QT tank size

Snowgrrl83 · 12/22/2009, 09:20 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm currently starting my first reef tank. I have some LR in my 20 gallon DT and it is currently cycling. I also have an empty 5 gallon tank and I was hoping on using this as a QT tank for fish. I've never had SW fish before and I'm just afraid that the QT tank is so small that the parameters (salinity) will go out of whack too easily.

Is a 5 gallon tank too small for a newbie QT? I know that the website recommends a 4 week QT for fish, but how long do most of you QT your fish?

I would use a Aquaclear 30 sponge filter (which is currently cycling in my DT), a 50W heater and some type of shelter for fish (small mug or pipes).

Sisterlimonpot · 12/22/2009, 09:23 PM

I think that a 10 gallon would be the smallest you should go for a QT.

frgrasso · 12/22/2009, 10:02 PM

i would go with at least a 20g QT tank

Sisterlimonpot · 12/22/2009, 10:05 PM

Or, or you can use your 20 gallon as the QT an get a bigger tank as your display..... Just thinking out loud for you.

Zestay · 12/23/2009, 01:47 AM

well considering your only having a 20 gallon tank i guess a 5 gallon would work because all of your livestock should be small. however a 5 gallon tank gets out of control very fast.. ammonia spikes easily in 5 gallons .

jenjen · 12/23/2009, 01:57 AM

I would go with min 10gal, mainly because parameters are easier to control than in a 5gal. I also would not QT more than one fish at a time in a tank that size.

For my 180gal where it is next to impossible to remove livestock to treat for disease, I QT for 4-6 weeks. For my 55gal with minimal rock and limited livestock (who could all easily fit in my QT tank should they need to) I QT for a few days, mainly to ensure the new addition is eating well and looks healthy. HTH

Marsha · 12/23/2009, 06:01 AM

I QT for at least 3 weeks. I have a 12 gallon nano up and running for a QT tank and a 29 gallon out in the shed that I use for a hospital tank since it has had copper in it and I do not want to use it for a fish only tank.

3scoot3 · 12/23/2009, 06:34 AM

i have
2 tangs
1 antheia
1wrasse
4 chromis

how big of a tank would i need to house these fish for 8 week to let my tank go fowlow

Marsha · 12/23/2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3scoot3

i have
2 tangs
1 antheia
1wrasse
4 chromis

how big of a tank would i need to house these fish for 8 week to let my tank go fowlow

I used the 29 gallon to house my tang, 2 cardnals, 2 clowns and a goby for 8 weeks should be good for your gany.

armani4o3 · 12/23/2009, 07:36 AM

i use a 10gal for my small fish i wouldn't go any smaller

Chiefsurfer · 12/23/2009, 07:37 AM

honestly, for a 20 gallon tank, and the size fish you will be QT-ing, you will be FINE fish-wise. That being said, parameters will be tough. For all reality, if you QT a fish for 4 weeks, you can keep the salinity pretty low until about a week before you plan to put it into the display tank. By keeping salinity low(not suggesting hypo) you will also lessen the affect of evap on your salinity.

So if you top-off 2x a day, you should have no salt spikes. Ammonia will be a bit of an issue in that size tank, you should try to vac with a turkey baster, any uneaten food that even hits the floor, and vac poop up at least every day, preferably 2x a day, with a filter(like the aquaclear you want to use) your ammonia should be under control. If you can, you might want to add the sponge of the AC to your DT for a few days to seed it with the necessary bacteria.

Zestay · 12/23/2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3scoot3

i have
2 tangs
1 antheia
1wrasse
4 chromis

how big of a tank would i need to house these fish for 8 week to let my tank go fowlow

id say a 55 gallon.. maybe a 40 breeder at the smallest..

johnc43113 · 12/23/2009, 10:01 AM

IMO, a 5 gallon is way too small. What kind of fish are you planning on getting and what size? Also keep in mind that you are stocking a 20 gallon tank...you a very limited to what you should have. I would do a 10 gallon...minimum. As mentioned...I would keep the salinity down a little to help with evap.

I successfully ran a 1/2 gallon pico for a 6 months as an experiment....it was not easy. Every little thing changed and it was very difficult to maintain....of course it was 1/2 gallon lol.

John

Snowgrrl83 · 12/23/2009, 11:01 AM

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the replies.
The specimens that I'm hoping to keep are

a pair of ocillaris or percular clowns
a smaller type of firefish goby
snails, peppermint shrimp, and MAYBE a few reef scarlet hermits
mushrooms, softies, leathers (how about mushrooms, pulsing xenia and zoas)

My 5 gallon used to be where I kept my feeder fish when I kept FW tanks. Unfortunately, this is the only spare tank that I have.

Alright, so I should simply take a chance and not QT?! I know we have a few reputable marine-only LFS around here.

Chris27 · 12/23/2009, 11:53 AM

Alright, so I should simply take a chance and not QT?! I know we have a few reputable marine-only LFS around here.

