QT Possibilities.....

[BigBoi5680]

Does anyone utilize their QT as kind of a small, pseudo-DT!? I was so focused on getting my 210 DT up and going, that I had totally neglected the QT, which research has shown me is a DEFINITE deal breaker!!!

I can do a 40 breeder as a QT, and was thinking that I could set it up in my office as a small DT? But only cycling out new fish......FOWLR maybe? Any insights/pics of this going on with any of you guys!?

[bamf25]

Only issue is that if you get sick fish or have known diseases, that is exaclty what you need the qt for. If you turn it into a psuedo dt are you not losing this function? If you are now perminately keeping fish in there, where do you new purchases then go? Into a pseudo dt, where new fish can now make the current residents of that tank sick?

[sponger0]

Yeah the problem I see is if you actually need to treat anything.

[BigBoi5680]

My intent was to only have new fish or sick fish in it as acquired/needed. If I'm not QT'ing any fish, I still need it running just in case, right? So if it's running with or without fish, I figure why not dress it up as if it were a DT! I guess I didn't clarify that, but some new fish have to be in a QT for up to 4 weeks, right? So for those 4 weeks, Id have fish in it.......if that time is up, then it sits idle, BUT running just incase I get new fish, or sick fish.

[MrTuskfish]

Many fish need meds in a QT; you can't do this with LR, substrate, etc. Also, 4 weeks isn't long enough to keep a fish in a QT; IMO 6 weeks is minimum. A QT/HT needs to be flexible and readily available for anything; what you're describing will be tough to convert when you really need it. If your next new fish develops a parasite, like ich, in your type of QT----how would you treat it?

[BigBoi5680]

So how do people keep a QT!? Does everybody break down their QT once the fish are done in there!? So if I go get new fish I have to set it all back up again!? Certainly this is not a best practice!

[fdonophan]

It doesn't have to be complicated, but it doesn't have to be boring either.

Here's my little QT for my nano fish - only about 2g. Obviously you'd need to size appropriately for your fish. Built-in little filter and lights. The "plant" is plastic that glows in the dark, and the cave is a lump of fired clay, both safe for saltwater tanks.

We get to enjoy the 4-8 weeks our new little buddy has to stay in solitary, but it can be broken down and stored away in 10 minutes. Total investment - $47 including the decorations.

I have a little firefish in there now waiting for his new home to cycle. He's got a good 6 weeks or more to go depending on how long the cycle takes, but we can still enjoy him.

[Feriation]

Originally Posted by fdonophan

It doesn't have to be complicated, but it doesn't have to be boring either.

Here's my little QT for my nano fish - only about 2g. Obviously you'd need to size appropriately for your fish. Built-in little filter and lights. The "plant" is plastic that glows in the dark, and the cave is a lump of fired clay, both safe for saltwater tanks.

We get to enjoy the 4-8 weeks our new little buddy has to stay in solitary, but it can be broken down and stored away in 10 minutes. Total investment - $47 including the decorations.

I have a little firefish in there now waiting for his new home to cycle. He's got a good 6 weeks or more to go depending on how long the cycle takes, but we can still enjoy him.

Fdonophan, are you finding the small size poses you any issues for you fish during quarantine? I was looking at setting up a QT that is 2.5 gallons.

I had made a post in the newbie forum asking if it would be sufficient, and everyone is telling me to go to 10g... Which I really don't have the space for, not to mention, the hassle of setting up and dismantling a 10g QT for my 28g DT. Sigh..

[fdonophan]

10g offers much more flexibility as to what fish you can QT, so depending on what you plan to stock along the way, may be a better option for you. If I had any intention of purchasing a fish over an inch at this point, I would use a bigger tank.

The point I wanted to make is that it can be appealing AND functional. I can monitor my fish, check parameters, maintain my sg and cleanup uneaten food and fish poop easily, all the while enjoying the setup so I don't feel pressured to rush things.

When I had to pull my tang, wrasse and clown out of my 70g for ich I used a 29g in my closet with coffee cups for them to hide in. Functional, yes, but not appealing at all. I decided next time I used a QT I would at least make it visually appealing so it seems like less work.

In a nutshell: since my focus is on my nano, and I have no plans to purchase a large fish in the near future, it works great for me.

[SKurj]

Originally Posted by BigBoi5680

So how do people keep a QT!? Does everybody break down their QT once the fish are done in there!? So if I go get new fish I have to set it all back up again!? Certainly this is not a best practice!

Actually there are 2 schools... 1 is setup the tank and break it down between fish, taking care to sterilize or replace things like filter media. Another is to cycle the tank but one rule applies to both... no LR no substrate, basically BB tank with simple filtration such as a sponge filter or hob power filter.

Using either filtration method after each QT period the filter media can be thrown away, and replaced very cheaply, replacement sponges will run less than 5$ for a filter sized for a 10-20 gal sponge filter or hob power filter.
If you like QT to be cycled then always keep a new sponge hidden in the display tank (or sump if you have one)somewhere building up a bacteria load.
If you don't care if cycled or not, then that works too, QT 'should' be fairly low bioload, so so long as you maintain water changes you should be ok. (get an ammonia badge each QT session)


If you add something like PVC elbows for decor it can be easily sterilized, this isn't the case for live rock and substrate.

[Playa-1]

I break mine down when I'm done with it. I could potentially see keeping a QT up and running full time as an observation tank for new arrivals or fish that need a time out. Then using a third tank as a hospital tank for any medications and actual sick fish. But now your dealing with three different tanks instead of one full time and a Qt setup as needed.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by BigBoi5680

So how do people keep a QT!? Does everybody break down their QT once the fish are done in there!? So if I go get new fish I have to set it all back up again!? Certainly this is not a best practice!

Whatever works. I don't think a 20 gal QT would take any longer than 20 mins to set up--they're really simple. Tank, water, heater, seeded filter, PVC pieces, some type of light. That's it. If your DT is parasite free; used DT water is ideal and you can do a DT WC at the same time.

[bnumair]

i have a 20 gal QT tank. hang on back emperor twin bio wheel filters and a heater. wont take lot to setup.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by bnumair

i have a 20 gal QT tank. hang on back emperor twin bio wheel filters and a heater. wont take lot to setup.

.....and if you are sure your DT is parasite free, you can keep the bio-wheels in the flow of the DT and instantly cycle the QT when needed. they'll have to be sterilized or replaced after use, though. You can also use an Aqua-Clear spong that will fit in the biowheel media box----they're cheap.

[Reefer Ronnie]

What do most people use to sterilize the QT after use?