QT setup

MTF7 · 04/28/2013, 01:45 PM

I have just recently started a biocube 29 and looking to get my clean up crew then my first fish. I am going to do a QT tank and for the setup I have a 10g tank that I am going to steralize. As for equipment I am going to use a HOB bio-wheel filter without the carbon and for the bio-wheel I am going to put that in my tank for about a week to allow bacteria to grow on it, a heater, thermometer, and of course some PVC piping. Could I put any other filtration like purigen or should I just use filter floss with the biowheel. Thanks!

eacosta · 04/28/2013, 09:30 PM

Not sure about your filter question, but just a comment. I was given the advice to place my hob filter in my DT for 2 weeks to seed it with bacteria for my QT. Not sure what happened, but I am still cycling my QT 4 weeks later even after having the hob in my DT for the suggested timeframe. I have a feeling that the bio-load in my DT was handled by the bacteria on my live rock and didn't spread to my hob filter as expected. It is possible that you might have to wait a little longer than expected.

cgray07 · 04/29/2013, 03:14 AM

Just put some live rock from your dt into the back of your filter with a little light hooked on to it if you want. Ir woeked really well for me when I had the aame set up

Cymonous · 04/29/2013, 06:37 AM

If you just started the 29, then I doubt you have enough bacteria to seed any filter media to transfer to the QT. I would just setup a basic tank for the QT with a HOB filter with filter floss, heater, thermometer, and couple pieces of pvc for the fish to hide in. You will want to just cycle both tanks. If you don't cycle the QT, you will have to keep a heavy eye on the QT for Ammonia and will be doing a lot of water changes.

bnumair · 04/29/2013, 07:29 AM

guys i just wanna add on to the conversation. having filters in sump or DT is no guarantee for instant cycle but in fact just a seeding process. its similar to setting up a tank with dry rock and adding a few pieces of live rock to it.
of course the longer the filters sit in the DT chances are more bacteria will colonize it and then again there are many factors involved with that too. bacteria can only live in numbers against the ammonia being produce. its equal proportion. if ur DT produced just enough ammonia for ur main bacteria to live off then chances are ur filters for qt will never colonize thus not giving u instant cycle. so there are many factors at play.
what i recommend is longer the filter stay in ur Dt chances are greater but still after transfer add food to QT and check for ammonia. also dont put a huge load on ur young filters they wont be able to handle it. go slow add 1 fish a week.

tommyhrs · 04/29/2013, 09:28 PM

There is a sticky in the "new to the hobby" section on setting up a qt. It recogmends no filter for the QT since you may have to use meds or copper to treat fish. You may want to just use the HOB filter minus any media for circlulation. Bare bottom with small water changes to remove detrius should be enough to keep ammonia down in a QT.

bnumair · 04/29/2013, 09:36 PM

lol yes as the author of the sticky, i highly recommend doing just that. not using filters but instead using ceramic media which doesnt get hurt by cupramine and also it can handle hypo and also prefilters most of the big debris.
i usually clean the insides of the HOB in between fish. remember to leave the ceramic media in media bags/socks and leave them submerged at all times otherwise u will kill some or all bacteria.

MTF7 · 04/30/2013, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cymonous

If you just started the 29, then I doubt you have enough bacteria to seed any filter media to transfer to the QT. I would just setup a basic tank for the QT with a HOB filter with filter floss, heater, thermometer, and couple pieces of pvc for the fish to hide in. You will want to just cycle both tanks. If you don't cycle the QT, you will have to keep a heavy eye on the QT for Ammonia and will be doing a lot of water changes.