Never a good idea, even the best stores will have issues. The only almost safe way to go the no QT route would be to order from a company like Diver's Den, who specifically QT each specimen before they sell them.

12/22/2009, 09:20 PM	#1
Snowgrrl83 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ottawa Posts: 109	QT tank size Hi everyone, I'm currently starting my first reef tank. I have some LR in my 20 gallon DT and it is currently cycling. I also have an empty 5 gallon tank and I was hoping on using this as a QT tank for fish. I've never had SW fish before and I'm just afraid that the QT tank is so small that the parameters (salinity) will go out of whack too easily. Is a 5 gallon tank too small for a newbie QT? I know that the website recommends a 4 week QT for fish, but how long do most of you QT your fish? I would use a Aquaclear 30 sponge filter (which is currently cycling in my DT), a 50W heater and some type of shelter for fish (small mug or pipes).

12/22/2009, 09:23 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I think that a 10 gallon would be the smallest you should go for a QT. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/22/2009, 10:05 PM	#4
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Or, or you can use your 20 gallon as the QT an get a bigger tank as your display..... Just thinking out loud for you. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/23/2009, 01:57 AM	#6
jenjen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Langley BC, Canada Posts: 1,710	I would go with min 10gal, mainly because parameters are easier to control than in a 5gal. I also would not QT more than one fish at a time in a tank that size. For my 180gal where it is next to impossible to remove livestock to treat for disease, I QT for 4-6 weeks. For my 55gal with minimal rock and limited livestock (who could all easily fit in my QT tank should they need to) I QT for a few days, mainly to ensure the new addition is eating well and looks healthy. HTH __________________ "Challenges forge the greatness in you" Current Tank Info: 180gal softy reef (Apr '09)

12/23/2009, 06:01 AM	#7
Marsha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa. AZ Posts: 253	I QT for at least 3 weeks. I have a 12 gallon nano up and running for a QT tank and a 29 gallon out in the shed that I use for a hospital tank since it has had copper in it and I do not want to use it for a fish only tank. __________________ The only thing I control is my reaction to what happens around me. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon saltwater

12/22/2009, 10:02 PM	#3
frgrasso Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: buffalo ,NY Posts: 178	i would go with at least a 20g QT tank

12/23/2009, 01:47 AM	#5
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	well considering your only having a 20 gallon tank i guess a 5 gallon would work because all of your livestock should be small. however a 5 gallon tank gets out of control very fast.. ammonia spikes easily in 5 gallons .

12/23/2009, 06:34 AM	#8
3scoot3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 29	qt i have 2 tangs 1 antheia 1wrasse 4 chromis how big of a tank would i need to house these fish for 8 week to let my tank go fowlow

12/23/2009, 07:36 AM	#10
armani4o3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: reading pa Posts: 222	i use a 10gal for my small fish i wouldn't go any smaller

12/23/2009, 07:37 AM	#11
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	honestly, for a 20 gallon tank, and the size fish you will be QT-ing, you will be FINE fish-wise. That being said, parameters will be tough. For all reality, if you QT a fish for 4 weeks, you can keep the salinity pretty low until about a week before you plan to put it into the display tank. By keeping salinity low(not suggesting hypo) you will also lessen the affect of evap on your salinity. So if you top-off 2x a day, you should have no salt spikes. Ammonia will be a bit of an issue in that size tank, you should try to vac with a turkey baster, any uneaten food that even hits the floor, and vac poop up at least every day, preferably 2x a day, with a filter(like the aquaclear you want to use) your ammonia should be under control. If you can, you might want to add the sponge of the AC to your DT for a few days to seed it with the necessary bacteria.

12/23/2009, 10:01 AM	#13
johnc43113 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Circleville, OH Posts: 109	IMO, a 5 gallon is way too small. What kind of fish are you planning on getting and what size? Also keep in mind that you are stocking a 20 gallon tank...you a very limited to what you should have. I would do a 10 gallon...minimum. As mentioned...I would keep the salinity down a little to help with evap. I successfully ran a 1/2 gallon pico for a 6 months as an experiment....it was not easy. Every little thing changed and it was very difficult to maintain....of course it was 1/2 gallon lol. John

12/23/2009, 11:01 AM	#14
Snowgrrl83 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ottawa Posts: 109	Hi everyone, Thanks for the replies. The specimens that I'm hoping to keep are a pair of ocillaris or percular clowns a smaller type of firefish goby snails, peppermint shrimp, and MAYBE a few reef scarlet hermits mushrooms, softies, leathers (how about mushrooms, pulsing xenia and zoas) My 5 gallon used to be where I kept my feeder fish when I kept FW tanks. Unfortunately, this is the only spare tank that I have. Alright, so I should simply take a chance and not QT?! I know we have a few reputable marine-only LFS around here.

12/23/2009, 11:53 AM	#15
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Alright, so I should simply take a chance and not QT?! I know we have a few reputable marine-only LFS around here. Never a good idea, even the best stores will have issues. The only almost safe way to go the no QT route would be to order from a company like Diver's Den, who specifically QT each specimen before they sell them.