Is a 10 gallon quarantine tank big enough?

serbusfish · 03/29/2015, 04:02 PM

I live in a very small house and have no room to setup a permanent quarantine tank, well expect maybe I do. I have space under my display tank that I could use to house a 10 gallon tank. Would this be OK to use for quarantining new fish? My friend has just relayed to me his horror story of discovering one of his fish has Ich, and he has a fully stocked reef tank with no hospital/quarantine setup. I do not want to go through this a few months down the line so I really need to figure out a way to get a quarantine tank setup. it would be in a closed cabinet with ventilation at the back, I could attach a cheap light to it, what else would I need? Live rock and powerhead?

Sk8r · 03/29/2015, 04:04 PM

You don't need a light; do need heater, strong pump (Eheim is good), anti-jump screen, and just get small fish. No rock, no sand: you don't want to give ich a waystop to live in between fish. Bare tank, just a pvc elbow for shelter.

\Clownfish/ · 03/29/2015, 04:05 PM

I have 29gal DT and a 10 gal QT. I think t depends on the size of tge fish you quarantine.

serbusfish · 03/29/2015, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

You don't need a light; do need heater, strong pump (Eheim is good), anti-jump screen, and just get small fish. No rock, no sand: you don't want to give ich a waystop to live in between fish. Bare tank, just a pvc elbow for shelter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by \Clownfish/

I have 29gal DT and a 10 gal QT. I think t depends on the size of tge fish you quarantine.

What about keeping ammonia/nitrite at bay? Most of the fish I want to get are quite small, Bangaii Cardinal, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Midas Blenny, and Orchid Dottyback. The only larger fish I might get later down the line is a Yellow Tang.

jrr98002 · 03/29/2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serbusfish

What about keeping ammonia/nitrite at bay?

Frequent WCs or something like AmQuel will do.

serbusfish · 03/29/2015, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrr98002

Frequent WCs or something like AmQuel will do.

Couldn't I use a small hang on filter? That way I can keep the tank running indefinitely and I wouldn't need to keep doing water changes.

deleau · 03/29/2015, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serbusfish

Couldn't I use a small hang on filter? That way I can keep the tank running indefinitely and I wouldn't need to keep doing water changes.

The only bacteria source of any consequence in your QT will be a bio wheel/filter of your HOB. Most likely that will not be enough to handle the ammonia, so doing water changes will keep that in check.

A mercury thermometer and an ammonia "badge" are cheap 'must haves' for a QT.

Likewise, let's say you do have to treat for Ich. First, you'll probably treat copper so any carbon based filters in your HOB have to go during treatment and afterwards, unless you keep your QT tank fallow for a few months, you'll need to drain the QT and sterilize it for your next batch of fish.

Most things that would fit in a 75 should be able to be QT'd in a 10.

serbusfish · 03/29/2015, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deleau

The only bacteria source of any consequence in your QT will be a bio wheel/filter of your HOB. Most likely that will not be enough to handle the ammonia, so doing water changes will keep that in check.

A mercury thermometer and an ammonia "badge" are cheap 'must haves' for a QT.

Likewise, let's say you do have to treat for Ich. First, you'll probably treat copper so any carbon based filters in your HOB have to go during treatment and afterwards, unless you keep your QT tank fallow for a few months, you'll need to drain the QT and sterilize it for your next batch of fish.

Most things that would fit in a 75 should be able to be QT'd in a 10.

I see, in that case I might as well stick with Amquel Plus and water changes, and only fill it up when I am expecting a fish purchase.

03/29/2015, 04:02 PM	#1
serbusfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 710	Is a 10 gallon quarantine tank big enough? I live in a very small house and have no room to setup a permanent quarantine tank, well expect maybe I do. I have space under my display tank that I could use to house a 10 gallon tank. Would this be OK to use for quarantining new fish? My friend has just relayed to me his horror story of discovering one of his fish has Ich, and he has a fully stocked reef tank with no hospital/quarantine setup. I do not want to go through this a few months down the line so I really need to figure out a way to get a quarantine tank setup. it would be in a closed cabinet with ventilation at the back, I could attach a cheap light to it, what else would I need? Live rock and powerhead? __________________ 75 Gallon mixed Reef / Ocellaris Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinal, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Allen's Damselfish. Progress thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p

03/29/2015, 04:04 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You don't need a light; do need heater, strong pump (Eheim is good), anti-jump screen, and just get small fish. No rock, no sand: you don't want to give ich a waystop to live in between fish. Bare tank, just a pvc elbow for shelter. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/29/2015, 04:05 PM	#3
\Clownfish/ Saltwater Beginner $\Clownfish/'s Avatar$ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Anemone Posts: 629	I have 29gal DT and a 10 gal QT. I think t depends on the size of tge fish you quarantine. __________________ Keep your friends close, and your anemones closer.
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