Newb quarantine question

[Sean_South]

hey everyone,
Im still in my planning phase and have been searching this forum for the answer but have not found it. Is your QT always running or do you just set it up when you need too? Im sorry if this is common sense for you guys but I hear a lot of talk about QT but I don't know if they are always up and running or only set up when needed. Thanks RC for any help.

[MrTuskfish]

It really depends on how often you use it, available space, etc. If you choose to run it full-time (I do), it needs to be ghost fed a little to keep the biofilter alive or you have to have a seeded filter to get the QT/HT cycled when needed. You can tear it down, cycling for the next use is a PITA. Here's something I've posted a zillion times that takes care of the ammonia problem. BTW, a QT is a great place to use your old DT water at WC time, assuming the DT has cycled and doing well. I'm glad to see you starting right; a QT/HT will save you real problems down the road. way too many folks ignore this vital piece of equipment.

"n regards to Qt cycling; I've done this for years. Get a HOB filter; I really like Aqua-Clear, they have a big sponge and last forever. Don't use the carbon or ceramic noodles that come with the filter. Also, have some extra sponges on hand, they're cheap. Keep a sponge in the flow somewhere in your DT. When you need a QT or HT, just use the sponge that has been in your main system in your QT filter---the QT will be instantly cycled. When done, toss the sponge and keep a new one ready in your main system.
BTW, Cupramine copper, used in a QT,will not destroy a bio-filter."

[Sean_South]

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

It really depends on how often you use it, available space, etc. If you choose to run it full-time (I do), it needs to be ghost fed a little to keep the biofilter alive or you have to have a seeded filter to get the QT/HT cycled when needed. You can tear it down, cycling for the next use is a PITA. Here's something I've posted a zillion times that takes care of the ammonia problem. BTW, a QT is a great place to use your old DT water at WC time, assuming the DT has cycled and doing well. I'm glad to see you starting right; a QT/HT will save you real problems down the road. way too many folks ignore this vital piece of equipment.

"n regards to Qt cycling; I've done this for years. Get a HOB filter; I really like Aqua-Clear, they have a big sponge and last forever. Don't use the carbon or ceramic noodles that come with the filter. Also, have some extra sponges on hand, they're cheap. Keep a sponge in the flow somewhere in your DT. When you need a QT or HT, just use the sponge that has been in your main system in your QT filter---the QT will be instantly cycled. When done, toss the sponge and keep a new one ready in your main system.
BTW, Cupramine copper, used in a QT,will not destroy a bio-filter."

I am in a one bed room apartment with my girlfriend and its tight enough trying to fit the display, so having it running full time isnt really an option for me, unless I can sit a tank with just water and a heater on our kitchen counter 24/7

[jrdonnellyjr]

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

BTW, a QT is a great place to use your old DT water at WC time, assuming the DT has cycled and doing well.

If you do this do you still have to cycle your qt tank???

[MuffsAbby]

If you're just starting out in the hobby, I suspect you will need to run your QT full time, or at least more often than not. For example, I too just started (in July). I QT my fish for a 6-8 week period, so when one fish goes out of QT into the display, another fish goes into the QT a few days later (after QT is cleaned). So, unless you were to use a very short QT period (not suggested) or you were stocking very slowly, chances are your QT will need to be up and running more often than not in the early days.

[Danzig]

Does anyone use a plastic tote/bin for a QT? And should i have a light? What kind?

[00Warpig00]

My QT has been in 90% duty cycle for the past 14 months. I try to use it back to back to QT new additions on a 4-8 week QT schedule (varies with situation of each addition as well as availability of fish from my stocking list) and currently I have 11 of the smaller fish in my DT off my stocking list. I have even considered employing a second QT tank to help speed things up a bit. The 10% of the time it has been not used was times when I knew I would be out of town on business and could not devote the attention required to the QT tank.

Nick

[Tetra84]

I read somewhere that a simple sponge filter works good for a qt. Just put it in your sump and take it out to use in your qt when you need it. My question is, when your done with the qt (if there was a sick fish with a weird disease in it) would you just put the sponge filter back in your sump for the next time you need it, or would you clean it out real well before you put it back in your main sump?? I wouldn't want to carry a disease from my qt to my dt.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Tetra84

I read somewhere that a simple sponge filter works good for a qt. Just put it in your sump and take it out to use in your qt when you need it. My question is, when your done with the qt (if there was a sick fish with a weird disease in it) would you just put the sponge filter back in your sump for the next time you need it, or would you clean it out real well before you put it back in your main sump?? I wouldn't want to carry a disease from my qt to my dt.

I have read that elsewhere on the forums as well. Your supposed to throw the sponge away trust me. What is a sponge 50 cents? Dont risk it just throw it out.



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