Talk To Me About QT Tanks...

[Giancarlo]

If you plan on stocking heavily with coral, then you should consider a proper q/t tank that can keep them for a months time. Which entails you to have proper lighting/filtration. You just need to consider what your plans for the tank are. On that note, q/t for fish and coral should be separate. A lot of work, but it's necessary.

 

[Mr. D]

You could also think about using water from your display tank as the water you use in your QT. If your DT parameters are on par you can just take out water from there during a WC and then put it into the QT to help keep it from re-cycling and such.

The AC HOB filter with sponge insert is a good idea as well in combination to what I mentioned.

However, note that when you use the sponge insert with one round of quarantine you need to sterilize it afterward and THEN put it into your DT sump to get it ready for the next round of quarantine. You could also consider doing the sponge insert method with a piece of dried (dead) rock. Put it into the sump to seed like the sponge and put it into the QT when needed...then sterilize it after like the sponge with bleach which dissipates out of the water in 24 hours.

Hope that helps!!

 

[Mr. Limpid]

Yes and no it uses the same priniciple greavity discharge put it set up on a wood box platform so that the return is higher than the tank water line.

 

[Aquaph8]

You could also think about using water from your display tank as the water you use in your QT. If your DT parameters are on par you can just take out water from there during a WC and then put it into the QT to help keep it from re-cycling and such.

The AC HOB filter with sponge insert is a good idea as well in combination to what I mentioned.

However, note that when you use the sponge insert with one round of quarantine you need to sterilize it afterward and THEN put it into your DT sump to get it ready for the next round of quarantine. You could also consider doing the sponge insert method with a piece of dried (dead) rock. Put it into the sump to seed like the sponge and put it into the QT when needed...then sterilize it after like the sponge with bleach which dissipates out of the water in 24 hours.

Hope that helps!!

I reccomended just throwing the sponge out and using a new one, I keep two in my sump at all times.

 

[Mr. D]

I reccomended just throwing the sponge out and using a new one, I keep two in my sump at all times.

Good idea. They're very cheap.

 

[GatorBen]

I had a QT set up for a long time while I shuffled fish into my aquariums. It made more sense at the time than taking it down and setting it up all the time. Now I just set it up when I need it. I keep it simple. A few days prior to getting an fish, I take the filter pad and put it in my DT sump along with the sponge on the end of the filter intake. Then I use water from my DT tank to fill the QT, to ensure similar parameters. When I place the filter and sponge in the tank there is enough bacteria to maintain a light load, a few small fish, or one big fish. If you need more bacteria you can put a shallow tray of live sand in the tank, this way you can take it out easier if need be. And as mentioned before, my filter is 2x more powerful than needed. I use a 10 gal tank because I like many small fish over a few large fish. I use a 20 gal filter with a heater, and digital thermometer. I do 2gal (20%) water change every 2-5 days depending on load and test readings. Also I do a 45-90min drip acclamation followed by a 15-30 min temp acclimation on all fish as they come into and leave the QT tank. It doesn't matter if it's a $5 chromis or $100 tang, they all get the royal drip. I'm by no means an expert but that's what I do and it has worked well for me.

 

[markkazdad]

I think Petco has the $1/gallon sale going until Oct 20. When I was in there last weekend, they had a ton of 10G, and a few 20L and 40B. I asked the clerk if he knew when the next $1/gallon sale was. He said it had been running all month (September) and probably wouldn't happen again until near Christmas.

Since I have a $5 "reward" now, I suggested to my wife that I get a 20L (the shelf tag said $42.99). She asked why not 40? Decisions, decisions. Now, don't y'all go buy them out in Huntsville. I can't get there until Tuesday.