biological filtration in QT??

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

Im guessing there isnt any, as I thought the Cupramine kills off the beneficial bacteria. So water changes every day I assume?? Sorry but I'm so new...and tottaly new on the QT thing...

[ca1ore]

There are many ways to setup a QT tank, including one that is 'uncycled', thus using no biological filtration but regular water changes. I personally prefer to keep some biomedia seeded in my main sump that I can use to immediately have a cycled QT whenever I need it. I have not found cupramine to destroy the biofilter. Take a read of the QT stickie - very helpful!

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

awesome thank you I put a piece of LR in there from my sump...hopefully this will help...

[bnumair]

no dont put sand or rock in QT, its practiced bare for many reason. i explain everything in detail in this blog.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2195588

next two links are for hypo or cupramine to rid ich.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1#post20614751
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2300497

[billsreef]

Copper slightly depresses the activity of the biofilter, doesn't kill it off. So a biofilter can still be used. Sponge filters and biowheel filters are excellent for QT's, as they can be placed in the sump of your display tank to be seeded, and kept there to remain active in between uses.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Sgt Jonny Cat

awesome thank you I put a piece of LR in there from my sump...hopefully this will help...

It would be best to take out the rock and toss it in the trash. It will absorb copper (so it can never be put back into your DT) and it will also mess with the effective concentration of copper.

I recommend getting the Salifert Copper test, if you don't already have a test for Cu. LR can alter the concentration of Cu quite a bit and you can be sub-therapeutic.

[Victorg1001]

I was the under the impression that once you use copper in your QT any equipment or filter media cannot touch your DT. Is this assumption wrong?

[Nina51]

Originally Posted by billsreef

Sponge filters and biowheel filters are excellent for QT's, as they can be placed in the sump of your display tank to be seeded, and kept there to remain active in between uses.

Originally Posted by Victorg1001

I was the under the impression that once you use copper in your QT any equipment or filter media cannot touch your DT. Is this assumption wrong?

i was under the same impression. bill, how would you sterilize the sponge in order to put in back in the sump between uses?

i have been giving my kole tang a small piece of rock from my sump every few days just to give him something to peck at. once he's got it cleaned off, i take it outside and throw it into the woods.

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

how long does it take for the sponge to seed with bacteria?? I have one in my sump since yesterday. Should I put it in my QT?

[Victorg1001]

Originally Posted by Sgt Jonny Cat

how long does it take for the sponge to seed with bacteria?? I have one in my sump since yesterday. Should I put it in my QT?

I believe the recommended amount of time is 2-4 weeks.

[zeebies]

Personally, I wouldn't add a seeded sponge from your sump unless you know that your DT is disease free. Why introduce something potentially harmful to a quarantine tank? A sponge needs at least a couple of weeks (preferably more) to be seeded anyway.

I've kept QT's running for many weeks with just water changes.

[shermanator]

You can rapidly (couple of days, tops) "cycle" a QT using a good bacteria supplement (like Bio-Spira or Dr. Tim's).

[billsreef]

Originally Posted by Victorg1001

I was the under the impression that once you use copper in your QT any equipment or filter media cannot touch your DT. Is this assumption wrong?

Originally Posted by Nina51

i was under the same impression. bill, how would you sterilize the sponge in order to put in back in the sump between uses?

Calcium based substrates will absorb Cu. Sponge filters and biowheels, not really a problem if you wash them well after use with fresh water. For sterilizing, give them a good FW rinse and air dry them before placing them back in the QT. Though if the fish is ready for the display tank, there shouldn't be anything on the filter that requires sterilizing either

Originally Posted by zeebies

Personally, I wouldn't add a seeded sponge from your sump unless you know that your DT is disease free. Why introduce something potentially harmful to a quarantine tank? A sponge needs at least a couple of weeks (preferably more) to be seeded anyway.

I've kept QT's running for many weeks with just water changes.

If you've been QT'ing from the begining, there really shouldn't be anything in your DT that is a concern. Besides, if there is, do you really want to be putting a new fish into a diseased tank?

