starting a quarantine system

[BigMike81]

What is recommended for a quarantine? I bought a 55g that came with a skimmer, and a small sump system to use for a quarantine today so my new fish can have a place to be well and since I am brand new to the hobby, I am looking for advise on what the best way to do it is?

 

[Kworker]

You bought a 55gal with skimmer and sump as your main tank? Or you bought it to use as your QT?

I am gathering you mean as a QT system. I would get yourself a return pump, light and heater. I think a skimmer would be a bit overkill for a QT system since I never had issues QTing fish without one. I prefer to just use sponge filters and depending on the fish a few powerheads dedicated to QT use.

In the QT you will want to have it bare, no sand and just a place for the fish(s) to hide. I would recommend only QTing one fish at a time or group if all same species like a group of Anthias, chromis, etc.


Kudos to you for doing the right thing and setting one up and doing it the right way the first time around. I will try and help you out with more if you need.

 

[BigMike81]

You bought a 55gal with skimmer and sump as your main tank? Or you bought it to use as your QT?

I am gathering you mean as a QT system. I would get yourself a return pump, light and heater. I think a skimmer would be a bit overkill for a QT system since I never had issues QTing fish without one. I prefer to just use sponge filters and depending on the fish a few powerheads dedicated to QT use.

In the QT you will want to have it bare, no sand and just a place for the fish(s) to hide. I would recommend only QTing one fish at a time or group if all same species like a group of Anthias, chromis, etc.


Kudos to you for doing the right thing and setting one up and doing it the right way the first time around. I will try and help you out with more if you need.

Yes I bought it to use as a QT. Is live rock ok to use or should I use something else?

 

[BigMike81]

Thanks for the info:smile:

 

[saltyphish]

Live rock is ok to use as long as you keep it in that tank and never put it in the dt if you use meds. The liverock will absorb any medicine and release in the future. I use liverock in my qt and I leave it up and running all the time. Never know when the need may arise and I hate feeling unprepared.

 

[Kworker]

Yes I bought it to use as a QT. Is live rock ok to use or should I use something else?

Don't use live rock or any sand. The only time sand would be used is for fish such as Wrasses that would burrow in the sand when frightened or at night when they sleep. The reason is rock and sand will absorb the medication you would put into the system. Or, if you would go with hypo salinity as a treatment it would have a negative affect on the beneficial bacteria in either and be useless. Best to keep things sterile and simple.

I would use a large sponge filter for the system if you are medicating along with a powerhead depending on the fish. Just a powerhead if doing hypo. The reason I recommend having at least two nice sized powerheads for the system is it gives you control. When I QT'd my Achilles who was real sick when I brought him home I gave him a ton of flow in his QT and I attribute that to his survival since that is one of their key requirements. So depending on the fish being able to adjust the flow in the QT system will benefit them. However, the powder blue in QT recently did not like flow right away. So just a sponge filter was used.

My QT set up is the tank, heater, sponge filter, powerhead(s) when needed, shop light, and a pvc tube appropriate for the size of the fish. Anything more is complicating it. I am not sure about using the skimmer so you will have to wait for someone else to comment on that, I feel it may be best to just add that into your main system and feel its over kill for a QT. Even a sump is a bit much, I prefer to keep it simple. Although, a permanent plumbed 55 with sump and skimmer sounds like a killer QT setup and a major asset.

Make sure you have dedicated siphon, a bucket for QT use. You absolutely do not want to mix QT items with display items.

 

[BigMike81]

Don't use live rock or any sand. The only time sand would be used is for fish such as Wrasses that would burrow in the sand when frightened or at night when they sleep. The reason is rock and sand will absorb the medication you would put into the system. Or, if you would go with hypo salinity as a treatment it would have a negative affect on the beneficial bacteria in either and be useless. Best to keep things sterile and simple.

I would use a large sponge filter for the system if you are medicating along with a powerhead depending on the fish. Just a powerhead if doing hypo. The reason I recommend having at least two nice sized powerheads for the system is it gives you control. When I QT'd my Achilles who was real sick when I brought him home I gave him a ton of flow in his QT and I attribute that to his survival since that is one of their key requirements. So depending on the fish being able to adjust the flow in the QT system will benefit them. However, the powder blue in QT recently did not like flow right away. So just a sponge filter was used.

My QT set up is the tank, heater, sponge filter, powerhead(s) when needed, shop light, and a pvc tube appropriate for the size of the fish. Anything more is complicating it. I am not sure about using the skimmer so you will have to wait for someone else to comment on that, I feel it may be best to just add that into your main system and feel its over kill for a QT. Even a sump is a bit much, I prefer to keep it simple. Although, a permanent plumbed 55 with sump and skimmer sounds like a killer QT setup and a major asset.

Make sure you have dedicated siphon, a bucket for QT use. You absolutely do not want to mix QT items with display items.

okay no mixing anything, totally separate. Thank you, much appreciated.

 

[BigMike81]

I got my plumbing the other day for the QT and am now ready to add water to get it going. I also got a sponge filter for the inside to keep things simple.

 

[BigMike81]

Today I finally filled up my QT and am thrilled to have another tank to look after. As soon as this baby is cycled, I will be adding some new friends to it. I think they will be either some pajama cardinals, or some blue chromis.