Quarantine Filter Question

[Chheng86]

I have a 150G and a 135G tank and I'm setting up a 70G quarantine tank. I bought a used Fluval 405 Filter to use on the quarantine tank, and it already came with used bio-rings/ceramic rings. I wanted to know if it was safe to use these rings on my quarantine tank or should I go out and get new ones. Same question for the sponges that came with the filter. I'll be running Cupermine in the quarantine tank and adding Fluval Ammonia Remover in the filter.

[Chheng86]

The Filter was previously used for a freshwater setup. I believe the guy before kept Cichilds and also some arowanas.

[GMay]

Replace the sponges and clean the ceramic rings is what I would do. I would then run it for a couple weeks on one of the display tanks to get the rings and new sponge colonized with bacteria. It should be the good to go on the quarantine tank. I would keep the bio load low for the first couple of months though to all the tank to fully cycle.

[Reef Frog]

I don't see how the used ceramic rings could transfer any SW parasites, eggs or larvae if they came from a fresh water tank. But it wouldn't hurt to give them a bleach soaking and a thorough rinse & dry. Then cycle them as normal.

On the other hand, they could have soaked up some nutrients which shouldn't be a problem. And they could have traces of meds or other chemicals possibly used by the previous owner. If you think that's the case, buying new rings & cycling them is cheap insurance. BTW having a Seachem Ammonia Badge in the QT is a smart thing to do IMO.

[Chheng86]

Thanks for the unput guys, I'll clean the rings and replace the sponges. Will Vinegar water do the trick instead of bleach?

[Reef Frog]

My guess is vinegar would be fine. It will help disolve & liberate any crud that might be on the surface of the rings. If you were paranoid that some parasite or harmful bacteria were present (I don't think there is), you could always try keeping them in hot water for an hour or two on the stove. 180F or so should do it but make sure the wife or kitchen manager is out of the house.

[Chheng86]

Great thanks for the quick reply. I will surely use your advice.

[murdock84]

I set my QT up only when needed. I keep a bag of rings in my sump and a sponge in my sump so they are ready to use when needed. I toss them when I am done with the QT. Next round will get new rings and sponge.

[delor]

Bigger issue is if copper was used on the fw system (very common in most fw medications).

[julie180]

I don't believe you can use an ammonia remover with copper based medications.

Does not matter if there was copper in the tank previously if its only for QT!

[tmz]

I would not use an ammonia detoxifier with cupramine; it can cause untimely release of toxic levels of free copper .

[Chheng86]

You guys are right about the ammonia detoxifier. I won't use that.

[Palting]

One more thing to add: Since you are using a biofilter on your QT, you should more or less let it cycle, or at least allow time for the nitrifying bacteria to multiply before you put any fish into the QT. This way you do not have to worry about ammonia. Just get one those ammonia alert stickers, just in case. I do 4-6 weeks of hyposalinity with my QT, so my case REALY needs a mature biofiltration system because I do NOT want to be doing daily water changes for that length of time.

[Chheng86]

I was planning to run it for 2 weeks, do you think that's enough time? I'll try to get a hold of one of those stickers, that's a good idea.

[Sk8r]

I use pillow floss from the local fabric store: cheap, highly throwaway. Works like filter floss and comes in monster bags.

[Chheng86]

I had left some sponges in my main sump for 2-3 months now which I will use in the quarantine. Pillow Floss sounds is a good alternative. I was looking for a more cost-effective solution than the sponges at the LFS>

[Palting]

Originally Posted by Chheng86

I was planning to run it for 2 weeks, do you think that's enough time? I'll try to get a hold of one of those stickers, that's a good idea.

I think that's good enough time after you put something to decay in there, like a shrimp, so long as you don't put a huge bioload with a lot of fish initially.

[Chheng86]

I'm using water from my main system to fill up the quarantine tank, would that help instead of putting something to decay in the quarantine?

In regards to HOB filters for smaller quarantine tanks like the Aquaclear 50/70, what kind of filter media (besides sponges) do people usually put in those as you can't put ammonia remover or Carbon if you're medicating the fish.

[Palting]

There is actually very little of the nitrifying bacteria in the water, as they there benthic: living on surfaces. You can, however, put the ceramic biofilters of the Fluval in your main tank for 2 weeks. That should seed them well enough so that your QT will have adequate biofiltration for a light bioload once you put them back in the Fluval.

So I understand, your main tank is a mature tank, right? I was initially under the impression the 150 and the 135 were new tanks.

[Chheng86]

Yes they are mature tanks, they've been running for about 9 months now. Running the filter in my main tank to colonize the bacteria, would that build up nitrate in the filter? Should I give it a rinse before transferring the filter to the quarantine tank?

[Palting]

Not quite sure I understand your question. If you either run the Fluval in your main tank or simply put the ceramic biomedia in your sump or tank, then the biomedia (filters) will get colonized by bacteria. The end product of bacterial ammonia break down by the Fluval is nitrate. So, yes, the Flluval will produce nitrate. Nitrate is fairly well tolerated by fish in QT, unlike ammonia which is deadly. I usually do weekly water changes for the QT, anyway, to keep the nitrate down, since I keep my QT running pretty much full time. In the unlikely event that algae develops in the QT the short period that you are using it, leave the algae alone as they will consume the nitrate and help keep nitrate levels down.

BTW, do not give the biomedia filters a rinse, since you may remove most of the bacteria. The Fluval usually has a sponge pre-filter. That one you should rinse.

[Chheng86]

Ah Ok, thanks a lot for your help. I greatly appreciate it. Makes sense now.