Quarantine Tank

Reefer2727 · 09/20/2009, 09:44 PM

I am going to set up a quarantine tank. Around 25 gallons or so. I have always been hesitant to set up a medical tank. I think in case there was ever a water quality issue in the quarantine tank itself.

The smaller they are the easier they can go south. Anyway, I know that its the right way to do things so I am setting one up.

I figure I put a bit if Live Rock in the tank with some flow going on. Or I have a big Eheim canister filter that I could fill with just live rock. It could be some good flow too.

Do I need a skimmer for this set up.

Do you keep any livestock permanently in the quarantine whether it be fish or inverts.

What about lights.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be great.

Thanks

sedor · 09/20/2009, 09:52 PM

If your going to set it up with LR then you will have to leave it running permanently. You do not need a skimmer and all you need is a single VHO or something so you can see in the tank. You can use those strips that come with aquarium hoods, but keep in mind of course you can't keep coral under them. For corals I would suggest just using a dip of some sort, but i'll let you research that on your own. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a chromis or two in the tank permanently just to keep the biological filtration going.

Sisterlimonpot · 09/20/2009, 09:52 PM

I wouldn't put live rock in there. You want to keep things simple a HOB filter, a heater, a power head and some big PVC elbows to allow the fish to hide. You don't want live rock or sand in there because if you have to dose any medication the rock/sand will absorb most of it and it won’t have enough in the tank to cure the fish. And of course lighting is an option.

pmrossetti · 09/20/2009, 09:57 PM

I have 2 Q tanks that I set up only when I need them. A 10g for corals and inverts, a 30g for fish. 2 because if I need to use meds in the fish tank I don't have to worry about it the next time I use it. No meds in the 10g ever. Just observe. I use PVC parts in them for hiding places. I use an aquaclear hang on the back filter for each. I keep the sponge part in the sump of the DT so it's always ready. If I treat with meds I throw it out and replace with new one.

Sisterlimonpot · 09/20/2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmrossetti
I keep the sponge part in the sump of the DT so it's always ready. If I treat with meds I throw it out and replace with new one.

Forgot to mention that... good point. I too have a filter in my sump that is teaming with bacteria for when I need to get the QT going in a moment’s notice.

Reefer2727 · 09/20/2009, 10:08 PM

So do you use water from your DT each time you set up so you have cycled water.

I like the idea of simple. No live rock sounds good. I also like the idea of putting the sponge for the filter in the sump. Perhaps thats enough to provide enough bacteria for the quarantine tank.

Sisterlimonpot · 09/20/2009, 10:11 PM

I do use DT water but not for the reason you describe. It’s not the water that carries the cycle it's the surfaces that the bacteria clings to. (The reason for the filter in the sump)

I use the DT water because when it's time to transfer the fishes to the tank they are already acclimated to the DT water quality.

Reefer2727 · 09/20/2009, 10:13 PM

What about fish coming from the store that havent been in the DT yet.

pmrossetti · 09/20/2009, 10:14 PM

Hi R, Yeah, I use water from main tank and replace main tank water with new saltwater. The sponge filter is enough, but check ammonia anyway just in case. Lighting optional. Room light is fine. Don't feed alot, but feed good foods ie mysis, algae sheets,etc. I'm all about simple too.

Sisterlimonpot · 09/20/2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reefer2727
What about fish coming from the store that havent been in the DT yet.

You still have to acclimate them to the QT tank before adding them to the QT.

pmrossetti · 09/20/2009, 10:19 PM

Yeah, acclimate to QT and put them in.

wooden_reefer · 09/21/2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reefer2727
So do you use water from your DT each time you set up so you have cycled water.

I like the idea of simple. No live rock sounds good. I also like the idea of putting the sponge for the filter in the sump. Perhaps thats enough to provide enough bacteria for the quarantine tank.

What is cycled water?

You can have water, that contains some nitrification bacteria, that is, together with ammonia waste and suitable filter medium, ready to start a cycle, but cycled water does not seem to make sense.

Nearly all the nitrification bacteria are on/in the filter medium.

Yes, one should always cycle for a QT, particularly well.

100%hydrophylic · 09/21/2009, 04:17 PM

sorry to but in......... but if you use filter media from your Dt and all water from your DT and do daily water changes with water from your DT should you be good in terms of nitrifying bacteria? (for a temporary sick tank)

lllosingit · 09/21/2009, 05:24 PM

I have a quarantine tank and a med tank and don't think they should be considered to be the same.
The quarantine tank is just a small version of the main tank with substrate,live rock, skimmer and lighting. When I get a new fish its acclimated for a couple hours then kept in the tank for month or so to keep an eye on it. If all looks good it's placed in the main tank.