The water and sand is new but the rock has been used for about 3 years now so actually what ammonia level's I had when I first put water in The tank ( I think it was like .5 ammonia but in about 2 day it had been mostly taken out so right now I am just waiting for my nitrates to get from.25 to 0

tommyhrs · 04/30/2013, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

lol yes as the author of the sticky, i highly recommend doing just that. not using filters but instead using ceramic media which doesnt get hurt by cupramine and also it can handle hypo and also prefilters most of the big debris.
i usually clean the insides of the HOB in between fish. remember to leave the ceramic media in media bags/socks and leave them submerged at all times otherwise u will kill some or all bacteria.

lol It's a good read... well written and sage advice. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

Spyderturbo007 · 05/01/2013, 06:25 AM

I use a few pieces of sacrificial rubble rock in my QT that I keep in my sump. I've never had a problem with Ammonia in my QT.

Another good addition to any QT is a Seachem Ammonia Badge.

04/28/2013, 01:45 PM	#1
MTF7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 285	QT setup I have just recently started a biocube 29 and looking to get my clean up crew then my first fish. I am going to do a QT tank and for the setup I have a 10g tank that I am going to steralize. As for equipment I am going to use a HOB bio-wheel filter without the carbon and for the bio-wheel I am going to put that in my tank for about a week to allow bacteria to grow on it, a heater, thermometer, and of course some PVC piping. Could I put any other filtration like purigen or should I just use filter floss with the biowheel. Thanks!

04/29/2013, 06:37 AM	#4
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	If you just started the 29, then I doubt you have enough bacteria to seed any filter media to transfer to the QT. I would just setup a basic tank for the QT with a HOB filter with filter floss, heater, thermometer, and couple pieces of pvc for the fish to hide in. You will want to just cycle both tanks. If you don't cycle the QT, you will have to keep a heavy eye on the QT for Ammonia and will be doing a lot of water changes. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

04/29/2013, 07:29 AM	#5
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	guys i just wanna add on to the conversation. having filters in sump or DT is no guarantee for instant cycle but in fact just a seeding process. its similar to setting up a tank with dry rock and adding a few pieces of live rock to it. of course the longer the filters sit in the DT chances are more bacteria will colonize it and then again there are many factors involved with that too. bacteria can only live in numbers against the ammonia being produce. its equal proportion. if ur DT produced just enough ammonia for ur main bacteria to live off then chances are ur filters for qt will never colonize thus not giving u instant cycle. so there are many factors at play. what i recommend is longer the filter stay in ur Dt chances are greater but still after transfer add food to QT and check for ammonia. also dont put a huge load on ur young filters they wont be able to handle it. go slow add 1 fish a week. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

04/29/2013, 09:36 PM	#7
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	lol yes as the author of the sticky, i highly recommend doing just that. not using filters but instead using ceramic media which doesnt get hurt by cupramine and also it can handle hypo and also prefilters most of the big debris. i usually clean the insides of the HOB in between fish. remember to leave the ceramic media in media bags/socks and leave them submerged at all times otherwise u will kill some or all bacteria. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

04/28/2013, 09:30 PM	#2
eacosta Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MD Posts: 135	Not sure about your filter question, but just a comment. I was given the advice to place my hob filter in my DT for 2 weeks to seed it with bacteria for my QT. Not sure what happened, but I am still cycling my QT 4 weeks later even after having the hob in my DT for the suggested timeframe. I have a feeling that the bio-load in my DT was handled by the bacteria on my live rock and didn't spread to my hob filter as expected. It is possible that you might have to wait a little longer than expected.

04/29/2013, 03:14 AM	#3
cgray07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Orlando FL Posts: 82	Just put some live rock from your dt into the back of your filter with a little light hooked on to it if you want. Ir woeked really well for me when I had the aame set up

04/29/2013, 09:28 PM	#6
tommyhrs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 81	There is a sticky in the "new to the hobby" section on setting up a qt. It recogmends no filter for the QT since you may have to use meds or copper to treat fish. You may want to just use the HOB filter minus any media for circlulation. Bare bottom with small water changes to remove detrius should be enough to keep ammonia down in a QT.

05/01/2013, 06:25 AM	#10
Spyderturbo007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,564	I use a few pieces of sacrificial rubble rock in my QT that I keep in my sump. I've never had a problem with Ammonia in my QT. Another good addition to any QT is a Seachem Ammonia Badge.