If in a pinch, sponge filters can be quickly seeded by burying them in the sand and running them that way for a day...Won't be seeded to the point for a heavily stocked tank, but adequate for a lightly stocked and closely monitored QT.

[Pigpen17]

I just bought an Aquaclear HOB filter, a box of Fluval bio rings, and a small bottle of biospira. I kept the aquaclear sponge, threw out the carbon bag and bio bag. Added the Fluval bio rings in a media bag and poured in the biospira.

Had absolutely no issues. Easy to run. Easy to clean. You do have to clean the sponge every few days or so to remove uneaten food. Worked great.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Pigpen17

I just bought an Aquaclear HOB filter, a box of Fluval bio rings, and a small bottle of biospira. I kept the aquaclear sponge, threw out the carbon bag and bio bag. Added the Fluval bio rings in a media bag and poured in the biospira.

Had absolutely no issues. Easy to run. Easy to clean. You do have to clean the sponge every few days or so to remove uneaten food. Worked great.

This is exactly what I do. But I don't change or clean the sponge very often (I put in a new sponge after the fish is done). I've seen high nitrates in my QT (40-80 ppm), but I'm okay with that (and so are the fish).

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by billsreef

Copper slightly depresses the activity of the biofilter, doesn't kill it off. So a biofilter can still be used. Sponge filters and biowheel filters are excellent for QT's, as they can be placed in the sump of your display tank to be seeded, and kept there to remain active in between uses.

I use a HOB Aquaclear filter to which I add ceramic and sponge, which I first seed in the DT sump.

If I use Cupramine in the QT I do NOT return the ceramic and sponge back to the sump. They are discarded and new is purchased. No copper, no matter how small goes back in the DT

[Mrramsey]

I just use sponges. I have one in the sump now that is seeded for when I get fish. When that one goes into QT I add another new one to the sump. Sponges are cheap...

[ca1ore]

It is one of those perpetuated myths that a tank or equipment is nor longer usable for inverts if it has seen copper. Not true! You just need to clean and dry everything thoroughly and it is all fine to use. Biomedia is a different story however. As somebody noted, sponges are cheap, as is a bag with some kind of biomedia. Seed it in your display sump initially, but once it has been used in a QT, throw it out.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

It is one of those perpetuated myths that a tank or equipment is nor longer usable for inverts if it has seen copper. Not true! You just need to clean and dry everything thoroughly and it is all fine to use. Biomedia is a different story however. As somebody noted, sponges are cheap, as is a bag with some kind of biomedia. Seed it in your display sump initially, but once it has been used in a QT, throw it out.

That's whaat I'm saying

[ca1ore]

Well, I agree with you then .....

[hkgar]

"Current Tank Info: 265 Gallon Reef; 30 Gallon Introduction tank; multiple QTs"

That doesn't sound simple.

[shesacharmer]

Per advice I learned from the QT Sticky I don't put anything but pvc hiding spots in my QT and I use a HOB filter without the biowheel. I just put filter floss from the craft store in the filter and change it every time it shows the slightest tinge of stain...even if that's twice a day. I also do small daily water changes. The idea is to prevent a cycle and thus keep your ammonia at 0 and Nitrates as low as possible.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by hkgar

"Current Tank Info: 265 Gallon Reef; 30 Gallon Introduction tank; multiple QTs"

That doesn't sound simple.

Yeah ..... I know. Although, right now only one of my QT tanks contains water so it's at least simpler ....

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

Per advice I learned from the QT Sticky I don't put anything but pvc hiding spots in my QT and I use a HOB filter without the biowheel. I just put filter floss from the craft store in the filter and change it every time it shows the slightest tinge of stain...even if that's twice a day. I also do small daily water changes. The idea is to prevent a cycle and thus keep your ammonia at 0 and Nitrates as low as possible.

Sure, that is the non-cycled route. But in my opinion at least, cycled QTs are so so so much easier. I doubt I would QT anything if I had to faithfully monitor an non-cycled QT. All hell can break loose from one night away from the tank and an ammonia spike that isn't caught quickly.

I really see no downside to using a seeded filter in QT. But tons of upside.