The Med tank is just kept dry until needed and filled with water from the main tank with only a powerhead for circulation and some pvc for structure and a skimmer if it can be used with the meds. Water for water changes always comes from the main tank.

09/20/2009, 09:44 PM	#1
Reefer2727 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 995	Quarantine Tank I am going to set up a quarantine tank. Around 25 gallons or so. I have always been hesitant to set up a medical tank. I think in case there was ever a water quality issue in the quarantine tank itself. The smaller they are the easier they can go south. Anyway, I know that its the right way to do things so I am setting one up. I figure I put a bit if Live Rock in the tank with some flow going on. Or I have a big Eheim canister filter that I could fill with just live rock. It could be some good flow too. Do I need a skimmer for this set up. Do you keep any livestock permanently in the quarantine whether it be fish or inverts. What about lights. Any suggestions or recommendations would be great. Thanks

09/20/2009, 09:52 PM	#2
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	If your going to set it up with LR then you will have to leave it running permanently. You do not need a skimmer and all you need is a single VHO or something so you can see in the tank. You can use those strips that come with aquarium hoods, but keep in mind of course you can't keep coral under them. For corals I would suggest just using a dip of some sort, but i'll let you research that on your own. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a chromis or two in the tank permanently just to keep the biological filtration going. __________________ Ryan

09/20/2009, 09:52 PM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I wouldn't put live rock in there. You want to keep things simple a HOB filter, a heater, a power head and some big PVC elbows to allow the fish to hide. You don't want live rock or sand in there because if you have to dose any medication the rock/sand will absorb most of it and it won’t have enough in the tank to cure the fish. And of course lighting is an option. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

09/20/2009, 10:11 PM	#7
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I do use DT water but not for the reason you describe. It’s not the water that carries the cycle it's the surfaces that the bacteria clings to. (The reason for the filter in the sump) I use the DT water because when it's time to transfer the fishes to the tank they are already acclimated to the DT water quality. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

09/21/2009, 04:17 PM	#13
100%hydrophylic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: GA Posts: 1,636	sorry to but in......... but if you use filter media from your Dt and all water from your DT and do daily water changes with water from your DT should you be good in terms of nitrifying bacteria? (for a temporary sick tank) __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS

09/20/2009, 09:57 PM	#4
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	I have 2 Q tanks that I set up only when I need them. A 10g for corals and inverts, a 30g for fish. 2 because if I need to use meds in the fish tank I don't have to worry about it the next time I use it. No meds in the 10g ever. Just observe. I use PVC parts in them for hiding places. I use an aquaclear hang on the back filter for each. I keep the sponge part in the sump of the DT so it's always ready. If I treat with meds I throw it out and replace with new one.

09/20/2009, 10:08 PM	#6
Reefer2727 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 995	So do you use water from your DT each time you set up so you have cycled water. I like the idea of simple. No live rock sounds good. I also like the idea of putting the sponge for the filter in the sump. Perhaps thats enough to provide enough bacteria for the quarantine tank.

09/20/2009, 10:13 PM	#8
Reefer2727 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 995	What about fish coming from the store that havent been in the DT yet.

09/20/2009, 10:14 PM	#9
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	Hi R, Yeah, I use water from main tank and replace main tank water with new saltwater. The sponge filter is enough, but check ammonia anyway just in case. Lighting optional. Room light is fine. Don't feed alot, but feed good foods ie mysis, algae sheets,etc. I'm all about simple too.

09/20/2009, 10:19 PM	#11
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	Yeah, acclimate to QT and put them in.

09/21/2009, 05:24 PM	#14
lllosingit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Des Moines Iowa Posts: 3,190	I have a quarantine tank and a med tank and don't think they should be considered to be the same. The quarantine tank is just a small version of the main tank with substrate,live rock, skimmer and lighting. When I get a new fish its acclimated for a couple hours then kept in the tank for month or so to keep an eye on it. If all looks good it's placed in the main tank. The Med tank is just kept dry until needed and filled with water from the main tank with only a powerhead for circulation and some pvc for structure and a skimmer if it can be used with the meds. Water for water changes always comes from the main tank. __________________ It Was Funny Until Someone Got Hurt..........Then It Was Hilarious! Current Tank Info: DD 250 60x36x27 450 gallon total system.