QT Tank Setup Question

reice05 · 10/21/2009, 08:06 AM

So i just bought me a 20g tank with basic setup stuff like a heater, a tetra filter, and i also bought a small pvc pipe. I was gonna use this for a QT/Hospital Tank. I was gonna use water from when i did my water change to fill the tank. So my question is when i set it up and add fish do i just monitor the fish for 2 or 3 weeks or do i also add like copper or something even if the fish seem fine??

byrdman81 · 10/21/2009, 08:16 AM

first off if its a new filter and it isnt cycled you will have to monitor ammonia and do WC to keep it at bay until its cylced. Some people when they but new fish just monitor for 4 -6 weeks and make sure nothing pops up and its eating good and others treat w/o waiting to see symptoms. I personally hypo new additions before adding them to my tank.

reice05 · 10/21/2009, 09:10 AM

So im supposed to cut open the filter and take the carbon out right?? also im supposed to check daily for ammonia and do water changes accordingly? i bought some cupramine i guess its copper. is that a good thing to use?

spw4949 · 10/21/2009, 09:28 AM

You can use water from your water change if you want but you don't really gain anything by doing that, there is very little if any beneficial bacteria in the water column. Personally, i would just mix up fresh saltwater but that's just me. You have to remove the carbon if you medicate the tank but I would leave it in there until you add meds. As far as how long to leave them in there theoretically they should be in QT for 6 weeks, some people do 4weeks.....I would test the water everyday, plan on doing daily partial water changes & I would also keep a bottle of amquel on hand to neutralize ammonia. HTH....

byrdman81 · 10/21/2009, 09:39 AM

just dont use amquel if you are dosing cupramine it will kill the fish.

wooden_reefer · 10/21/2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reice05

So i just bought me a 20g tank with basic setup stuff like a heater, a tetra filter, and i also bought a small pvc pipe. I was gonna use this for a QT/Hospital Tank. I was gonna use water from when i did my water change to fill the tank. So my question is when i set it up and add fish do i just monitor the fish for 2 or 3 weeks or do i also add like copper or something even if the fish seem fine??

This is more than a question on QT setup.

The objective of QT is the more fundamental question.

I believe in QT to eradicate ich. For fish, this means eight or more weeks of active treatment.

I also believe in UV to reduce waterborne patheogenic bacteria and virus concentration.

For this degree of rigor, the immediate question is how are you going to rid the qt of ammonia for the eight or more weeks. I suggest that you consider this question very well. Do not avoid addressing this issue. Ammonia is very toxic to fish. The answer in general is that the filter medium for QT must have been very well cycled. Important knowledge is that copper and hypo against ich do not affect nitrification much, so nitrification will proceed rather well during hypo or copper treatment against ich.

Good luck

10/21/2009, 08:06 AM	#1
reice05 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 341	QT Tank Setup Question So i just bought me a 20g tank with basic setup stuff like a heater, a tetra filter, and i also bought a small pvc pipe. I was gonna use this for a QT/Hospital Tank. I was gonna use water from when i did my water change to fill the tank. So my question is when i set it up and add fish do i just monitor the fish for 2 or 3 weeks or do i also add like copper or something even if the fish seem fine??

10/21/2009, 09:28 AM	#4
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	You can use water from your water change if you want but you don't really gain anything by doing that, there is very little if any beneficial bacteria in the water column. Personally, i would just mix up fresh saltwater but that's just me. You have to remove the carbon if you medicate the tank but I would leave it in there until you add meds. As far as how long to leave them in there theoretically they should be in QT for 6 weeks, some people do 4weeks.....I would test the water everyday, plan on doing daily partial water changes & I would also keep a bottle of amquel on hand to neutralize ammonia. HTH.... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

10/21/2009, 08:16 AM	#2
byrdman81 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 543	first off if its a new filter and it isnt cycled you will have to monitor ammonia and do WC to keep it at bay until its cylced. Some people when they but new fish just monitor for 4 -6 weeks and make sure nothing pops up and its eating good and others treat w/o waiting to see symptoms. I personally hypo new additions before adding them to my tank.

10/21/2009, 09:10 AM	#3
reice05 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 341	So im supposed to cut open the filter and take the carbon out right?? also im supposed to check daily for ammonia and do water changes accordingly? i bought some cupramine i guess its copper. is that a good thing to use?

10/21/2009, 09:39 AM	#5
byrdman81 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 543	just dont use amquel if you are dosing cupramine it will kill the fish.