QT Question

salty72 · 09/15/2012, 06:24 PM

I have a 10 gallon QT - it's just got a HOB filter and 2 pvc elbows. I filled it with DT water when I did a water change. Since then I've put a few pieces of food in there. It's been running for a couple of months. My question I guess is, is my tank considered "cycled" because I used water from the DT? If not, how can I tell if it's cycled because I never did any testing. I mean, I can test and if the results show no ammonia, nitrites or nitrates can I believe it?
Thanks in advance!!

sporto0 · 09/15/2012, 06:29 PM

Using the display tank water will not make one bit of difference in cycling a tank, nitrifying bacteria colonize on porous surfaces & are typicallly not found free floating in the water column, unless you have a permanent resident in the Q tank, you can't keep it cycled unless you ghost feed it regularly, which makes little sense. I just use water changes to handle ammonia for my 10g Q tank whenever I purchase a new fish.

salty72 · 09/15/2012, 07:08 PM

So would I be safe in getting a couple of clown fish and putting them in?

sporto0 · 09/15/2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salty72

So would I be safe in getting a couple of clown fish and putting them in?

Absolutely, monitor your ammonia levels & do small water changes accordingly.

salty72 · 09/15/2012, 08:19 PM

very good! I think I'll head out tomorrow on a mission! Thanks for the advise!

09/15/2012, 06:24 PM	#1
salty72 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 190	QT Question I have a 10 gallon QT - it's just got a HOB filter and 2 pvc elbows. I filled it with DT water when I did a water change. Since then I've put a few pieces of food in there. It's been running for a couple of months. My question I guess is, is my tank considered "cycled" because I used water from the DT? If not, how can I tell if it's cycled because I never did any testing. I mean, I can test and if the results show no ammonia, nitrites or nitrates can I believe it? Thanks in advance!! __________________ 75 gal reef, Maroon Clown, PJ cardinal, fire fish, 2 blue/green chromis, lawn mower blennie, Six Line Wrasse, File Fish, Flower anemone, red star fish, yellow toadstool, green star, hammer, trumpet, z Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef, 39 Gallon Fresh

09/15/2012, 07:08 PM	#3
salty72 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 190	So would I be safe in getting a couple of clown fish and putting them in? __________________ 75 gal reef, Maroon Clown, PJ cardinal, fire fish, 2 blue/green chromis, lawn mower blennie, Six Line Wrasse, File Fish, Flower anemone, red star fish, yellow toadstool, green star, hammer, trumpet, z Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef, 39 Gallon Fresh

09/15/2012, 08:19 PM	#5
salty72 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 190	very good! I think I'll head out tomorrow on a mission! Thanks for the advise! __________________ 75 gal reef, Maroon Clown, PJ cardinal, fire fish, 2 blue/green chromis, lawn mower blennie, Six Line Wrasse, File Fish, Flower anemone, red star fish, yellow toadstool, green star, hammer, trumpet, z Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef, 39 Gallon Fresh

09/15/2012, 06:29 PM	#2
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Using the display tank water will not make one bit of difference in cycling a tank, nitrifying bacteria colonize on porous surfaces & are typicallly not found free floating in the water column, unless you have a permanent resident in the Q tank, you can't keep it cycled unless you ghost feed it regularly, which makes little sense. I just use water changes to handle ammonia for my 10g Q tank whenever I purchase a new fish.