Setting up QT or hospital tank

[dreamcatcherr9]

So controversial in the sense that not everyone uses them. Most people don’t want a empty (fishless) running tank sitting around.

I read somewhere you don’t have to have it up and running all time (?). That one could pull pieces of established rock or even a filter (running on existing tank), put on small tank and be good to go (?).

Any truth to this statement? Thoughts or suggestions please?

My question is because basic fish keeping leaves us knowing a tank need to be cycled. So even a QT tank or hospital tank would need to be cycled for weeks prior to adding fish(?).

 

[lapin]

Large water changes can be a substitute for a QT tanks nutrient (ammonia) export.

 

[PSU4ME]

Take a read in the fish treatment forum. All your questions are answered there from some pretty experienced folks who took the time to lay it out for all of us...... I think I reread those articles every two weeks

 

[Billdogg]

My 20L QT sits on a shelf in the fishroom waiting for me to bring something home to put in it. When I do, I float the newby in the FT sump while I'm setting the QT up. I use water from the FT and a chunk or two of LR from the sump. If something needs sand I have a shallow dish that sits down in nicely. I use a dual biowheel (Marineland Emperor) with filter pads for mechanical filtration and circulation. The heater is already set to the correct temperature so all I have to do is plug it in and go. By then, the newby will be at the same temp as the QT so in the go. I use a pair of Kessil A360W's as needed depending on what the newby is (fish vs. coral)

I don't expect the little bit of LR to be able to keep up with the ammonia, so daily water changes from the FT take care of that. The FT gets lots of water changes for the duration, so win-win.

I dose fish with Parzipro and observe for 3 weeks or until I see a problem. Ich gets TTM. It's just too easy IMO. I haven't had to treat anything worse than that in quite a long time. (knock on wood???)

Corals get dipped in Bayer and then placed in the QT for observation. If I see more pests, they get dipped again. After a few weeks if they still look good, into the DT they go.

I don't try to QT fish and coral at the same time although I have an emergency 10g tank standing by.

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

Th

My 20L QT sits on a shelf in the fishroom waiting for me to bring something home to put in it. When I do, I float the newby in the FT sump while I'm setting the QT up. I use water from the FT and a chunk or two of LR from the sump. If something needs sand I have a shallow dish that sits down in nicely. I use a dual biowheel (Marineland Emperor) with filter pads for mechanical filtration and circulation. The heater is already set to the correct temperature so all I have to do is plug it in and go. By then, the newby will be at the same temp as the QT so in the go. I use a pair of Kessil A360W's as needed depending on what the newby is (fish vs. coral)

I don't expect the little bit of LR to be able to keep up with the ammonia, so daily water changes from the FT take care of that. The FT gets lots of water changes for the duration, so win-win.

I dose fish with Parzipro and observe for 3 weeks or until I see a problem. Ich gets TTM. It's just too easy IMO. I haven't had to treat anything worse than that in quite a long time. (knock on wood???)

Corals get dipped in Bayer and then placed in the QT for observation. If I see more pests, they get dipped again. After a few weeks if they still look good, into the DT they go.

I don't try to QT fish and coral at the same time although I have an emergency 10g tank standing by.

Thank you for the detailed response!

 

[PatW]

If you do not medicate in quarantine, you can have some chunks of rock in your sump and use them as needed. Another option is use a fine sponge for a filter either one the runs using an airline or in a hang on filter. Just set them up in the sump so water can go through them for awhile previously. Advantage is they can be used in a hospital tank if you discard the sponge afterwards.

Or you can cycle some rock in a pail. Use it in your hospital tank. Stick it back in the pail till next time you need it.


Or you can use good old brute force wafter changes.