Help! Need to Drain Tank. What to do with Fish?

MuffsAbby · 07/02/2012, 12:54 PM

There is a leak in my tank, which requires us to immediately drain the tank in order to fix. Question is what to do with the fish in the meantime. I have 8 fish, as listed below in my signature…they are all small (2.5 inches or less). I have a fully cycled 20 gallon QT, currently empty. It was totally cleaned out a few weeks ago and it has been cycled (via seeded floss). I have since been ghost feeding the QT since I was about to buy a new fish. Parameters in the QT are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10. I can put my 8 fish in the 20g QT, or I can put some or all in various large (30g) Brute containers that will hold the DT water that we will be draining, along with a powerhead. Or I can do some combination of the two (put a few fish in the QT and 1 or 2 in each of the Brute containers). The fish will need to be in their temporary home for about a day or two. What option would you suggest?

reeferstace · 07/02/2012, 12:57 PM

I would use the tank you already have if all the fish are small and it's only going to be a couple of days. I prefer glass tanks to rubbermaids because of being about to actually see the fish in case of injury or illness.

Good luck with whichever you decide.

MrTuskfish · 07/02/2012, 01:22 PM

^^^^I agree.

Even though floss will carry friendly bacteria, the QT may be challenged a bit. Monitor ammonia and be ready to do WCs too. Ammonia neutralizers (Prime, Amquel, etc.) are fine short term too. They will make screw up most ammonia tests, though

MuffsAbby · 07/02/2012, 02:16 PM

Thanks, reeferstace and MrTuskfish! I will be monitoring ammonia and I have Prime on hand. I have a Seachem ammonia badge in the tank and I have the Seachem ammonia test that monitors free ammonia only, so I can still test for free ammonia after using Prime.

RaviC · 07/02/2012, 06:08 PM

I would also keep all your LR and all remaining tank water in a bucket/ container w/ a powerhead. If you have enough heaters, keep them the apporpriate temp too.

That way nothing dies, you have circulation, and you have healthy tank water for when the tank's fixed.

And make sure you give your silicone or whatever enough time to dry.

One last thing, if there's anything you've been wanted to do your tank that you couldn't before, now would be the time. Painting the back, moving to new to new place in house, putting foam under the tank to keep it level (i wish I did this before filling my tank). basically anything that would be easier w/ an empty tank.

Agu · 07/02/2012, 06:45 PM

If you put the fish in the QT tank add some live rock to provide hiding places. Doesn't need to be a lot of rock but enough if there's any aggression fish can hide.

messesb52 · 07/02/2012, 08:06 PM

and put the sand in that tank so the bacteria doesnt die

07/02/2012, 12:54 PM	#1
MuffsAbby Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 327	Help! Need to Drain Tank. What to do with Fish? There is a leak in my tank, which requires us to immediately drain the tank in order to fix. Question is what to do with the fish in the meantime. I have 8 fish, as listed below in my signature…they are all small (2.5 inches or less). I have a fully cycled 20 gallon QT, currently empty. It was totally cleaned out a few weeks ago and it has been cycled (via seeded floss). I have since been ghost feeding the QT since I was about to buy a new fish. Parameters in the QT are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10. I can put my 8 fish in the 20g QT, or I can put some or all in various large (30g) Brute containers that will hold the DT water that we will be draining, along with a powerhead. Or I can do some combination of the two (put a few fish in the QT and 1 or 2 in each of the Brute containers). The fish will need to be in their temporary home for about a day or two. What option would you suggest? __________________ Susan Current Tank Info: 150g fish only DT, with 2 ocellaris clowns, flagfin angel, bangaii cardinal, flame hawk pair and lyretail anthias.

07/02/2012, 12:57 PM	#2
reeferstace I'm a little people Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Over Yonder Posts: 1,392	I would use the tank you already have if all the fish are small and it's only going to be a couple of days. I prefer glass tanks to rubbermaids because of being about to actually see the fish in case of injury or illness. Good luck with whichever you decide. __________________ Stacy

07/02/2012, 01:22 PM	#3
MrTuskfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Wild Blue Yonder Posts: 8,887	^^^^I agree. Even though floss will carry friendly bacteria, the QT may be challenged a bit. Monitor ammonia and be ready to do WCs too. Ammonia neutralizers (Prime, Amquel, etc.) are fine short term too. They will make screw up most ammonia tests, though __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat. Steve Current Tank Info: 180, 2-240 FOWLRs, 240 reef

07/02/2012, 02:16 PM	#4
MuffsAbby Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 327	Thanks, reeferstace and MrTuskfish! I will be monitoring ammonia and I have Prime on hand. I have a Seachem ammonia badge in the tank and I have the Seachem ammonia test that monitors free ammonia only, so I can still test for free ammonia after using Prime. __________________ Susan Current Tank Info: 150g fish only DT, with 2 ocellaris clowns, flagfin angel, bangaii cardinal, flame hawk pair and lyretail anthias.

07/02/2012, 06:45 PM	#6
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	If you put the fish in the QT tank add some live rock to provide hiding places. Doesn't need to be a lot of rock but enough if there's any aggression fish can hide. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

07/02/2012, 06:08 PM	#5
RaviC Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Jersey Posts: 51	I would also keep all your LR and all remaining tank water in a bucket/ container w/ a powerhead. If you have enough heaters, keep them the apporpriate temp too. That way nothing dies, you have circulation, and you have healthy tank water for when the tank's fixed. And make sure you give your silicone or whatever enough time to dry. One last thing, if there's anything you've been wanted to do your tank that you couldn't before, now would be the time. Painting the back, moving to new to new place in house, putting foam under the tank to keep it level (i wish I did this before filling my tank). basically anything that would be easier w/ an empty tank.

07/02/2012, 08:06 PM	#7
messesb52 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 19	and put the sand in that tank so the bacteria doesnt die