observation and only pull & treat if needed. OR do the reverse, and prophylactically treat and then transfer to observation. That's entirely up to you.

I personally medicate all fish with copper, metro + praziquantel starting on Day 1. And then transfer into observation to ensure the treatments have been successful. But I also QT 70-80 fish at a time, so my chances of encountering disease are much higher than the average hobbyist quarantining 3-4 fish.

Thank you very much for your response. I want to err on the side that gives me and especially the fish the best chance of survival.
What size of tank would you recommend for the treatment tank? I have a 55 gallon tank that I can use as the observation tank. The fish that I want to eventually add are some angels, tangs, wrasse, anthias. I want to get them when they’re all in the 2-3 inch range or whatever is the ideal size that will give the fish the beat chance of survival.

I’m also thinking that adding all the tangs in the display tank at one or two shots will hopefully allow for less territorial issues. I would put the tangs in last. After the angels as well. Does that make sense?

 

[Humblefish]

How many tangs are we talking? I would QT them all together, and add the tang gang to the DT last. IME; That makes a world of difference when it comes to mitigating aggression between them.

 

[Bruce17]

How many tangs are we talking? I would QT them all together, and add the tang gang to the DT last. IME; That makes a world of difference when it comes to mitigating aggression between them.

I’m thinking of 4-5. Achilles, yellow, Atlantic Blue, Blue Hippo and maybe the purple, gem or naso. Thoughts?

 

[Humblefish]

I’m thinking of 4-5. Achilles, yellow, Atlantic Blue, Blue Hippo and maybe the purple, gem or naso. Thoughts?

I'd get at least a 40 breeder for all of that. Petco might still be running their $ per gallon sale.

 

[Bruce17]

I'd get at least a 40 breeder for all of that. Petco might still be running their $ per gallon sale.

Ok thanks. I would then move them to the 55 gallon for monitoring after? What way would you recommend for qt? The fish that I want to get are smaller wrasse, anthias, angels, dwarf angels and tangs. I do realize that I might have to use different products for the angels and dwarf angels though.

 

[Humblefish]

Ok thanks. I would then move them to the 55 gallon for monitoring after? What way would you recommend for qt? The fish that I want to get are smaller wrasse, anthias, angels, dwarf angels and tangs. I do realize that I might have to use different products for the angels and dwarf angels though.

For angels + tangs: Drop them straight into 1.0 ppm Copper Power, and over the next 3-4 days gradually raise the copper level to 2.0. When I say gradually, I mean dose small amounts of copper several times throughout the day. Keep them in 2.0 copper for 14 days, and then transfer out. Also dose API General Cure 2x, 7 days apart, whilst the fish are in copper.

Anthias + wrasses: You can do the above, or Hybrid TTM is better tolerated for these species: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hybrid-ttm-to-treat-all-parasites.640247/

Hybrid TTM works better because anthias + wrasses do not always tolerate copper, praziquantel, metro well.

 

[Bruce17]

For angels + tangs: Drop them straight into 1.0 ppm Copper Power, and over the next 3-4 days gradually raise the copper level to 2.0. When I say gradually, I mean dose small amounts of copper several times throughout the day. Keep them in 2.0 copper for 14 days, and then transfer out. Also dose API General Cure 2x, 7 days apart, whilst the fish are in copper.

Anthias + wrasses: You can do the above, or Hybrid TTM is better tolerated for these species: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hybrid-ttm-to-treat-all-parasites.640247/

Hybrid TTM works better because anthias + wrasses do not always tolerate copper, praziquantel, metro well.

Thank you very much once again for all the great info. After the first 14 days, I transfer the fish from the 40 gallon breeder tank, to the 55 galllon. What do you suggest I treat them with next? Praz?

 

[Humblefish]

Thank you very much once again for all the great info. After the first 14 days, I transfer the fish from the 40 gallon breeder tank, to the 55 galllon. What do you suggest I treat them with next? Praz?

If you treat with General Cure while the fish are in copper, no need to use Prazipro as General Cure already contains prazi.

You really want the fish in clean, non-medicated water in the 55 to detox. Feed them vitamin soaked frozen foods (LRS is a good option) to boost their immune system and strengthen them before placing in the DT. I recommend 2 weeks minimum of observation.

 

[Bruce17]

If you treat with General Cure while the fish are in copper, no need to use Prazipro as General Cure already contains prazi.

You really want the fish in clean, non-medicated water in the 55 to detox. Feed them vitamin soaked frozen foods (LRS is a good option) to boost their immune system and strengthen them before placing in the DT. I recommend 2 weeks minimum of observation.

Ok. Thank you very much. I truly appreciate all the great advice. I want to the fish the best chance of survival.