quarantine question

gsxrguru2 · 05/02/2006, 01:13 PM

I just got a few new fish from liveaquaria and they came a bit earlier than expected so I'm trying to scramble to get the qt tank set up. I got two anthias, a firefish goby and a yellow candy hogfish all adding up to maybe 10" of fish total. Can I house them in a 10g tank for a few weeks? what about a protein skimmer, can I get away without one if I change out say 1 or 2 gallons per day? I was planning on just using a HOB filter, small heater and a couple of plastic wal mart type decorations to give them some cover. Any suggestions?

Kaiser Tang · 05/02/2006, 01:25 PM

As long as your doing water changes, you don't need a skimmer. Just watch out for fluctuations in pH, spec. gravity, and temp. The size of the tank shouldn't be a problem either. I would put a couple of small pieces of pvc pipe in there to provide them with some hiding spots.

Kabong · 05/02/2006, 01:33 PM

Thats a lot of fish for a 10G.
Keep a really close eye on your parameters.
The anthia's and the goby are pretty peacefull. Im not sure about the hog fish though.
So you may want to watch for aggresion on his side.

fsa · 05/02/2006, 08:41 PM

I agree with Kabong, but I think you might have a problem with no biological filtration. I would put some live rock/sand or something in there to help with that.

What do you have for your show tank? Depending on what it is/how cycled it is, etc, and how good your new stuff look, I think I would consider putting a couple in it.

Frank
edit-just saw your signature- pretty big tank with light fish bioload.

gsxrguru2 · 05/02/2006, 09:01 PM

Well, the reason I'm not putting the fish in is that I learned my lesson the hard way about not QTing from an ich outbreak that forced me to leave my tank fallow for the past month... it sucked! Soooo as much as I want to put these guys in, I'm going to hold off until I know they are completely healthy. If I put in a large piece of LR, that'd help?

fsa · 05/02/2006, 09:12 PM

I understand about not wanting to put them in your show tank. But you said that you were putting them in a 10 gallon for a few weeks. I did not read anything about biological filtration. If you don't have any, then the qt would be going through a cycle which, in my opinion, would stress the fish even more.

To me (and maybe I misinterpreted about your qt), I think the lesser of two evils in this case, would be to put them in a large 125 gallon tank with just 2 or 3 small fish as opposed to putting them in a small 10 gallon qt with little or no hiding and no biological filtration.

Just my thoughts and I could be way off base/have been before.

Frank

05/02/2006, 01:13 PM	#1
gsxrguru2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 657	quarantine question I just got a few new fish from liveaquaria and they came a bit earlier than expected so I'm trying to scramble to get the qt tank set up. I got two anthias, a firefish goby and a yellow candy hogfish all adding up to maybe 10" of fish total. Can I house them in a 10g tank for a few weeks? what about a protein skimmer, can I get away without one if I change out say 1 or 2 gallons per day? I was planning on just using a HOB filter, small heater and a couple of plastic wal mart type decorations to give them some cover. Any suggestions? __________________ James Current Tank Info: 125g w/ custom acrylic sump. Assortment of softies, LPS's and SPS's. Regal Tang, Flame Angel, Lyretail Anthias, Yellow Tang, Harlequin Tusk. 3 250w Ushio 10k HQI's Sequence Dart on Closed Loop

05/02/2006, 01:25 PM	#2
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	As long as your doing water changes, you don't need a skimmer. Just watch out for fluctuations in pH, spec. gravity, and temp. The size of the tank shouldn't be a problem either. I would put a couple of small pieces of pvc pipe in there to provide them with some hiding spots. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/02/2006, 09:01 PM	#5
gsxrguru2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 657	Well, the reason I'm not putting the fish in is that I learned my lesson the hard way about not QTing from an ich outbreak that forced me to leave my tank fallow for the past month... it sucked! Soooo as much as I want to put these guys in, I'm going to hold off until I know they are completely healthy. If I put in a large piece of LR, that'd help? __________________ James Current Tank Info: 125g w/ custom acrylic sump. Assortment of softies, LPS's and SPS's. Regal Tang, Flame Angel, Lyretail Anthias, Yellow Tang, Harlequin Tusk. 3 250w Ushio 10k HQI's Sequence Dart on Closed Loop

05/02/2006, 01:33 PM	#3
Kabong Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Brentwood Bay B.C. Posts: 454	Thats a lot of fish for a 10G. Keep a really close eye on your parameters. The anthia's and the goby are pretty peacefull. Im not sure about the hog fish though. So you may want to watch for aggresion on his side.

05/02/2006, 08:41 PM	#4
fsa Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 412	I agree with Kabong, but I think you might have a problem with no biological filtration. I would put some live rock/sand or something in there to help with that. What do you have for your show tank? Depending on what it is/how cycled it is, etc, and how good your new stuff look, I think I would consider putting a couple in it. Frank edit-just saw your signature- pretty big tank with light fish bioload.

05/02/2006, 09:12 PM	#6
fsa Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 412	I understand about not wanting to put them in your show tank. But you said that you were putting them in a 10 gallon for a few weeks. I did not read anything about biological filtration. If you don't have any, then the qt would be going through a cycle which, in my opinion, would stress the fish even more. To me (and maybe I misinterpreted about your qt), I think the lesser of two evils in this case, would be to put them in a large 125 gallon tank with just 2 or 3 small fish as opposed to putting them in a small 10 gallon qt with little or no hiding and no biological filtration. Just my thoughts and I could be way off base/have been before. Frank