Quarantine tank - How long before it's ready?

[hamiltonguy]

If I set up my quarantine tank today with 5-10 gallons DT water and the rest fresh saltwater (the quarantine tank is about 30 gallons), would this tank be ready to quarantine fish on Saturday July 30th? (I'm expecting a couple fish to come in on that day).

[iwishtofish]

What's your biological filtration going to be?

[SkullV]

Display Tank water has little to no bacteria in it. The best way to QT in my opinion is with an Aquaclear filter.

This way you can keep a sponge or 2 in your display tank sump to build up with bacteria and then put it in the AC filter when it's time to QT (throw it away after NOT back into the DT).

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by iwishtofish

What's your biological filtration going to be?

See that's the thing, I read up on quarantine tanks and some people said to seed, others said it didn't matter.

Originally Posted by SkullV

Display Tank water has little to no bacteria in it. The best way to QT in my opinion is with an Aquaclear filter.

This way you can keep a sponge or 2 in your display tank sump to build up with bacteria and then put it in the AC filter when it's time to QT (throw it away after NOT back into the DT).

I had a filter lying around, thought it was an AC but ended up being a bio wheel so I was just thinking of using that. Can I not seed the wheel itself or the cartridge?

Also, how long would it take to seed?

[blue736]

Originally Posted by hamiltonguy

Also, how long would it take to seed?

That may take longer than you have. But you can still QT, plan on watching ammonia and doing water changes as needed until your filter cycles/supports the fish in QT.



/blue736

[iwishtofish]

I think at this point, if you have fish coming, you should just expect to monitor ammonia like a hawk, and be prepared to do water changes frequently. It may not hurt to have some Amquel on hand, just in case. Ammonia will severely stress, if not kill, your fish very quickly. Levels will build more rapidly if you don't have some biological filtration to slow that down. Just make sure your change water salinity is a spot-on match, and that there is no rapid rise in pH with a water change, either. Temp should remain very close, as well. Also, if you happen to have a small, sacrificial piece of live rock that has been in your tank, it could only help to put it in there. As mentioned above, obviously, it can't go back in your DT.

I'm about to set up my QT, and I'm going to throw my biowheel in my sump for a while. I honestly don't know how long it takes to populate with bacteria, but I'll likely give it 2 or 3 weeks.

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by blue736

That may take longer than you have. But you can still QT, plan on watching ammonia and doing water changes as needed until your filter cycles/supports the fish in QT.



/blue736

Originally Posted by iwishtofish

I think at this point, if you have fish coming, you should just expect to monitor ammonia like a hawk, and be prepared to do water changes frequently. It may not hurt to have some Amquel on hand, just in case. Ammonia will severely stress, if not kill, your fish very quickly. Levels will build more rapidly if you don't have some biological filtration to slow that down. Just make sure your change water salinity is a spot-on match, and that there is no rapid rise in pH with a water change, either. Temp should remain very close, as well. Also, if you happen to have a small, sacrificial piece of live rock that has been in your tank, it could only help to put it in there. As mentioned above, obviously, it can't go back in your DT.

I'm about to set up my QT, and I'm going to throw my biowheel in my sump for a while. I honestly don't know how long it takes to populate with bacteria, but I'll likely give it 2 or 3 weeks.

I'll leave my bio wheel in the in sump until I get the fish. Worse comes to worse I'll put the fish straight in my DT.

I normally don't QT fish anyway because I get them from people I trust personally but the fish I'm getting are carberryi anthias and I just wanted to make sure the eat before I put them in. It might not be too big of a deal though because I don't have any aggressive fish in the tank right now.