When do I setup my Quarantine Tank?

Instigate · Jun 28, 2017

So I got a 135 gallon tank with 25 gallon sump, I'm planning out the plumbing and I think I'm going to reseal the tank. Then I'll have to cycle the tank etc. So while I'm waiting for all of that to come together I'm thinking I'm going to need a quarantine tank anyways. I think I'd like to set up a 10 gallon and start the cycle on it now. But I'm wondering if it would be a waste because I'm guessing you want your quarantine tank to have the same water as your DT.

Grimreaperz · Jun 28, 2017

The sooner you start a cycle in any tank the better. You will want your QT in a seperate room then your DT if possible. You only use the water from your DT for your QT if you are 100 % sure there are no pests in the DT to begin with. Other then that you could setup QT now no problems in my opinion....you may want a bigger tank then 10g for QT if you are planning on getting any big fish for that 135g though. Smaller fish it's totally fine but bigger species will need a bigger tank.

Instigate · Jun 28, 2017

Thanks for the info. I'll prolly roll the 10gal for now since that's what I have. I haven't made up a stock list for it yet. I was planning on a 60 gallon but I got this 135 for 300, came with sump/stand/canopy/skimmer/return pump/and lights. So I do have a 60 but was just planning on selling it.

EthanDouglas · Jun 28, 2017

Grimreaperz said:
You will want your QT in a seperate room then your DT if possible. .

Just curious, would that be necessary if I have 2 barriers over my display? I have the normal glass lid that lifts up as well as a wooden canopy that hides my light. There's probably only a 3 foot gap between my covered display and an open qt tank.

aykwm · Jun 29, 2017

I recommend setting up QT as soon as possible. You want to have the water in QT to be as close as possible to DT but not necessarly the same water. You would want to be qt ready before the tank, since fish will stay in qt before going to dt. If the fish stayed the full qt period and dt is still not ready then its better, you will have time to observe the fish more. You dont want the opposite to happen, where your dt is cycled and ready but you are waiting for qt so you can start adding fish.

Also its recommended to keep at least 10ft apart from each tank, aerosol transmission of diseases has occured before and you dont want to infect the dt.

As recommendation, get rid of the glass lid, it will allow for better gas exchange in water to keep oxygen high, also it will cool down the tank by allowing water to evaporate and heat to escape. It is better to replace it with mesh screen to avoid fish jumping out.

Instigate · Jun 29, 2017

aykwm said:
I recommend setting up QT as soon as possible. You want to have the water in QT to be as close as possible to DT but not necessarly the same water. You would want to be qt ready before the tank, since fish will stay in qt before going to dt. If the fish stayed the full qt period and dt is still not ready then its better, you will have time to observe the fish more. You dont want the opposite to happen, where your dt is cycled and ready but you are waiting for qt so you can start adding fish.

Also its recommended to keep at least 10ft apart from each tank, aerosol transmission of diseases has occured before and you dont want to infect the dt.

As recommendation, get rid of the glass lid, it will allow for better gas exchange in water to keep oxygen high, also it will cool down the tank by allowing water to evaporate and heat to escape. It is better to replace it with mesh screen to avoid fish jumping out.

Good to hear, the tank I have doesn't have a lid but was planning on putting some egg crate or net or something over it. I set it up tonight, tomorrow I'll get some ammonia and get this thing cycling.